My wife and I sat down last night and watched the movie God’s Not Dead. The theme of the movie really comes from the scripture in Matthew 10:32,33. When that was revealed early in the movie, I couldn’t get it out of my head the rest of the evening.
If anyone acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will openly acknowledge that person before my Father in heaven. But if anyone denies me here on earth, I will deny that person before my Father in heaven. -Matthew 10:32,33
I often feel that way as I’m writing my blog posts. “This will be my confession to the world,” I think to myself. But I’m doing it from a safe place. Hidden behind a computer, essentially anonymously to the masses out there. No-one really sees the person behind these words. It’s easy for me to make these posts. But do I have an answer ready if you would stop me on the street? Can you even tell when you are with me in person that I’m a Christ follower?
I believe these posts have value, for myself and hopefully for others. I will continue to write here as it’s a great way to focus my thoughts, guide my studies, and in face keep me motivated to dive deeper. But I need to focus on my personal confession. I need to let the world know, not digitally, but in person. People I talk to everyday should know that I believe in Christ and trust in him for salvation.
It’s interesting to think how I may go about that. I don’t think it’s shouting it from the rooftops, or handing out tracts or going door-to-door. No I think I need to show my faith through love. To truly confess Christ, I must have Christ truly abiding in me. I can not communicate effectively, that which I’ve not received. I could speak on Christian doctrine, repeat the words of the gospels and of Jesus himself, but unless I possess the Christlike meekness and love, then I’m not sure I’m truly confessing him.
How could I deny Christ? Well of course, I can deny him through evil doing, by words that are untruthful and unkind. I can deny him by the pursuit of sinful pleasures. I could deny him by conforming to this world, by behavior that is less that courteous, by doubting, by living in fear, by living in darkness. All these ways I could declare that Christ is not really in me.
Other References
Lots of verses throughout the Bible about confessing Christ. I think if we read these and let them soak in, we can see the importance of confessing Christ, so I will leave you with these. Live in Christ and confess Him and he will confess you before the Father.
For if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved. -Romans 10:9,10
Fight the good fight for what we believe. Hold tightly to the eternal life that God has given you, which you have confessed so well before many witnesses. – 1 Timothy 6:12
So you must never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord. And don’t be ashamed of me, either, even though I’m in prison for Christ. With the strength God gives you, be ready to suffer with me for the proclamation of the Good News. – 2 Timothy 1:8
All who proclaim that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God. – 1 John 4:15
All who are victorious will be clothed in white. I will never erase their names from the Book of Life, but I will announce before my Father and his angels that they are mine. – Revelations 3:5
Anyone who denies the Son doesn’t have the Father either. But anyone who confesses the Son has the Father also. -1 John 2:23
If we endure hardship, we will reign in him. If we deny him, he will deny us. -2 Timothy 2:12
Exceptional Christian 