Sovereign Grace Baptist Church

Free Grace Media

Of Princeton, New Jersey

 

AuthorClay Curtis
TitleOctober 21
Bible TextMatthew 10:32-33
Date21-Oct-2014
Series Daily Readings
Article Type Article
PDF Format pdf
Word Format doc
Audio HI-FI Listen: Confessing Christ (32 kbps)  /  [go to notes]
Audio CD Quality Listen: Confessing Christ (128 kbps)  /  [go to notes]
 

October 21

Matthew 10: 32: Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. 33: But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.

 

    Will a believer be ashamed to confess Christ before men? Will he be ashamed to go forth bearing witness of Christ before men? According to scriptures, the answer is no, “For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.” (Rom 10: 11) By God’s grace Philip was not ashsmed to preach Christ to the Eunuch.  And when the Eunuch heard the gospel, Christ gave him a heart of faith, and immediately he asked to confess Christ in baptism before all his entourage. (Acts 8: 36-38)  Paul was not ashamed to confess Christ to the Philippian jailor, along with all the members of the jailor’s house. And when Christ gave them a new heart of faith, “the same hour of the night,…was baptized, he and all his, straightway.” (Acts 16: 33) At Pentecost, Peter was not ashamed to confess Christ before men. And when Christ gave many faith, “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in breaking of bread, and in prayers.”
 (Acts 2: 41-42) But some claim to believe Christ who have never confessed him publicly before men in water-baptism or by bearing witness. Why?

     A sinner may claim to believe the doctrine of total depravity, even to know he himself is a sinner. But if he is ashamed to confess Christ before men then he manifests that he really has no idea what it is to be the sinner.   When a sinner has been regenerated to see he is totally ruined, both in Adam and in his sin-nature, then he has a great need which only Christ can satisfy.  The sinner made to see that he is unable to find acceptance with God by his works, his best deeds being filthy, is left with no other option than to look away from himself to Christ.  It is only when God reveals to a sinner that he is sin that he no longer is ashamed to confess Christ before men in truth.  

    Likewise, some claim to understand the doctrine that Christ is the Savior and Salvation of his people. But if they are ashamed to confess Christ before men then they manifest they really have no idea who Christ is. God makes Christ All unto his people. (Col 3: 11; Mt 1: 21; Lu 2: 30; Jn 10: 15; 1 Cor 1: 29-31) Through the blood of Christ, the Holy Spirit purges the conscience to behold that Christ “put away sins by the sacrifice of himself”, apart from the works of the sinner. (Heb 9: 26)  When Christ speaks, he said “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life.” (Jn 10: 26-30) It is Christ’s power that makes his people willing to confess him. (Ps 110: 3) We must behold the risen reigning King Jesus, with power over all flesh to give eternal life to as many as the Father has given him. (Jn 17: 2) The fear of God put into our hearts by the Holy Spirit is the cure for our fear of man.  Then the sinner shall no longer be ashamed to confess Christ before men; then as we go forth bearing witness of Christ, we will pray, “O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me.” (Ps 25: 2) And God promises to keep us. (Is 45:16-17)

    If the Holy Spirit has not made you see your sin and if the blood of Christ has not purged your conscience to behold that Christ is All, if you are yet looking to some imaginary goodness in you then do not take a form of godliness, do not touch the waters of baptism! Christ’s word to you is, “Repent ye, and believe the gospel.” (Mk 1: 15)

    Yet, when Christ has made us willing, if we confess Christ before men, Christ promises to confess us before his Father in glory. But if we deny Christ before men, he promises to deny us before his Father. If Christ is dear to us here it is because we are dear to him. He is the first cause of confession, to the praise of the glory his grace. May his grace and power make us confess him even in the face of the fiercest opposition!