The truth which Peter had confessed is the foundation of the believer's faith. It is that which Christ Himself has declared to be eternal life. But the possession of this knowledge was no ground for self-glorification. Through no wisdom or goodness of his own had it been revealed to Peter. Never can humanity, of itself, attain to a knowledge of the divine. "It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know?" Job 11:8. Only the spirit of adoption can reveal to us the deep things of God, which "eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man." "God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God." 1 Cor. 2:9, 10. "The secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him;" and the fact that Peter discerned the glory of Christ was an evidence that he had been "taught of God." Ps. 25:14; John 6:45. Ah, indeed, "blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee." Jesus continued: "I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail 413 against it." The word Peter signifies a stone,--a rolling stone. Peter was not the rock upon which the church was founded. The gates of hell did prevail against him when he denied his Lord with cursing and swearing. The church was built upon One against whom the gates of hell could not prevail.

Den sandhed, som Peter havde aflagt bekendelse om, er grundlaget for den troendes tro: Det er den, som Kristus selv har erklæret for at være evigt liv. Men at være i besiddelse af denne viden var ingen grund til selvforherligelse. Det var ikke på grund af Peters egen visdom eller godhed, at den var blevet ham åbenbaret. Et menneske kan aldrig ved sin egen kraft nå til erkendelse af det guddommelige. "Højere er den end himlen hvad kan du? Dybere end Dødsriget hvad ved du?" Job. 11,8. Kun barnekårets ånd kan åbenbare os Guds dybder, det, som "intet øje har set og intet øre hørt, og hvad der ikke er opkommet i noget menneskes hjerte". "Thi os har Gud åbenbaret det ved Ånden; Ånden ransager jo alt, endog Guds dybder." 1Kor. 2,9-10. "Fortroligt samfund har Herren med dem, der frygter ham". At Peter kunne se Kristi herlighed, var et vidnesbyrd om, at han var ,oplært af Gud". Sl. 25,14; Joh. 6,45. Ja, i sandhed: "Salig er du, Simon Jonas søn! thi det har kød og blod ikke åbenbaret dig."