{"id":1663,"date":"2022-03-27T12:00:37","date_gmt":"2022-03-27T17:00:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/biblicalpath.com\/?p=1663"},"modified":"2022-03-22T13:41:40","modified_gmt":"2022-03-22T18:41:40","slug":"do-you-confess-or-deny-jesus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/biblicalpath.com\/index.php\/2022\/03\/27\/do-you-confess-or-deny-jesus\/","title":{"rendered":"Do You Confess, or Deny Jesus?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\u201c32. 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.<\/strong>\u201d
Matthew 10:32-33 <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

As you read the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John), you learn of\nJesus\u2019 Teachings. More than that, as you read of Jesus\u2019 Miracles, one can see\nthe compassion of Jesus and the call to faith \u2013 to believe<\/em><\/strong> in\nJesus. In Jesus\u2019 Parables, He specifically wanted to teach His followers about\nheavenly things. However, more than that, in those parables, there was another\ncall for a time of decision \u2013 to follow Jesus and His teachings, or to refuse\nthem and thereby reject Him. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But did all believe? \u201cBut though he had\ndone so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him<\/strong>\u201d (John 12:37). Many did not believe though they saw\nmany great miracles. Often times, those who did<\/em><\/strong> believe were\nafraid to admit that belief in Jesus. \u201c42. Nevertheless among the chief\nrulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not\nconfess him<\/em>, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: 43. For they\nloved the praise of men more than the praise of God<\/strong>\u201d (John 12:42-43). Notice the reason those who believed\nbecause of Jesus\u2019 words but were hesitant to admit that belief. They were\nafraid of their \u201cfriends\u201d or \u201ccolleagues,\u201d the Pharisees. It is important to\nrecognize that no one should be afraid to acknowledge their belief in Jesus \u2013\nno matter what one\u2019s friends might say. (Remember what Jesus said in the book\nof Matthew. \u201c32. Whosoever therefore shall confess\nme 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\nbefore my Father which is in heaven<\/strong>\u201d Matthew 10:32-33.)  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

See how Jesus responded to the lack of any of\nthe chief rulers to confess. (Confess<\/strong>\n\u201cmeans to agree with;<\/em> confess publicly, acknowledge openly;\nprofess \u2018the Lord being Jesus.\u2019<\/em>\u201d)  As you continue reading, see that Jesus cried\nout. One can almost sense His frustration in consistently declaring the truth,\nyet the refusal of most to act upon it. \u201c44. Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him\nthat sent me. 45. And he that seeth me seeth him\nthat sent me. 46. I am come a light into the\nworld, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness. 47. And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him\nnot: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world<\/strong>\u201d (John\n12:44-47). Understand that Jesus\ndirected the people\u2019s attention to God. When the people saw Jesus, they were in\nfact seeing God \u2013 for Jesus had come to the earth to be revealed to mankind, as\nthe \u201clight into the world<\/strong>\u201d for He had the\nwords of life \u2013 if only one would hear them. However, if one refused, read what\nHe declared. \u201c48. He that rejecteth me, and\nreceiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken,\nthe same shall judge him in the last day. 49.\nFor I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a\ncommandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. 50. And I know that his commandment is life everlasting:\nwhatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak<\/strong>\u201d\n(John 12:48-50). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

 God\nknew their hearts. If they rejected Jesus, God<\/em><\/strong> would judge them\none day. Notice that Jesus declared that He spoke the words of God to the\npeople. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The following is a great example of one who heard of Jesus, went to see Him, and openly believed. We can read of this man, named Zacchaeus. Most people remember the children\u2019s song that tells of him. And it is quite accurate with what the Bible teaches us. Jesus was passing through Jericho. \u201cAnd, behold, there was<\/em> a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich<\/strong>\u201d (Luke 19:2). He was a short man who could not see Jesus as He passed because of the crowd. So, \u201che climbed up in a sycamore tree for the Lord he wanted to see. And as the Saviour passed that way, He looked up in that tree, and He said, \u2018Zacchaeus, you come down. For I\u2019m going to your house today.\u2019\u201d Jesus went to his house, and Zacchaeus believed in Jesus. We understand this because Jesus declared, \u201cThis day is salvation come to this house \u2026<\/strong>\u201d (Luke 19:9b). Jesus added something very important for all to remember. \u201cFor the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost<\/strong>\u201d (Luke 19:10). Remember that this is why Jesus came into the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Have you openly believed in Jesus, or are you like the religious leaders of Jesus\u2019 day who were afraid?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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How to be Saved<\/a><\/blockquote>