Peter Wasn't Good Enough and Neither Are You

When confronted with the thought of being a Christian, there are quite a few people who immediately fall prey to a thought most assuredly placed by the old evil foe: I am not good enough.

For many, over time, this thought becomes: I will never be good enough.

And guess what? They are 100% correct. As proof, I submit Simon Peter. Here are a few examples:

• Matthew 14:22-33 - Peter thinks he has the level of belief
  
  and faith to walk on water just like his Lord, if only it were commanded. The Lord commands it and scripture says Peter "was afraid" (ESV) and began sinking, calling out "Lord, save me." Christ does not then say anything consoling. He simply tells him that he is of little faith and asks him why he doubted.
• Matthew 16:21-23 - Peter rebukes Christ for discussing His death and resurrection, stating "This shall never happen to you" (ESV). Christ then calls him Satan for not setting his mind on the things of God.
• Luke 9:28-36 - At the transfiguration of our Lord, while
  
  the other apostles are shrunk back in fear, Peter begins babbling about erecting tents. He is cut off by God himself from the clouds stating "Listen to Him!" (ESV). Peter is most likely the only person in scripture to be told to shut up directly by God the Father.
• John 18:10 - When they come for Jesus in the garden, Peter draws a sword in an attempt to protect him. Jesus tells him to put away his sword for this is a cup that has been given to Jesus by the Father to drink.
• Luke 22:31-34 - After a profession that Peter will follow Christ even to death. He is told by Christ that not only will Peter deny Him, but he will deny Him three times!
• Luke 22:54-62 - Peter denies Christ three times. The
  
  English Standard Version says Peter "went out and wept bitterly." If ever there was a moment where Peter must have felt that he was not good enough it must have been right then... but wait...
• At Peter's death, many years later, after many years of spreading the Word, history tells us that as he was being executed, Peter asked to be
  
  crucified upside down as he felt he was unworthy to die in the same way as his Lord.

If anyone ever got the message loud and clear that they were not good enough, it was Simon Peter. None of us can ever be good enough. We are condemned from Adam's very first sin. There is nothing we can do to be good enough. Ever!

But consider this (Matthew 16:13-19 ESV):

Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

Not only was Peter good enough, by grace alone, through faith alone to be the rock upon which Christ will build his church and at this moment Christ establishes the Office of the Keys. Christ makes him good enough. Grace through faith makes him good enough. Christ's death for our sins and His resurrection make us good enough.

Christianity is not a place for self proclaimed saints. Christianity, Christ's church is a place for sick, dying sinners to be made saints by the grace of God. The church is where we hear the Word, and receive forgiveness for not being good enough through Word and Sacrament.

"For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." I Corinthians 1:18 (ESV).

So... quit trying to walk on water of your own accord. If you feel like you are not good enough to be a Christian, welcome to the boat with all the rest of us. A boat captained by Simon Peter. A boat load of poor miserable sinners made perfect by the spilled blood of our Lord. Christ pulls us out of the water himself as there is nothing we can do to save ourselves.

And we are going to inherit the kingdom of Heaven.