Matthew 16
14 And they said, Some say that THOU art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.
15 HE saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock (that Word revealed by God) I will build MY church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
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In the above scripture, we see that God revealed to Peter that Jesus was the Christ. No man revealed that to Peter. Only God can reveal such things to us.
And when God reveals HIS truth on anything to us, we are born again, born by God, by HIS Spirit of Truth.
All who are born again are the elect of God.
All who are born again are "the saints".
God adds us to the church.
But many try to add themselves to the church by that which they do: such as going forward and being baptized without having the Spirit of God working in them.
The church is built by that which God reveals to that individual whom HE has called to salvation and they believe God when HE speaks to them just as Abram believed God in Genesis 12.
And when God speaks to us, and we believe it is God speaking, we are changed forever, added to the church by God. We are the elect of God, chosen by God. God opens our eyes to understand. That shows that we are of God.
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I delivered a message to a Catholic woman and she said, "I don't understand this message."
I replied, "I can't give you understanding. Only God can do that."
So if we don't understand something, let us ask God.
James 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
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