>>And YES, Peter DID REPENT!<<
There are many important aspects to Peter’s moment of weakness. God spoke to all of us with that act:
* Peter and the Apostles were MEN. Without human frailty and weakness there was a very good chance they would be venerated as direct equals to Christ and not His message bearers.
* We all sin and make mistakes. It is the human condition.
* As you note, Peter repented and Christ forgave him. Through confession and forgiveness there is grace.
These critical points would not have been clarified without Peter’s act on that fateful day.
I should have pointed out upthread that Peter’s act did NOT change the fact he was given the task of building Christ’s Church: The RCC. I let myself be lured by verbal chicanery...
Pickm most any PROTESTant church.
They can cure this affliction.