God desires that we make a bold confession of Christ. Luke 12: 8 “I tell you the truth, everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, the Son of Man will also acknowledge in the presence of God’s angels. 9 But anyone who denies me here on earth will be denied before God’s angels. [1]
Jesus had first taught on avoiding hypocrisy and then followed that with this teaching. He wanted His disciples to know that, no matter the situation, they needed to acknowledge Him publicly. They couldn’t be secret disciples as denying Him had eternal consequences.
This Still Applies to Us
Jesus’ teaching wasn’t just for the first-century disciples; it still applies to us in the twenty-first century. Jesus had already warned about the persecution that would come (Matt.5:9-12). There are times when it is hard to take a stand for Jesus against the world’s opposition. Surprisingly, this opposition can also happen within the church.
Once, years ago, I had a parishioner tell me, “Don’t talk about Jesus so much, and we will get more people to attend church.” I was so stunned that I couldn’t even reply immediately. Obviously, as a Bible teacher, everything is focused on Jesus. The Old Testament points to Him (Luke 24:27), and the New Testament is all about Him. Jesus is the reason for the Christian church.
Unfortunately, this parishioner, although well-meaning, was unaware of Jesus’ warning. We are not to blend in with the world but to stand out and be different. We cannot remain silent about our relationship with Jesus, for He calls us to be the salt and the light to our society. God desires us to live moral lives and love others. We can do this by taking a stand for justice and using our lives and resources to build Jesus’ Kingdom.
The Unforgivable Sin
After urging His followers to make a bold confession, Jesus added another warning. Luke 12: 10 Anyone who speaks against the Son of Man can be forgiven, but anyone who blasphemes the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.[2] What is this sin? The Holy Spirit is the one who calls us to faith, but when we refuse this call, it results in unbelief. Jesus is undoubtedly full of grace and forgiveness. But one cannot request forgiveness if one doesn’t believe.
John 3: 5Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit… 18 “There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son. 19 And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. 20 All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. 21 But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants.” [3]
We need the power of the Holy Spirit to make us willing to stand up for Jesus. Let us all make a bold confession of Christ. To learn more, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/the-consequences-of-not-following
[1-3] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Tyndale House Publishers.