Who Do You Say I Am?
Who Do You Say I Am?
Pastor Aaron Rios | April 6, 2025 | Garden City Church
“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
— Matthew 16:15 (NIV)
— Matthew 16:15 (NIV)
There are moments in life when everything hinges on one question. This is one of them. Jesus didn’t ask it to gain information. He asked it to bring revelation.
The Question That Changes Everything
Jesus turned to His disciples and asked, “Who do people say I am?”
They answered with comparisons:
- “John the Baptist.”
- “Elijah.”
- “Jeremiah.”
- “Maybe just one of the prophets.”
In other words: a fiery preacher, a miracle worker, a compassionate voice, a random eligious icon. People tried to make sense of Jesus through human logic and experience. And people still do that today.
But then Jesus asked the real question:
“But who do you say I am?”
This wasn’t about public opinion. This was personal.
Because until your revelation of Jesus becomes personal, your faith will always be second-hand, fragile, and borrowed.
Revelation Forms You
Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
And with that revelation, Peter wasn’t just applauded—he was transformed. Jesus said, “You are Peter (Petros, the Rock), and on this rock I will build my Church.”
Peter didn’t become a rock on his own. He was unstable, emotional, and impulsive. But the revelation from Heaven changed him. And it will change you, too. Not just what you do, but who you are. Revelation doesn’t just inform your obedience—it transforms your identity.
Several Take Aways to Consider:
1. The Battle Between the Carnal and the Spiritual Mind
We often approach life through human reasoning—trying to make sense of God and His will by logic, emotion, or imitation. But there’s a kind of clarity that only comes from the Spirit.
The carnal mind:
It always falls short of God's best. But the spiritual mind—led by revelation—sees with Heaven’s perspective.
2. You Cannot Be Transformed Without Revelation
Breakthrough doesn’t come just by trying harder. You need heaven-born revelation.
Spiritual maturity looks like transformation—not perfection, but progress. It’s the fruit of intimacy with God, not just exposure to religious culture.
3. The Great Exchange: Flesh Wants to Bargain, the Spirit Calls You to Trade
Peter had a divine moment of clarity—and just moments later, tried to correct Jesus.
Jesus responded:
We often do the same. We receive something holy… then try to make it fit our flesh.
Here’s what that looks like:
Carnal BehaviorTwisted Question
When your hands are full of your own plans, you’ll never be able to receive revelation. But when you surrender, revelation flows freely.
4. Revelation > Rationalization
Look at Nathanael in John 1. Jesus saw him under the fig tree—a sacred place of prayer and hope. Nathanael exclaimed, “You are the Son of God!”
It was a right confession—but there’s no record of a radical transformation like Peter’s. Recognition isn’t the same as revelation. And revelation always costs something.
5. Rational Faith Will Admire Jesus—Revealed Faith Will Follow Him
Peter’s revelation cost him. It shaped him. And ultimately, it gave him authority.
You can know the right words and still miss the transformation. But when you receive a revelation of Jesus—not just as a religious figure or moral guide, but as Messiah, Lord, and King—everything changes.
So, Who Do YOU Say He Is?
This is the question. Not what your church says. Not what your family says. Not what your emotions or your intellect say.
But what the Holy Spirit says by the Word of God (the bible), when the Father reveals Christ to you.
Let this be your moment—not just of clarity, but of transformation.
Let your answer not just echo truth—but birth new identity, bold obedience, and unshakable faith.
Because when you truly know who He is…You’ll finally understand who you are.
A soul in need of a savior!
The Question That Changes Everything
Jesus turned to His disciples and asked, “Who do people say I am?”
They answered with comparisons:
- “John the Baptist.”
- “Elijah.”
- “Jeremiah.”
- “Maybe just one of the prophets.”
In other words: a fiery preacher, a miracle worker, a compassionate voice, a random eligious icon. People tried to make sense of Jesus through human logic and experience. And people still do that today.
But then Jesus asked the real question:
“But who do you say I am?”
This wasn’t about public opinion. This was personal.
Because until your revelation of Jesus becomes personal, your faith will always be second-hand, fragile, and borrowed.
Revelation Forms You
Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
And with that revelation, Peter wasn’t just applauded—he was transformed. Jesus said, “You are Peter (Petros, the Rock), and on this rock I will build my Church.”
Peter didn’t become a rock on his own. He was unstable, emotional, and impulsive. But the revelation from Heaven changed him. And it will change you, too. Not just what you do, but who you are. Revelation doesn’t just inform your obedience—it transforms your identity.
Several Take Aways to Consider:
1. The Battle Between the Carnal and the Spiritual Mind
We often approach life through human reasoning—trying to make sense of God and His will by logic, emotion, or imitation. But there’s a kind of clarity that only comes from the Spirit.
“The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.”
— Romans 8:6 (NIV)
The carnal mind:
- Hesitates to commit
- Lacks discernment
- Fights against surrender
It always falls short of God's best. But the spiritual mind—led by revelation—sees with Heaven’s perspective.
2. You Cannot Be Transformed Without Revelation
Breakthrough doesn’t come just by trying harder. You need heaven-born revelation.
“And we all… are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”
— 2 Corinthians 3:18
Spiritual maturity looks like transformation—not perfection, but progress. It’s the fruit of intimacy with God, not just exposure to religious culture.
3. The Great Exchange: Flesh Wants to Bargain, the Spirit Calls You to Trade
Peter had a divine moment of clarity—and just moments later, tried to correct Jesus.
Jesus responded:
“Get behind me, Satan! … You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”
— Matthew 16:23
We often do the same. We receive something holy… then try to make it fit our flesh.
Here’s what that looks like:
Carnal BehaviorTwisted Question
| Sexual immorality | “How can Jesus make me feel okay about this?” |
| Wild living | “How far can I go before it's wrong?” |
| Idolatry | “Can Jesus help me chase my dreams?” |
| Witchcraft/control | “Can I use prayer to get what I want?” |
| Hatred | “Can I stay angry and still be righteous?” |
| Envy | “Why did they get what I prayed for?” |
When your hands are full of your own plans, you’ll never be able to receive revelation. But when you surrender, revelation flows freely.
“Whoever sows to please their flesh… will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit… will reap eternal life.”
— Galatians 6:8
4. Revelation > Rationalization
Look at Nathanael in John 1. Jesus saw him under the fig tree—a sacred place of prayer and hope. Nathanael exclaimed, “You are the Son of God!”
It was a right confession—but there’s no record of a radical transformation like Peter’s. Recognition isn’t the same as revelation. And revelation always costs something.
You don’t become unshakable through understanding—you become unshakable through encounter.
5. Rational Faith Will Admire Jesus—Revealed Faith Will Follow Him
Peter’s revelation cost him. It shaped him. And ultimately, it gave him authority.
“I will give you the keys of the kingdom…”
— Matthew 16:19
You can know the right words and still miss the transformation. But when you receive a revelation of Jesus—not just as a religious figure or moral guide, but as Messiah, Lord, and King—everything changes.
So, Who Do YOU Say He Is?
This is the question. Not what your church says. Not what your family says. Not what your emotions or your intellect say.
But what the Holy Spirit says by the Word of God (the bible), when the Father reveals Christ to you.
Let this be your moment—not just of clarity, but of transformation.
Let your answer not just echo truth—but birth new identity, bold obedience, and unshakable faith.
Because when you truly know who He is…You’ll finally understand who you are.
A soul in need of a savior!
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