The Mortal Conflict

THE MORTAL CONFLICT
TEXT: Matthew 16:13-28

SUMMARY: Peter's Great Confession, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God," is the very heart of the great spiritual conflict that will dominate the ages until Christ returns: a conflict between truth and falsehood, between Christ and Anti-Christ, and ultimately, even between life and death.

I. There is a Conflict Between Truth and Error.
A. Christ's Truth will Triumph in Individuals (vv. 13-17).
B. Christ's Truth will Triumph in the Church (vv. 18-19).

II. THERE IS A CONFLICT BETWEEN CHRIST AND ANTICHRIST.
A. The Biblical Jesus, by Necessity, is a Rejected Jesus (v. 21).
B. A Biblical Christianity Will Be a Rejected Christianity (vv. 22-23).

III. THERE IS A CONFLICT BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH, 8:34-38.
Q1 (v. 24): Will I deny Christ, or will I deny myself?
Q2 (v. 25): Will I live a life that dies, or die a death that lives?
Q3 (vv. 26: Will I gain the world, or gain my soul?
Q4 (v. 27): "Will I be ashamed of Christ, or ashamed of sin?"