DENYING CHRIST

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DENYING CHRIST

“Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven. “ –Matthew 10:32-33

Confessing Jesus is a lot more than just saying, “I believe in Jesus Christ” or saying “yes” when asked if you are a Christian. Confessing Jesus is a lifestyle. Confessing Jesus involves every action and word that comes out of you. It involves your thoughts and prayers, your attitudes and your motivations. Confessing Jesus is an all-consuming, cleansing fire that burns away the redundant debris in our lives, leaving only what is worthwhile and useful.

 

There is a magnificent payoff, an unfair one, really. We don’t deserve anything that we will receive. Not only will we live a richly blessed life here on the earth, but Jesus Christ- the very one who lived a perfect life, died on a cross, and rose from the dead- this same Jesus will confess our name before Father God in heaven. Jesus will speak up for us, saving us from the literal hell our sins have earned. Jesus will spare us from judgment, claiming His own sacrifice for our sin-debt. That is a mighty prize, one which we can never truly deserve, and yet Jesus gives it freely to any and all who accept the offer! It is by the gift of His grace that we are saved (Ephesians 2:8-9).

 

However, many will not confess Jesus’ Name. In fact, more will deny Him than accept Him. (“For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.” –Matthew 7:14) This is not only an unwise decision, it is downright deadly. To deny Jesus is much more than simply not saying His Name, it is the rejection of Him in your everyday life. You can deny Jesus by misusing His Name, by denying His power, His authority, and His presence. Jesus is denied when we cover up our belief to avoid embarrassment, when we ignore Biblical teaching, when we know better but don’t care. All of these things are a direct rejection of Jesus in your life.

 

Just as there is a reward for confessing Jesus before men, there is a punishment, a consequence, for denying Him before men. This consequence is worse that anything you can imagine. It is a physical, emotional, spiritual, psychological, and a literal hell. It is a pit of fire and darkness, screams and pain, demons and evil, and it is eternal. Worse yet, when we sin against the Lord, we reject Him, and so we deserve this punishment. We have earned it. That is what makes the gift of Jesus’ sacrifice so much more wonderful. 

 

There is no else who can do this for us. Jesus is the only one. Only He lived that perfect, sinless life. We cannot go a day without sinning. Only Jesus was a worthy sacrifice. Our good works are measured as filthy rags, and they do not earn us salvation. Only Jesus is seated at the Father’s side interceding for us. He willingly speaks on our behalf, wiping away our sins, allowing us entry into the everlasting peace of Heaven.

 

 “For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” -1 Timothy 2:5

In your prayers today, ask Jesus how you can confess Him before others. In what ways can you lift up His Name and presence? And when you are provided that opportunity, do not pass it up. Do not deny Jesus, but glorify Him in anything you do.

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