The "I Will" of Confession
The "I Will" Statement of Christ • Sermon • Submitted
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The “I Will” of Confession
The “I Will” of Confession
Talk about the Walmart shooting...
32 So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, 33 but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.
These are dual “I will” statements of Jesus.
TO Those who acknowledge or confess Him before men - He will acknowledge or confess before the Father in heaven.
To those Who deny or disown Him before men - He will deny or disown before the Father in heaven.
These strong words of Jesus make Christians think about how serious it is that they share Jesus to others especially unbelievers.
These strong words of Jesus make Christians think about how serious they are in sharing Jesus to others especially unbelievers.
It highlights the importance of evangelism.
Many Christians know that evangelism is important because so much is at stake. The eternal destiny of the souls of unsaved men and women hangs in the balance. This is precisely why Jesus died on the cross.
Many Christians know that evangelism is important because so much is at stake. The eternal destiny of the souls of unsaved men and women hangs in the balance. This is precisely why Jesus died on the cross.
But by looking at the words of Jesus — everyone who denies Me before men, I will also deny before My Father in heaven.
Does this mean that the salvation of the Christian is also at stake by his evangelism or the lack of it?
What did Jesus mean when He said “He will deny someone before His Father in heaven.”?
Let us study this passage in light of three contexts. This will serve as my main outline for this message.
To put this in context
Outline of
I. The Context of the Last days.
II. The Context of Missions.
a. The confession of the disciple.
b. The response of the unbeliever.
III. The Context of Discipleship.
a. Rewards and Rulership with Christ
I. The Context of the Last Days.
let me tell you a story from the news in July.
Joshua Harris
Picture of the book “I Kissed Dating Goodbye”
The Story of Joshua Harris
The Story of Joshua Harris
The next statement is most important, "… I have undergone a massive shift in regard to my faith in Jesus. The popular phrase for this is deconstruction, the biblical phrase is falling away. By all the measurements that I have for defining a Christian, I am not a Christian. Many people tell me that there is a different way to practice faith and I want to remain open to this, but I'm not there now."
Many people have obviously wondered, "How did this come out of the blue?" But it didn't really come out of the blue.
Joshua Harris’ switch in his worldview or belief is quite different from that of others. Ray Boltz, etc.. He did not claim to stay as a Christian and challenged the Biblical teaching on morality. He kept the standard of Christian morality and its worldview and he said by that standard: He found he cannot attain to it, he is not a Christian. Which means he is intellectually honest.
But there is incredible spiritual and theological tragedy in the announcement that anyone has departed from the Christian faith and that raises basic theological issues. Can one be a Christian and then at some point not be a Christian?
Jesus in talked about the increase of lawlessness in the last days, that the love of many will grow cold.
12 And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
Can believers lose their faith? Can one ultimately fall away if one was genuinely regenerate?
The Bible is very clear about that once one has been regenerated by the power of Christ, once one has become a genuine Christian and been united to Christ, nothing can separate us from Christ, not even our own sin.
After regeneration, one may sin, indeed will sin, and may even grievously injure the church, it is impossible for one who has been truly regenerated to then fall back away from Christ and to be severed from him.
There may be even some who sin by rejecting Christianity, but if they ever were genuinely Christian, they will return by repentance at some point, and that is a gospel promise. If persons do continue in their repudiation of Christianity, then we have to remember the text ,
19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.
Which is to say they never were truly Christians. They were pretend believers.
which is to say they never were truly Christians. They were pretend believers.
I hope that there are no pretend believers within the sound of my voice today. That no one is here for different reasons except for the very one that matters most - That you have received Jesus Christ as Your Lord and Savior and that you have been saved by grace through faith only in His substitutionary atonement for your sins.
We live in a time when people gravitate away from Christ.
May no one here, ever experience the shock of hearing Jesus say “Depart from Me, I never knew you!” as recorded in
Jesus said “the love of many will grow cold”. But the hope is this, and what I love about Jesus is He always gives hope, “those who endure to the end shall be saved”.
II. Context of Missions
Jesus followed His words with verse 14:
:!4
14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
That is why our church is now intentional in reaching parts of the world that haven’t been reached by the gospel.
The whole Giguiento family, Pamela, Pierre, Sandy is leaving for Egypt this afternoon. Orville next year.
Yesterday Josh and Krizelle left for Israel to reach both the Israeli and Palestinian people groups.
Guia and I are looking to do short term mission too next year.
Our participation in ushering the coming of Jesus.
As disciples of Jesus, we are catalysts of His soon coming.
Now Jesus said if we confess Him before men...
a. The confession of the disciple.
16 “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. 17 Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, 18 and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles. 19 When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. 20 For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
Matthew 10:16-
I said that so much is at stake in sharing the gospel, what if it was our very life at stake?
Danger in the name of following Christ is not confined to the pagan or muslim nations.
American society is moving away from Christian values that we hold dear, Christianity is being maligned, judges are misinterpreting laws and turn against CHristians, God is being removed from public schools and government institutions..
I believe this is just the beginning of what Jesus said, what if we see the time when Christianity is made illegal, that confessing Jesus would mean imprisonment and even death.
Would we still confess Jesus? At gunpoint? even if it means being separated from your family, thrown in jail? Even to martyrdom?
Jesus said, He who confesses me before men, I will confess before My Father in heaven.
b. The response of the unbeliever.
11 And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it and stay there until you depart. 12 As you enter the house, greet it. 13 And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. 14 And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town. 15 Truly, I say to you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town.
Matthew 10:11-
The Fear of Rejection
IS one of the greatest obstacles to a Christian from sharing Jesus
In our time people just don’t want to lose their non-Christian friends now.
One fear that is trending now is what the culture calls: FOMA
FOMA - The Fear of Missing Out
They’re having fun, I don’t wanna miss out on the fun.
Bitcoin craze
It is better to lose friends now than to lose them forever in eternity!
If you truly love your unsaved loved ones and friends.. you will share Jesus to them and you will not easily give up.shaking the dust...
Rejected? Don’t be discouraged. Sowing.. in due time..
28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. 30 But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.
Matthew 10:28-
So we come to the final explanation of the words ,,, everyone who...
III. Context of Discipleship
If we read all of Matthew Chapter 10, In His discipleship of the twelve disciples, including Judas, Jesus gave them a Practicum of Discipleship
They were sent out at that time to the lost sheep of Israel
They were commanded by Jesus in verse 5 to go and preach the good news, were they mature Christians at that point? I don’t think so, well Judas was still about to betray Jesus, Peter would deny Him three times, the rest will run away and leave Jesus alone at the time of His greatest need.
Regardless, Jesus commanded them to go.. in verse 7
7 And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’
8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.
Matthew 10:5
“Freely you have received; freely give”
Do you agree that no matter what you are going through today, you still have received so much from God because of His grace?
What we have in Christ is not free. It is worth so much == the life and blood of God’s Only Son.
Are we living a life worthy of Jesus’ sacrifice?
This is a principle in discipleship. Jesus paid the greater price. We only need to do our part,,
OBEDIENCE
Take up the cost of discipleship ---
However,
Getting into heaven is not a reward for our obedience..
Getting into heaven is not a reward for Our Obedience. It is the result of Jesus’ sacrifice on the Cross.
No one is worthy to save Him or herself. This is why Jesus had to die on the cross
38 And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.
Matthew 10:
No one is worthy of Christ in terms of entrance into the kingdom. We are all unworthy.
No one is worthy of Christ in terms of entrance into the kingdom. We are all unworthy. However, there is a common New Testament teaching that by serving Christ faithfully now we can in a sense become worthy to be a co-ruler with Him in His kingdom
However, there is a common New Testament teaching that by serving Christ faithfully now we can in a sense become worthy to be a co-ruler with Him in His kingdom..
This is in the area of REWARDS
10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.
2 Corinthians 5:
The BEMA seat of CHRIST
Salvation is yours in Christ, but the highest and reward and ruling with Christ is not for every believer..
12 if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us;
1 You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, 2 and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also. 3 Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. 5 An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. 6 It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. 7 Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything. 8 Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, 9 for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound! 10 Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. 11 The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him; 12 if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us; 13 if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself. 14 Remind them of these things, and charge them before God not to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers. 15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. 16 But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, 17 and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18 who have swerved from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already happened. They are upsetting the faith of some. 19 But God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.” 20 Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. 21 Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work. 22 So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. 23 Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. 24 And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, 25 correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.
12 if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us; 13 if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself.
2 TImothy 2:!2
We are only made worthy
:
Story of Joshua Harris