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bradfreeman

Die or deny. Who's saving who?

Acts-dicted Posts: 9027 **12/8/16 6:41 am**

DIE OR DENY? WHO'S SAVING WHO?

"Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, where are You going?” Jesus answered, “Where I go, you cannot follow Me now; but you will follow later.” Peter said to Him, “Lord, why can I not follow You right now? I will lay down my life for You." Jesus *answered, “Will you lay down your life for Me? Truly, truly, I say to you, a rooster will not crow until you deny Me three times. Jn 14:37,38

Jesus didn't need, or ask, Peter to lay his life down for Him.
Jesus was the One who was going to die to "prepare a place for Peter".
Die for Jesus? Peter was about to deny Jesus 3 times..

What was Jesus encouragement to Peter?

“Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you." Jn 14:1,2

Don't let the news of your weakness trouble you.
Jesus said "believe also in me".
It was Jesus' strength, Jesus' resolve, Jesus' death that had redemptive power.

Jesus' death, not Peter's, prepared a place for us.

Peter didn't need to believe in Peter's ability to lay down his life or not deny Jesus. Faith in Peter would only trouble his heart. Peter's faith in Peter was the only "life" he needed to lose, that needed to be denied.

After the cross, after Peter was seated with Christ in that prepared place of resurrection life, after Peter received a new birth and was empowered by the Spirit, he refused to deny Jesus and ultimately was crucified upside down (tradition says), refusing to be crucified the same was Jesus' was.

Jesus made it clear who Peter needed to believe in, whose death was saving who.
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I'm not saved because I'm good. I'm saved because He's good!

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