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[0:00] depending upon the Lord for help I direct your attention to the Gospel of Matthew chapter 16 and reading verse 15 Matthew chapter 16 reading verse 15 he saith unto them but whom say ye that I am and he saith unto them but whom say ye that I am the reason and purpose why Jesus put this question to them at this particular moment we are not told but undoubtedly it was the correct time and a needful time it may be a question that the Lord would have put to us at all times that he might activate our heart and mind around such an important matter matter as this whom say ye that I am if this question is asked today in this land of ours why the majority would set him completely at naught as someone who has been non-existent others might well say that he is a good man but how few would admit and proclaim that he is to us the son of the living God and we can say and to believe that it is he alone that can cleanse us from our sins for if we do not believe that we are sinners and that our sins are such a gravity that will cast us into never ending hell unless they are purged away forever by the son of God then our answer concerning the Lord

[3:15] Jesus Christ would surely be nondescript or entirely force but whom say ye that I am we would just notice that it was when he came out to the coast of Caesarea Philippi he asked his disciples saying who do man say that I the son of man am and they they knew they could give him the answer which was correct some say that there are John the Baptist some Elias and others Jeremiah are one of the prophets but my friend they did not discern that he was the Lord Jesus Christ oh my God ever give us grace that we should never relegate the Lord

[4:28] Jesus Christ in any way whatsoever oh that we might know him as we have been singing that we might our desire might be that immortal on earth may rest on Jesus head oh that we might see him as our portion yes our saviour and our friend we notice here that Peter comes forward to answer this question and the Lord indeed is satisfied with his answer and Simon Peter answered and said thou art the Christ the son of the living

[5:31] God and Jesus retort to this was blessed art thou Simon Barjona for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee but my father which is in heaven friend it surely can be answered like this and whom say ye that I am oh that we might acknowledge this that he is that one whom we need divine revelation and the work of the Holy Spirit the work of the father in us to acknowledge and to accept who say ye that I am my friend my friend now I want to come to this word this afternoon more on a personal level bearing in mind our subject this morning yes that we might be able to say here's my portion and that we believe our only hope my friend when we come down to the end of everything whom then will we say that Jesus

[7:14] Christ is it is a solemn thing to come to a deathbed and to discover the people that we visit do not really want to know the Lord Jesus Christ not in a personal way but just in a nominal way I say what is then your opinion of the Lord Jesus Christ is it just in a nominal way I believe he is the son of God and I believe that he alone can save my soul my but how different it was with the thief when he came down to die my friend what does how would he have answered how would he have answered this question but whom say ye that I am he looked up to the

[8:31] Lord Jesus Christ and there he pleaded and said remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom he was one totally different from all those about him he was totally different from the judiciary that had charged that he should be put to death because he was a malefactor my friend they could bring forth justice but they were not in the position to bring forth mercy but whom say ye that I am why it is the guilty and the soul that knows himself to be undone is the man that looks for mercy

[9:32] I say who where else can we find mercy say through the Lord Jesus Christ oh we believe says Peter that thou art the Christ the son of the living God we need to keep this answer in view this afternoon that Jesus approved of and commanded whom say ye that I am thou art the Christ my friend what does he mean by the Christ the Christ the saviour of his people he who came to suffer in the place instead of his people

[10:36] I like the words of that hymn writer who said sinners can say and only they how precious is the saviour Jesus is I said I believe I mentioned no perhaps I didn't anyway I say it again Peter mentions how precious Jesus was to him in his epistles I say whom say ye that I am the word says Jesus is precious can you truly say that Jesus is precious to you and if he is precious to you why is he precious to you because he is the

[11:37] Christ he who came to seek and to save that which was lost why no other way than through see this that there's no other way than Jesus wherein your poor soul may be saved therefore it can be gathered up like this who say ye that I am you can say he is my only hope my only hope why I was coming to this when I was speaking about the thief and those that looked on who had condemned him to death there was no hope looking to them they had made their decision and it had been enacted in what they had decided who say ye that

[12:44] I am what good I say can this man Jesus Christ has put to death do for dying sinners would not the blood of the malefactors do the same indeed not my friend oh he was set before between the two malefactors they were all had blood in them they were all breathing then what was the difference what was the difference two of them I say they were full of sin like you and I but this man has done nothing amiss oh indeed and never did do anything amiss holy innocent and pure friend he was not born in sin and shaped in iniquity like unto you and

[13:51] I the wonderful truth with regards to the incarnate God oh we should never never lose sight of it and though we may not understand it but oh to believe this was done for us who think what who who say ye that I am my friend Jesus the son of God born of a virgin therefore there was no sin found in him whatsoever not like you and I as soon as we come forth from the womb the word tells us we come forth speaking lies we perhaps think that may be too a great maybe too heavy a thing to sigh but the word of

[15:01] God says it we know this it doesn't take long from infancy to discover deceit and practice deceit my friend when the Lord Jesus Christ saw Nathanael coming to him he said behold an Israelite indeed in whom there is no guile friend he must have had that connection and he must have had that leading and teaching through the spirit of the need of Jesus Christ whom say ye that I am surely then as I set forth man's depravity has it got this ring in your heart if ever my poor soul is saved tis

[16:09] Christ must be the way who say ye that I am is he not the sinner's only hope the only one that we can turn to or look to we cannot indeed mix him with our own schemes our works and ways he didn't say what do men say about you men may say all manner of things about us some may say we are very good and we have nothing to worry about and that surely you'll get to heaven at last for various reasons for it others may view you and your life and actions pass and give you no hope at all but friends what a mercy our salvation doesn't rest and stand in the recommendation of a man but whom say ye that

[17:31] I am my friend he that is able to save you unto the uttermost he that is able to cleanse you from all sin when we consider that the law declares the man that sinnest shall surely die therefore if one could claim that they have only sinned one sin in their life they still need such a saviour as this to stand in their place instead or else they shall be eternally lost perish be the thought that we should talk in terms of little sinners and big sinners others oh if we are thinking in our heart and mind this afternoon

[18:33] I'm not as bad as that after all I haven't done this I haven't done that my friend the question is this what but whom say ye that I am my friend the whole attention is focused on the Lord Jesus Christ our knowledge and our understanding of him is it correct or is it incorrect have we a clear view of him maybe we might say this I don't know we have no idea of what to say in such matters as this but is there a deep that goes beyond you a deep that questions you a deep that may perplex you

[19:37] Lord I want to know Lord put me into that secret whom say ye that I am we may be very loyal spiritually the man who was blind naturally who was healed of the Lord Jesus Christ and when Jesus met him he said who art thou and it was then he revealed to him I am he that opened thine eyes friend the Lord so comes and opens people's eyes to realise this at times that they are deficient they are wanting they stand in need of a need of a saviour of a teacher they need enlightening my friend

[20:44] Jesus declares I am the light of the world and we shall never know it we shall never feel the warmth and power of it until he shines upon us from on high that will never never flatter us but how often the love of Christ to a poor sinner has made him see and feel his own personal guilt and shame and cause them to fall down before him crying God be merciful to me a sinner friend whom say ye that I am is it he that hath opened thine eyes and given thee light concerning my soul friend whom say ye that I am why is he not he that has set the way before us that is the way back to God he that has made us know and feel that we all like sheep have gone astray my friend nobody taught like Jesus

[22:17] Christ taught he taught effectively he taught with power whom say ye that I am has he come into your heart and into your life and taught you with power from on high unfit unworthy of the least of the Lord's mercies how often we have gone and gone astray and have thought that we have inherited blessings for what we are and what we have been my friend know how Satan loves to quote scripture to bend it and twist it to blind our poor eyes who are to say he doesn't care how much religion you have and how much you may be absorbed by it as long as my friend your heart remains untouched and unmoved by the power of the gospel but whom say ye that I am friend there's a great mercy when we come down to bear thoughts and we are able to say why he is

[23:57] Jesus he who has made me whole he who has touched me and opened mine eyes that is a wonderful argument that the blind man had with the Pharisees and the chief priests they cast him out of the temple and declared that he was born blind and shaped in iniquity is it one thing I know whereas I was blind now I see and I know that God does not hear sinners but he heard the cry and the prayer of Jesus who interceded for me my friend the dear man he took no glory or honour to himself but that he had known handled tasted and felt personally yes who think ye but whom say ye that

[25:17] I am it was he that opened my eyes and no one else my friend blessed be his name the man who who Jesus spake and said take up thy bed and walk he immediately was accosted by the Jews because he had taken up his bed on the Sabbath day and he said but he who made me strong he that caused me no more to lie but now indeed to rise up it is he that told me to do this so they hated Jesus for this my friend Jesus was no Sabbath breaker don't forget that he gives to us no excuse for breaking the

[26:24] Sabbath day for carnal pleasure but he in the door of mercy is ever open wide oh by Jesus whatever day or night it might be that the sick and the afflicted may be relieved from their sufferings yes but whom say ye that I am why that great God who came in to this world and he went about doing good yes he verily is the son of the living God now I want to speak if I may just a little upon those words thou art the Christ the son of the living God it's very sad isn't it when the eternal sonship of

[27:32] Christ is set at naught and may God ever help me and keep me from making simple things difficult for when we speak of the eternal sonship of God that's who we speaking of Christ Jesus who came in to this world he was ever with the father ere time begun the glorious Godhead the eternal three will ever remain a mystery to us but we believe it is so yes that's whom we say that he is and that all power was given unto him of the father in heaven and in earth when we speak of power like this we haven't got all power here below we find often we are completely powerless as to have power in heaven and to plead before the father without the lord jesus christ we there say we are powerless but jesus the son of god he is not powerless but he is able to plead the case of all his dear people of whom god the father had given to him and as they being sinners for them to be redeemed and saved eternally there was a needing at the needful that the lord jesus christ should suffer bleed and die in their place therefore he had to come into this world he was willing to come into this world he loved his people with an everlasting love my friends and

[29:59] I like those lines he saw me ruined in the fall and loved me not withstanding all he saw me in my lost sight his loving kindness oh how great yes whom say ye that I am the great God the son of God came in the fullness time as appointed by the God head and thus Mary the virgin conceived and brought forth her firstborn son and called his name Jesus the Christ my friend therefore the total depravity of man that is what we have inherited from

[31:01] Adam and Eve was completely bypassed he was never contaminated by the fall my friend he was able to save us from the fall and oh I say what a life he did lead that of innocent that was innocent and pure putting in our way of speaking he never put a foot wrong I say that reverently no all that he did was right and correct who say ye that I am this surely must be and is none other than the son of God we read of the Lord Jesus

[32:01] Christ in that coming into this world in that wonderful prophecy of Isaiah and what do we read of him he says he was oppressed and he was afflicted yet he opened not his mouth he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb so he openeth not his mouth and that was exactly so whom say ye that I am he that was spoken of by the prophet so accurately so clearly those many years before some 700 years or so before

[33:01] Jesus came in to this world he was taken from prison and from judgment and who shall declare his generation for he was cut off out of the land of the living for the transgressions of my people was he stricken whom say ye that I am the saviour that was stricken for the transgression of his people I say is there any love in thy heart towards him can you speak in love in owning him and confessing him and he made his grave with the wicked and with the rich in his death because he had done no violence neither was any deceit in his mouth friend what a perfect example

[34:13] Jesus Christ is whom say ye that I am does the Lord Jesus Christ draw near to thee and humble thee under his almighty hand to feel and to know these truths and it goes on in verse 10 of that chapter though he says look though he is so pure and perfect yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him he has put him to grave yes he has pleased the Lord that he should suffer and take upon him the punishment of all his people and put him to grief I say is there grief to be compared to the grief that

[35:19] Jesus suffered for poor sinners no my friends whom say ye that I am he that was put to grief for his people and I say what does that mean to you the great question is was he put to grief for me but he does come in here with much encouragement for the soul that's been quickened into divine life when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin he shall see his seed he shall prolong his days and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand friend the glorious intercession of Christ for his people for his seed and he shall prolong his days and the pleasure of the

[36:28] Lord shall prosper in his hand whom say ye that I am can you say why it is the pleasure of the Lord oh that salvation shall prosper in his hand we may feel tempted and tried that salvation is not prosper but I believe this that his work is being carried on continually and there's not a day lost or wasted but all according to his divine appointment whom say ye that I am can you say this I can say I am come unto him who that might have mercy and compassion upon me

[37:31] I am come to him crying pleading that he would pardon and forgive my sins and seal my peace in heaven whom say ye that I am how deep I say the mystery of the glorious incarnation is but more than that who say ye that I am he has now died and risen again from the dead or I would have given grace to put such equal glory on his death and also his resurrection from the dead for souls to be saved he had to die but he also had to rise again and prove triumphant over sin and death here we find a blessed unity of the saints in

[38:46] Jesus Christ buried with him into his death risen again to that newness of life yes wonderful truth and he speaks of it so beautifully when he comes to the disciples to meet them as it was appointed for him he was ready to meet them but it doesn't seem that they were because they were so afraid and affrighted he said all power is given unto me in heaven and in earth death friend we may be perplexed and afraid but my friends it is he that takes away the fear and the dread it is he that shows to his people what he had suffered what he endured and how he had conquered over sin and death and Satan had been vanquished and who say ye that I am my friend how his resurrection has ever been set at naught and scorned and ridiculed and my friend I suppose it ever will be until the

[40:25] Lord takes the scales from off their eyes and shows to us that he is the great conqueror over sin and death whom say ye that I am my friend it's a great mercy if we can say he is my beloved and my beloved is mine if we can say I love the Lord Jesus Christ but I would love him more I would indeed have those moments greatly increased when I might view him as he really is but whom say ye that I am can you say he it is he who has upheld me by the right hand of his righteousness it is he that has brought me to a saving knowledge of the truth can you say that of the

[41:40] Lord Jesus Christ Christ is no other way to heaven is that a needful thing to you who say ye that I am you say Peter did surely declare here whom the Lord Jesus Christ was to him and Jesus answered and said unto him blessed art thou

[42:42] Simon Barjona for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee but my father which is in heaven and so he speaks to Peter and all such souls and can say for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee but my father which is in heaven we would notice also that in this same chapter that the Lord began to speak and to tell them that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes and be killed and be raised again the third day and Peter took him and began to rebuke him saying be it far from thee

[43:48] Lord this shall not be unto thee show us this as favoured as we may be with former blessings how we need to be kept from usurping our experiences and transmitting them into authority my friends which we have not the authority will always be with the Lord Jesus Christ and him alone but he turned and said unto Peter get thee behind me thee Satan thou art an offence unto me for thou savest not the things that be of God but those that be of men Jesus goes so far with

[44:50]  Peter in condemnation of him but he didn't go beyond that covenant of grace which he had with Peter so the Lord may be you may be found being rebuked of him but not cutting you off but rather cutting us down that is our old flesh yes oh that we may be led and taught of him that we might grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ I'll leave you with his words again but whom say ye that I am Amen