Can someone explain this verse to me in his context?
32 If you tell others that you belong to me, I will tell my Father in heaven that you are my followers.But if you reject me, I will tell my Father in heaven that you don't belong to me. (matthew 10:32-33
We must acknowledge and confess Jesus Christ as
our Saviour and Lord before men; see Romans
CH 10 vs 9-10.
And how are we suppose to tell others that we are Christians?
By walking in the truth of God's Word. They'll
know we are Christians by our love, remember?
It says in 2 Timothy 2v12, '...if we deny Him, He will also deny us'.
What is denying Christ? Peter also denied Him before men. How is this to be interpreted?
The denying is in living as though there were
no Christ, no Saviour and giving Him no place
in your heart or life.
The named text (matthew 10) and the other texts (romans 10, tim etc). are these texts talking about eternal salvation or about a heavenly reward (so is this a biblical explanation of this text: http://www.biblestudymanuals.net/mt10v42.htm).
Can you back up the post you just posted brother from scripture? Because I am curious how you relate this text to your answer.
The confession {that Christ is Lord and Savior}
is part of the New Covenant. Most of the promises
of God are covenant promises. God has done His
part in our salvation {with the sacrifice of His
Only Son on the cross}, our part is to acknowledge
Christ as our Lord and Saviour!!
The context will be clearer by reading from Matt 10:32-39, and by reading the parallel passage in Luke 12:8-12:
Mat 10:32 Everyone therefore who confesses me before men, him I will also confess before my Father who is in heaven.
Mat 10:33 But whoever denies me before men, him I will also deny before my Father who is in heaven.
Mat 10:34 "Don't think that I came to send peace on the earth. I didn't come to send peace, but a sword.
Mat 10:35 For I came to set a man at odds against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.
Mat 10:36 A man's foes will be those of his own household.
Mat 10:37 He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me isn't worthy of me.
Mat 10:38 He who doesn't take his cross and follow after me, isn't worthy of me.
Mat 10:39 He who seeks his life will lose it; and he who loses his life for my sake will find it.
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Luk 12:8 "I tell you, everyone who confesses me before men, him will the Son of Man also confess before the angels of God;
Luk 12:9 but he who denies me in the presence of men will be denied in the presence of the angels of God.
Luk 12:10 Everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but those who blaspheme against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.
Luk 12:11 When they bring you before the synagogues, the rulers, and the authorities, don't be anxious how or what you will answer, or what you will say;
Luk 12:12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that same hour what you must say."
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I think we may look at it in the following perspective:
1. Profound fear and reverence towards Christ.
2. Trust and obedience.
3. Persevering and remaining faithful amid sufferings, persecutions, even unto death. Very dreadful situations that we may inevitably pass where what we may only do is to pray pervently, begging God that we may remain faithful.
4. Admonition to love God above all things, inwardly and outwardly.
5. A word of comfort that He is with us unto the end.
6. Etc, etc.
As to the question related to 'eternal damnation' we may compare J. Escariot and Peter and learn from there.
As to its implication related to 'witnessing & evangelism' is another aspect to be discussed.
The apostle John had also said something related in 1 John 2:22-23, however, the passge has a beggining in 1 John 2:18:
1Jo 2:18 Little children, it is the last hour. Just as you heard that an antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have appeared. This is how we know it is the last hour...
...1Jo 2:22 Who is a liar but the person who denies that Jesus is the Christ? The person who denies the Father and the Son is the antichrist.
1Jo 2:23 No one who denies the Son has the Father. The person who acknowledges the Son also has the Father.
Have you encountered preachers and writers claiming to be Christians, who advocate for peace, unity, world order, or purpose but do not really preach the LOrd Jesus Christ.
And as the apostle Paul said in 2Ti 3:5, "They will hold to an outward form of godliness but deny its power. Stay away from such people".
Where is the Lord Jesus Christ, where is the wisdom and power of the gospel in these best sellers.
And how are these text to be implicated related to 'witnessing & evangelism'. Just like Peter, he failed...how is that for us if we fail to testify or deny Christ (even if we don't want to for real but because of fear or something) ... what are the consequenses? Are this consequences of eternal (losing salvation) or do we have to grow and pray for the Holy Spirit to help us in this. Because when I read these texts it looks like it's about losing your salvation/Christ not knowing you, but on the other side I don't think that's the case because of contexts and explanations. What do you guys think? Anyone got a clear scriptural explanation for these things?
anyone can explain this clear from scripture?
And how are these text to be implicated related to 'witnessing & evangelism'.
Do you mean failure to preach or share the Gospel in relation to the 'great commission' and that this failure to participate in that labor we will be denied or lose our salvation.
Yes, that's what I mean. Say I've had a chance to share some of Christ but I backed down of didn't do it. How is this text then to be implied? Does this text have anything to do with evangelising?
What is the context of these texts and how is this meant?
God bless.
What is denying Christ? Peter also denied Him before men. How is this to be interpreted?
Denying Christ is not referring to a single denial that is repented of. It is referring to a life that is lived without Christ. Christ did not demand unwavering perfection. He did demand a continuing faithfulness. For example, Jesus said whoever confesses him before men, he would also confess before his Father in heaven. Based on the whole of the New Testament, this is not applying to a one-time denial by Peter. Rather, Peter's defining pattern of being zealous for Christ and his name is what defined that he confessed Christ before men. Peter was a confessor, and Jesus confessed him also before his Father in heaven.
I think one cause of the proliferation of
"false gospel" are those inordinate evangelistic efforts where among which evangelism became legalistic or a status symbol among christians.
Evangelism became a marketing campaign exalting one's management skills, obligating everybody to participate as an strategy to gain multiplier's effect.
They labor for soul winning, while their conduct is a very bad witness for a real christian.
To lift up the Lord Jesus Christ before men is to become a good witness for Him in our conduct. To win souls requires much prayer, utmost dependence on the Holy Spirit and other preparations otherwise we may as well violate the sanctity of the gospel, turn away people from Christ, or raise false converts.
We must resist legalism and make much consideration before participating formally in this labor.
Anyone can explain the texts from scripture itself?
And say for example, I have the possibility to testify but I don't do it because I'm ashamed and acting like a coward. And this repeats itself over and over again...but still you have a heart for God and want to serve Him and tell about the cross of Christ. What are the consequences of this? Has testifying or not testifying consequenses for our salvation? And what are the consequenses in this situation and whats God will in this? We don't have to testify to testify because that would be legalism, but still if we don't or are cowards...what do we do? is God working on our hearts?
COULD SOMEONE ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS CLEARLY, I REALLY WANT A BIBLICAL LOOK ON THIS.
anyone again? is it possible someone just answers the question I asked from scripture?
thank you.
Mark 8:38
Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels
This verse does not say that you will lose your salvation, but it certainly is frightening to have Jesus be ashamed of you. I remember not wanting people to think I was weird or stupid because I testified, but I prayed to God and he gave me courage to testify. I started out small just carrying my Bible around in public and then increased more and more. The Bible does state confession of Christ as Lord as a requirement for salvation.
Romans 10:9
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
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