Is it possible to be a secret believer?

LESSON 10

–

CONFESSION OF CHRIST

INTRODUCTION

Notes taken from Moody Colportage booklet, “On Being a Real Christian,” by G. C.Weiss.

Mt. 10:32-33, Whosoever therefore shall confess Me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny Me before men, him will I also deny before my  Father which is in heaven.

Rom. 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.

Is it possible to be a secret believer? 

(one that does not confess Christ openly) Yes, apparently for a short time. In John 19:38 Joseph of Arimathaea was a secret believer, but later openly confessed Christ in asking for the body of Jesus. 

 It is impossible to remain a secret believer for Matt. 10:32-33 and Rom.10:9 are essential.

These are two parts to salvation:

1. Believing in the heart.

2. Confessing with the mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord.

The penitent thief on the cross confessed Jesus as Lord, Luke 23:42,

And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou come into thy kingdom.

Paul on the Damascus road, Acts 9:5,

And he said, Who art thou, Lord ?

1 Cor. 12:3, ... and that no man can

say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.

I. THE NECESSITY OF CONFESSING CHRIST AUDIBLY

1. We must confess Christ audibly because Christ commanded it.

 (Matt. 10:32-33)

2. It is a source of help and strength in our own lives. In confessing Christ, very often the greatest blessing is the joy in our own heart. It strengthens our faith and gives us greater courage to do exploits for Him. 

 A witnessing Christian is not liable to backslide.

Conversely, many backsliders can trace their downfall to their failure to confess Christ publicly.

3. Confession of Christ brings real joy to the convert. Joy comes

from obedience to Him. My first testimony, on July 18, 1938, at Beaver Flats, though very short, brought great joy.

4. Confession of Christ solves many problems.
 Others know who you are and what you stand for and respect you for a clear -cut stand. 

 The world despises a weak, cowardly, secret Christian. 

 Temptations to worldly places of amusements are halted

and invitation to Church activities are multiplied. It automatically puts you in a different group.

5. Because of what Christ has done for you.

If someone did a great thing for you, you would tell everyone about it. Suppose you were rescued from death in some way. 

We are saved by a great Savior and we surely must tell the news to everyone.

II. METHODS OF CONFESSING CHRIST

1. Publicly in a Church assembly, prayer meeting, young people’s meeting, testimony meeting.

2. Privately to your friends, relatives, and neighbors,

in daily conversation.

3. Confess Christ publicly, in public baptism, in association with a good church.

4. Confess Christ by joining a true, spiritual, active Christian church.

5. Confess Christ by constant attendance at church services and the communion table.

Perhaps the most difficult, yet most essential, is the simple relation of our testimony to friends, relatives, and strangers.

III. FREQUENCY OF CONFESSING CHRIST

Is one public confession enough for life?

 No, it is something that we should do so repeatedly.

 The Christian life that is not confessed will starve and die. Jer. 20:9,

Then I said, I will not make mention of Him, nor speak any more in his

Name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.

This is the experience of every true Christian that attempts to limit

his testimony.

 A fire cannot be hid. It must reveal itself - for all to see!

 A Christian must confess repeatedly.