The Day the "Rock" Fell

rocknanchor said:

And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. – Matthew 16:18​

It may come as a surprise to some, but an indication exists to suggest that Peter is still the chief Apostle among all others who, all of them, sit exalted with Christ the foundation of the Church, in His throne.

Today in some Christian realms, this is supposedly because he continued to maintain Christ’s very proclamation over him. But how accurate is that maintenance, could that famous declaration Jesus Christ made over Peter (Cephas) ever be subject to the same criteria the flock at large is subject to? Such as,

Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.

(Revelation 3:11)​

What did they have, obviously faith and power with the Name and knowledge to instruct. But how well did they maintain that element of walking with Christ? Was their steadfastness beyond reproach to receive exceptional spiritual blessing from God? I now wonder if responsibility did suffer consequence,

· Did either Apostle ever correct the other for fault? Yes. (Galatians 2:11)
· Did either Apostle ever cede spiritual comprehension to the other? Yes. (2 Peter 3:16)

References we know so well. Peter instructed us by epistle, as did Paul and the others by the Spirit,

My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.

(James 3:1)​

It is repeatedly confirmed in the NT, and most certainly presents consequence to our actions, from the least to the greatest,

“. . if you ignore the least commandment you will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But anyone who obeys God's laws and teaches them will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven

(Matthew 5:17)​

There it is again, that which runs concurrent to our performance. If so, technically, Paul is seen as the one worthy of any such critical praise, but, as we see he did not press beyond the “whit” (2 Cor 11:5) mentioned. Whether Peter or any other Apostle, I declare, no flesh is above another as exempt from what God gives us charge over.

While we know, we are redeemed from being captive to sin are on occasion subject to fault, but after applying the above critique it isn’t so easily removed but held accountable.

What if the Church has indeed suffered loss of those precious traditions Paul described (Acts 20:29), leaving us the living word of God as our truest continuation of His will AND accuracy of all the Apostle’s tradition? I have no other confidence so great but to rely more on the word of God than even what is described.

Whatever tradition fails to address, the Spirit directs,

Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say.

(Philemon 1:21)​

All within the framework of existing tradition. Praise be to the living God, Jesus Christ!

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rocknanchor said:

I have strong reason to conclude that in two-thousand years, God’s people are still unwilling that He gather us up, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings. Now they may not like to admit that, even strike it down into oblivion and do whatever it takes to cover it up. But one thing everyone is constantly reminded of is this fact, inwardly and spiritually, the Church is capable of speaking out of both sides of the mouth over a whole spectrum of issues, in effect saying,

'Oh, how beautiful Lord is the entrance of your will!'

Till sometimes ‘Oh-no!’, when difficulty arise,

'Oh, how I wish He had not ever, ever said that!'

Saying, ‘This is just too hard, therefore it must not be true.’ What is the ‘No, not ever’ here, but that the possibility of that famous declaration being altered by irresponsibility. That the crown suffered transfer. The ‘No, not ever’ here wants Peter’s office to be placed into a perpetual and special exemption the rest of us will otherwise ALWAYS be subject to be held accountable.

But the ‘not ever’ guard is up and wants to be loosed from the cut that suggests Revelation 3:11's transfer of the prophetical crown rightfully went to the only “one” who got the prize for running the race as God, the Holy Spirit said. And while its beginning to appear to be the case, he truly is the one who took the estate away did not wield supremacy with it in the word, but dispersed it to all the elect to finalize the end goal, that token of unity,

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness [for the Church], which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.

(2 Timothy 4:7,8)​

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