What lessons can Christians learn from the life of the Apostle Peter?

What are some of the lessons we can learn from the life of Peter? From one of our live Ask Ligonier events, Derek Thomas considers this flawed yet faithful Apostle.

[fce]

What I appreciate is the fact that Peter’s many mistakes and imperfections are pointed out. I feel many believers dwell on their own, and it gets them down. People want to be perfect, and often feel all the more strongly about themselves not measuring up after being saved. The example of Peter could serve to encourage us to continue on during such times of self doubt

[Tommy-eshp]

One of, if not the greatest takeaways from the life of Peter is just how profound an effect that the HS has on the human's heart. Peter b4 and after the cross is the mirror image of all of us b4 and after being born again.

[denonjoka]

Gud Blessful Tuesday Midnight 2 Yu Ligonier Ministries *& I Appreciate Pst. Derek Thomas 4 Answering This Powerful, Blessful, Deep Question on "What Lessons Can We As Christians Learn From The Life of Apostle Peter ?"4 What Pst. Derek Thomas Has Said Is One 💯% Ryt That We As Christians Must Be Humble Just As Apostle Peter Was Where God Despises The Proud & Gives Grace 2 The Humble Written In 1st Peter 5:6 Because Jesus Christ Told Peter As His Disciple That on This Rock I Will Build My Church & The Gates of hell Shall Not Prevail Against It Written In Matthew 16:18 Where We Must Be Humble, Faithful & Resilient Like Apostle Peter* & May Our Great Almighty God Bless Yu Ligonier Ministries & Pst. Derek Thomas So Much.🙏🙏🕊️🕊️

[angloaust]

Different era and situations
Who knows how one would react
When confronted!

[marjieyoung]

One thing that always strikes me is the contrast between Peter and Judas. Both men were deeply ashamed and contrite for betraying Jesus, but Peter's contrition led to repentance and reconciliation. Judas' sorrow tragically led to suicide. Peter is one of those people who is really relatable for many Christians.

[heatherkay]

I have a soft spot for Peter, I make the same mistakes.

[dianemunson]

Paul type A, Peter was the # (1) apostle until Paul . Most of us ? I fear that would be all of us we have all missed the mark

[oyewoleolufemi]

What u failed to understand is acts was written for Paul stl. Luke who wrote was his travelling companion. All d introduction by Luke was only necessary to tell how it began just as he rightly said it in Luke . To tell us Paul became no1 is a theological fallacy which renders Jesus chosing of peter as lacking in omniscient capacity. Paul on d other hand speaks more of himself and made some errers of begging d ind issues of righteousness by law 9

[stuartjohnson]

Wrong. In the Greek it's a pun Jesus calls Simon a pebble and on the boulder of Peter's statement of who Christ is what Christ built his church. The church in Jerusalem was lead by James not Peter.

[SpotterVideo]

Peter did not understand baptism until he went to the house of Cornelius, based on the passage below.

Act 11:15  And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning. 
Act 11:16  Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost. 

If Peter was the rock the Church is built upon in Matthew chapter 16, can you explain the passage below.

Mat 16:22  Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. 
Mat 16:23  But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men. 

Based on many New Testament passages Christ is the rock the Church is built upon. He is the "chief cornerstone" in the temple below, as the words of Peter confirm.

1Pe 2:4  To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,  
1Pe 2:5  Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. 
1Pe 2:6  Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. 
1Pe 2:7  Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,  
1Pe 2:8  And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. 
1Pe 2:9  But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: 
1Pe 2:10  Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. 



Old Covenant Baptism vs. New Covenant Baptism (water vs. Spirit)

Water baptism was a part of the Old Covenant system of ritual washing. The Old Covenant priests had to wash before beginning their service in the temple. (Ex. 30:17-30) When Christ was water baptized by His cousin John in the Jordan River, He was under the Old Covenant system. He also only ate certain foods, and wore certain clothes, as prescribed by the 613 Old Covenant laws. Christ was water baptized by John and then the Holy Spirit came from heaven. (Acts 10:38) The order is reversed in the New Covenant. A person receives the Holy Spirit upon conversion, and then believers often declare their conversion to their friends and family through a water baptism ceremony. Which baptism makes you a member of Christ’s Church?

The New Covenant conversion process is described below. (Born-again)

Eph 1:12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
Eph 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

(A person must “hear” the Gospel, and “believe” the Gospel, and will then be “sealed” with the Holy Spirit.)

Joh 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
(See Jer. 31:34 for the New Covenant promise, and 1 John 2:27 for the fulfillment)



Which baptism is a part of the salvation process, based on what the Bible says?
What did Peter say below?

Acts 11:15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning.
Acts 11:16 Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.


Based on Luke 3:16, and John 1:33, and Acts 11:15-16, the most important thing about the word "baptize" in the New Testament has nothing to do with water. The Holy Spirit is the master teacher promised to New Covenant believers in Jeremiah 31:34, and John 14:26, and is found fulfilled in Ephesians 1:13, and 1 John 2:27. Unfortunately, many modern Christians see water/ every time they read the word "baptize" in the text.

Based on the above, what is the one baptism of our faith found in the passage below? How many times is the word "Spirit" found in the passage, and how many times is the word "water" found in the passage?

Eph 4:1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,
Eph 4:2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
Eph 4:3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Eph 4:4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
Eph 4:5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, (See 1 Cor. 12:13)

“baptize” KJV

Mat_3:11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:

Mar_1:8 I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.

Mar 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. (Water or Holy Spirit?, See Eph. 1-13.)

Luk_3:16 John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:

Joh_1:26 John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not;

Joh_1:33 And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.

1Co_1:17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.

1Co 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. (See Eph. 4:1-5)

Heb 9:10 Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation. (Old Covenant ----> New Covenant)


How many people have been saved by the Old Covenant water baptism of John the Baptist?

Who did John the Baptist say is the greatest Baptist that ever lived in Luke 3:16? What kind of New Covenant baptism comes from Christ?
Hebrews 9:10 Old Covenant vs. New Covenant

(ESV) but deal only with food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until the time of reformation.

(Geneva) Which only stood in meates and drinkes, and diuers washings, and carnal rites, which were inioyned, vntill the time of reformation.

(GW) These gifts and sacrifices were meant to be food, drink, and items used in various purification ceremonies. These ceremonies were required for the body until God would establish a new way of doing things.

(KJV) Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.

(KJV+) Which stood onlyG3440 inG1909 meatsG1033 andG2532 drinks, G4188 andG2532 diversG1313 washings, G909 andG2532 carnalG4561 ordinances, G1345 imposedG1945 on them untilG3360 the timeG2540 of reformation.G1357

(NKJV) concerned only with foods and drinks, various washings, and fleshly ordinances imposed until the time of reformation.

(NLT) For that old system deals only with food and drink and various cleansing ceremonies—physical regulations that were in effect only until a better system could be established.

(YLT) only in victuals, and drinks, and different baptisms, and fleshly ordinances—till the time of reformation imposed upon them .

[helenagreenpine]

Peter rebuking Jesus for prophesying his own death:

Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns."


IMO this preference for the human concerns, continued into the Catholic church which built it's structure parallel to the power and vice of human institutions and worldly government instead of the blueprint left to us in the NT. This is why they kept the bible from the people for so long and burned and tortured people for translating it into common language.