The Key Question of All Time

~ The Only Question That Ultimately Matters ~     

In the life of every person there is one question which if answered incorrectly or left unanswered has fatal and eternal consequences. Your answer determines your eternal destiny!

It is a question that Jesus Christ asked Peter in Matthew 16:15. “Who do you say that I am?” Some individuals are only given one direct opportunity to answer correctly. Since you are reading this you have had at least one chance. 

Consider the question within its passage. “Now Jesus and His disciples went out to the towns of Caesarea Philippi; and on the road He asked His disciples, saying to them, ‘Who do men say that I am?’ So they answered, ‘John the Baptist; but some say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.’ He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Peter answered and said to Him, ‘You are the Christ’ (Mark 8:27-29, compare Luke 9:18-20 and Matthew 16:13-19).

There are a number of important things to notice about this passage.

(1) Jesus was asking not just Peter but everyone in the group. Today, Jesus is not just asking a few but everyone—including you. 

(2) There were a number of differing responses given. In a similar way today many answers are given. Some today say Jesus was “a good man,” others say He was “a teacher of what is right,” others reply He was “a prophet,” while others say He was “a founder of a religion.” There are many additional answers which are often given. Jesus Christ gave this emphatic response, “I am the way, the truth, and the life, no man comes to God but through Me” (John 14:6). 

(3) Jesus zeroed in on the individual and made it clear that knowing what others thought was not the issue. The key question which Jesus Christ, the Messiah, is asking you today is “Who do YOU say that I am?” 

(4) While Peter had many failings—he was a sinner like you and me—he got this most critical answer right! Jesus Christ is the Christ (Messiah). As a result of his response, “Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock [Jesus Christ—the Messiah] I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it’” (Matthew 16:13-18).

(5) The Messiah verified Peter’s answer as correct. 

(6) One can only answer correctly if God Himself reveals the answer to him. The Scriptures say that spiritual truth requires spiritual sight—just like natural things are seen through physical sight. The great news is that all those who truly want to know the truth will have their spiritual eyes opened and spiritual truth will be revealed to them.  

(7) Jesus Christ went on to assure Peter that His was a cause which will ultimately win. 

why should you care?  Consider three quotes: “I'd rather lose in a cause that will ultimately succeed, than succeed in one that will ultimately fail” (Abraham Lincoln). “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose” (Jim Elliot). “For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost? (Luke 9:25).

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

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The Key Issue in Doctrine

Do or Done?

Is belief in Christ sufficient for your salvation, or do you need to do something after receiving His free “gift of salvation”? Some groups teach that once you have put your faith in Christ you must do something to make your salvation secure. But what did our Master say? “It is finished!” (John 19:30).

Claiming that an individual must do something to earn their place in heaven is saying that the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ was not enough! What an insult to God!

It is not Do, but Done.
It is not for us to Try, but to Trust.
It is not by Attainment, but by Atonement.
It is not by our Merit, but by God's Mercy.

Jesus took our Place that we might have His Peace.
He took our Sin that we might have His Salvation.
Jesus died among Sinners, that we might dwell among Saints.
Christ became the Son of Man, that we might become the Sons of God!

Jesus Christ came to a world in which there is no light, that He might take us to a world in which there is no darkness.

When it comes to spiritual issues a key question is: Is the work of salvation complete, or can we add anything to His finished work?

I remember a story told to me many years ago. It seems that an old man once said it took him forty years to learn three simple things. The first was that he could not do anything to save himself; the second was that God did not expect him to; and the third was that Christ had done it all, and all he had to do was to accept the accomplished fact.

CONTEMPLATE: You can’t; God never said you could. – He can; He always said He would!

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).

The Key Issue in Belief

Who Is the Christ?

When it comes to validating true Christianity, the beliefs about Jesus Christ’s birth, life, ministry, death, resurrection, and ascension back to heaven are the ultimate issues!

Major Key Elements (all were prophesied):
The virgin birth of Christ—without a human father.
The sinless life of One who was fully man while fully God.
Going about His Father’s business as He did His Father’s will.
Crucifixion that was without justifiable legal cause.
Bodily resurrection from the grave.
Eye witnesses after His resurrection including over 500 at one time (1 Corinthians 15:6).
His ascension to heaven and His future return to gather His followers.

These core beliefs of the historic Christian faith are the issues to examine in order to evaluate whether any belief system is truly Biblical. Careful examination of these issues will expose any cult.

Jesus Christ said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life” (John 14:6).

What one believes about the person of Jesus Christ will determine their eternal future. Study the four Gospels to learn the truth. Examine the rest of the Bible with Jesus Christ in view—He is seen by careful readers throughout all of Scripture.

How about you? Do you have a full understanding of who Jesus Christ is? Does it fully harmonize with what the Bible tells us?