“FUNDAMENTALS OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE: Confessing” - 10-10-21

 “FUNDAMENTALS OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE: Confessing” - 10-10-21

INTRODUCTION

Fundamentals of the Christian Life 

The beginning - hear, believe, repent, confess, baptism, remain faithful

Hearing and listening

Believing and trusting

Repenting and changing

VIDEO - “In Christ Alone” Keith and Kristyn Getty, Alison Krauss

I.  CONFESSING AS PROFESSING

A.  The connection of heart and mouth

“If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.”

‭‭ Romans‬ ‭10:9-10‬ ‭NIV‬‬

B.  Acknowledgment 

“Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.”

‭‭ Matthew‬ ‭10:32-33‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

C.  Proclamation

““But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven.”

‭‭ Matthew‬ ‭16:15-17‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?””

‭‭Acts‬ ‭8:36‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“Phillip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.”  The eunuch answered, “ I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” 

Acts 8:37 NIV (not in all manuscripts)

II. A LIFE OF CONFESSION‬

A.  Honest words

“He replied, “Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written: “ ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.’””

‭‭Mark‬ ‭7:6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

B.  Witnessed words

“Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ,”

‭‭ 1 Timothy‬ ‭6:12-14‬ ‭NIV‬‬

C.  Public words  

“I tell you, whoever publicly acknowledges me before others, the Son of Man will also acknowledge before the angels of God. But whoever disowns me before others will be disowned before the angels of God.”

‭‭ Luke‬ ‭12:8-9‬ ‭NIV‬‬

D.  Enduring words

“Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.”

‭‭ Hebrews‬ ‭4:14‬ ‭NIV‬ ‬‬

III.  A CONFESSING CHURCH

A.  Public confession

B.  Public witness

““You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

‭‭ Matthew‬ ‭5:13-16‬ ‭NIV‬‬

CONCLUSION

Confessing.  A life of confession.  A confessing church.

CHALLENGE

Journaling is an effective tool for spiritual development.  Writing connects our minds, bodies, and spiritual lives.  My challenge to you during this series is to journal about the topic of Sunday’s message on Monday through Friday of the next week.  This week I would like you to journal about confessing.  When did you first confess your faith?  What did you confess about Jesus?  Do others know what you believe?  When did you last confess your faith publicly?  Who needs to hear your confession of faith?

INVITATION

It is our custom to offer an "invitation" following the preaching of the Word.  You may want to follow Jesus.  You may want to proclaim your faith.  You may want to repent (stop doing ungodly things and start doing Godly things).  Perhaps you want to be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  Possibly, if you have already responded to God’s call in these ways, you would like to become a member of Kenwood Church.  If you have been moved by the Holy Spirit to make a decision in your life, you can come forward now.  If you would like, I would be honored to speak with you following the service about what God is doing in your life.