We begin our walk with God through an exposure to the truth, and since Jesus is “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6) we seek to know him more. And how do we know Him more? Exploring His commandments will teach us His character. Jesus says, “If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15).

Like the other apostles, Peter was able to know Christ personally. He saw the character of God walking before Him and could bear witness to the law of God displayed before his eyes. Early in His ministry Jesus asked His disciples who they thought He was, and it was Peter who spoke for the group, declaring: “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16). His answer was correct in every way.

Once I was speaking at a conference and asked the assembled congregation a rhetorical question. “Do you know who Jesus is?” I just wanted them to think about their personal relationship with Jesus Christ. I was not expecting anyone to answer—but before I could go on, a woman jumped up and replied, “I know the answer to your question. Jesus is Principle of Faith #2.” Wow! This poor sister is right and oh-so-wrong at the same time. Like so many who profess to know Christ she knows Him as a doctrine. She is correct that in the Principles of Faith and Church Order Jesus Christ is principle number 2. To these persons Christ is a doctrine. Christ is words in a book on a shelf that they pull out from time to time.

A theoretical, doctrinal, theological understanding of Christ is not to be dismissed. Knowing the doctrine is important because it establishes us in our faith, but it is not enough. As a people we must progress beyond this. We must truly know who Christ is in order to fully experience the plan of salvation.

With extended exposure to Christ, the disciples could see that there was so much more to Him than a mere doctrinal acceptance of the Messiah. His life was transformative to everyone around Him. He desired to give living water to all as a free gift. Acceptance of the free gift changed lives, and this quickly became evident to the many disciples Jesus had at that time in His earthly ministry. The natural man resists this change. Many wanted to be followers of Christ but did not want to allow Him to change their lives. They wanted the benefits of salvation while still holding onto their own inclinations and desires. It was inevitable that a separation would occur between those who accepted the transformation of Christ and those who thought of Him only as a doctrine.

As Jesus made it plain that transformation of every aspect of the life was the goal, He declared “Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father” (John 6:65). Many refused to accept the transformative gift Jesus was offering and “from that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him” (John 6:66). How sad that such ones would prefer to continue in sin than to allow Christ to change their lives. “Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God” (John 6:67-69).

On the other hand, Peter proclaims that he knows, and he is “sure” that he now knows, who Christ is. He is committed to following the principles Christ has explained because he sees that they are real, as displayed in the life of Christ. At this point in the Christian experience, we follow the principles because we know that they are true. Following the principles that we believe, will produce in us a character worthy of salvation. We know “that we are of God” because we are doing good things.

Knowing the doctrine is important. Living out the principles is important. But it is still not enough.

Peter was confident that he was part of the people of God. He was confident that he knew the truth. He was confident that he knew who Jesus was. When we come to this same stage in our Christian experience, we think that we have accomplished what is needed for salvation, but actually now comes the greatest test.

Only hours before Christ was to be taken to the cross, He told His disciples that they would abandon Him. Peter was incensed that the Lord would think such a thing of him! He declares with confidence, “Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended” (Matthew 26:33). Knowing that Peter was sincere in his proclamation, but not understanding fully the fulfillment of the plan of salvation, Jesus makes a prophecy: “Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice” (Matthew 26:34). Now remember, Peter has just declared that He knows that Jesus is the Son of God. And then the Lord makes a prophecy, to which Peter declares. “Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee” (Matthew 26:35), basically stating that the Lord is wrong! He cannot acknowledge Christ as Lord and then tell the Lord that He is wrong!

As the other disciples clamored to declare their loyalty, the interchange between Peter and Christ is interrupted. A short while later they have an opportunity to speak more privately, and Jesus wants to give assurance to His disciple that He will be with him through the coming trial. “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren” (Luke 22:31, 32).

This expression, “when thou art converted,” should not be taken to indicate that Peter does not have a genuine experience with Christ. Christ is not saying that Peter is lost, He is encouraging him to know that he can rise to a higher understanding of God’s love. At this moment then, although Peter’s experience is real, it is not yet complete. There will be a deeper experience to come, if he will take the path Christ is laying before him.

When Jesus is captured and taken to the judgment hall, the prophecy to Peter is fulfilled. Peter does not stand beside Christ in the judgment hall. He follows “afar off” (Luke 22:54). The disciple who said “I know who Jesus is” (introductory level Christianity), and emphatically declared “I really know who Jesus is” (principles Christianity), now makes a new declaration. Sitting among the people and looking from far away, he is accused by a young maid of being one of Christ’s disciples. “And he denied him, saying, Woman, I know him not” (Luke 22:57). He is confronted the second time, and then again the third time, when he declares once more: “I know not” (Luke 22:60). The prophecy of Christ of Peter’s three denials is fulfilled.

At this point we turn with disgust on Peter. How can he lie?! Why is he ashamed to say the truth? The disciple who declared, “I know who He is,” now says “I know Him not.” But I wish to propose a different scenario. While he is lying that He does not know Christ, in a way he is telling the truth. He actually does not know who Christ is.

In saying “I know Him not,” Peter was declaring the truth that to know Christ is so much more than a doctrine, so much more than a set of principles. This is a Christ ready to sacrifice all for the salvation of souls. Broken of self, broken of spiritual pride, broken of earthly desires, Peter can now experience forgiveness in its most divine and genuine form. He recognizes that to know Christ is to lay aside everything and be completely dependent on the Saviour. He flees away from the scene of the trial and goes to a private place to weep “bitterly” (Luke 22:62).

But wait! Before he left the scene something happened. Something amazing and utterly beautiful. In the judgment hall the plan of salvation for all of humanity was unfolding, but Jesus will pause the entire plan of salvation, just to save Peter! Knowing the despair of His disciple at this very moment, knowing that Satan is ready to pounce on him and is already condemning him and accusing him that he is a lost soul, “the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter” (Luke 22:61). The Lord paused the whole plan of salvation, just to save Peter! How great is the Saviour’s love!

“When in the judgment hall the words of denial had been spoken; when Peter’s love and loyalty, awakened under the Saviour’s glance of pity and love and sorrow, had sent him forth to the garden where Christ had wept and prayed; when his tears of remorse dropped upon the sod that had been moistened with the blood drops of His agony—then the Saviour’s words, ‘I have prayed for thee: . . . when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren,’ were a stay to his soul. Christ, though foreseeing his sin, had not abandoned him to despair.

“If the look that Jesus cast upon him had spoken condemnation instead of pity; if in foretelling the sin He had failed of speaking hope, how dense would have been the darkness that encompassed Peter! how reckless the despair of that tortured soul! In that hour of anguish and self-abhorrence, what could have held him back from the path trodden by Judas?

“He who could not spare His disciple the anguish, left him not alone to its bitterness. His is a love that fails not nor forsakes.”1

When we come to the cross of Christ, we realize our complete dependence on Him. Broken we come before Him—and He assures us that He will heal us. The forgiveness of God is full, it is complete, it is transformative, it is refreshing, it is the embodiment of His love for His church. They are His people not because they are good, but because they have surrendered to Him fully in acknowledgement that He is good.

“It is impossible for us, of ourselves, to escape from the pit of sin in which we are sunken. Our hearts are evil, and we cannot change them. ‘Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one.’ ‘The carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.’ Job 14:4; Romans 8:7. Education, culture, the exercise of the will, human effort, all have their proper sphere, but here they are powerless. They may produce an outward correctness of behavior, but they cannot change the heart; they cannot purify the springs of life. There must be a power working from within, a new life from above, before men can be changed from sin to holiness. That power is Christ. His grace alone can quicken the lifeless faculties of the soul, and attract it to God, to holiness.”2

Peter knew the doctrine of Christ, he knew the principles by which a Christian should live, but he did not yet have a personal experience with the forgiveness of Christ. The cross broke Peter’s “self” and he now surrendered himself fully to be the child of God. This experience of forgiveness changed Peter from “knowing” Christ to “loving” Christ. Face to face with his Redeemer once more he can now declare to Christ “thou knows that I love thee” (John 21:15). He is now ready to give the gospel.

“The first work that Christ entrusted to Peter on restoring him to the ministry was to feed the lambs. This was a work in which Peter had little experience. It would require great care and tenderness, much patience and perseverance. It called him to minister to those who were young in the faith, to teach the ignorant, to open the Scriptures to them, and to educate them for usefulness in Christ’s service. Heretofore Peter had not been fitted to do this, or even to understand its importance. But this was the work which Jesus now called upon him to do. For this work his own experience of suffering and repentance had prepared him.”3

Like Peter, the Lord is preparing His final remnant people to enter into a great work. He is fitting us now who will cast self aside and become fully dependent on Him. We are thankful that the Lord has given to us a knowledge of truth. We are thankful for the principles He has laid out for us so that we can live full lives of grace. Now we plead with Him to accept us as a people around His cross. We pray for Him to fit us for the final work that all hindrances would be removed from us so that He can work through us.

With Peter we want to declare, we “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” (1 Peter 2:9).