3. Matthew 16:13-18

4. Parallel Accounts Mark 8:27-30 Luke 9:18-20

6. World’s Confusion John the Baptist Elijah Jeremiah One of the Prophets Peter’s Confession Christ, Son of God Revealed by Father in Heaven

7. Peter’s Confession & World’s Confusion (Matthew 16:13-18)

8. 1. Men Can Be Wrong

9. The Crowds Were Wrong

10. 1. Men Can Be Wrong Hard For Us to See - Men Can Be Wrong Intelligence : “He’s so smart” Integrity: “He’s honest & sincere” Number: “So many who think that way” Reason: “See where he’s coming from…”

11. 2. Cause of Division & Confusion Some Want to Blame God Some Want to Blame Those Who Press Truth God Did Not Reveal: John the Baptist Elijah Jeremiah One of prophets Not Peter’s: Belief Pressing the truth Division Comes Because someone is not following the revelation.

12. Attempts To Harmonize: “All saying the same thing” “All going same place - different roads” “All serve the same God” “Not make any real difference what one believes” “All of us are wrong about something” 3. Varying Views Cannot Be Harmonized

13. Truth Cannot Be Harmonized With Error If Jesus is The Son of God Then Jesus Is not John Elijah Jeremiah etc. 3. Varying Views Cannot Be Harmonized

14. World is Confused Because Different Standards Peter’s Confession Based Upon Revelation of God 4. An Objective Standard

15. False Standards: Church Preacher Parents Friends Dr. of Theology Revelation of God 2 Tim. 3:16-17 1 Pet. 4:11 2 Cor. 4:13 1 Thess. 2:13 4. An Objective Standard

16. PeterIsRight Not Because He: Was an apostle Was a friend of Jesus Was smart Had always believed that 5. Men Are Right Not Because of Who They Are - But Because They Agree With God

17. PeterIsRight Because He: Agreed with the revelation from God! 5. Men Are Right Not Because of Who They Are - But Because They Agree With God

18. 6. Unity Never will be unity as long as men refuse the revelation of God Not have unity by ignoring the differences All must have the same standard

19. 7. Faith Must Be Personal Our faith and knowledge must not be second hand. Must do more than know about Jesus - we must know him (who he is and what that means.