100:00:00,160 –> 00:00:02,920Coping with F coloring200:00:02,960 –> 00:00:05,720Jesus is not saying, when he talks about confessing Christ,300:00:05,720 –> 00:00:08,120you know, if there was ever a time in your life when400:00:08,120 –> 00:00:10,880you said that you believed in me then everything’s fine with you forever,500:00:10,880 –> 00:00:12,720that is certainly not what he’s saying.600:00:13,560 –> 00:00:17,240He is saying, if you continue to confess me,700:00:17,240 –> 00:00:20,559I will confess you before the Father in heaven.800:00:20,559 –> 00:00:26,480In other words, Jesus Christ calls us, his disciples, to a life of confession.900:00:26,760 –> 00:00:29,400Welcome to OpentheBible with Pastor Colin Smith.1000:00:29,400 –> 00:00:30,600I’m David Pick.1100:00:30,600 –> 00:00:31,920Glad you could be with us today.1200:00:31,920 –> 00:00:35,759And Colin, today we’re looking at Matthew Chapter 10 and Verse 32.1300:00:35,759 –> 00:00:38,119Whoever acknowledges me before men,1400:00:38,119 –> 00:00:40,880I will acknowledge him before my Father in heaven.1500:00:40,880 –> 00:00:46,160It’s a magnificent promise that Christ would acknowledge us1600:00:46,160 –> 00:00:49,840as being his own in the presence of the Father.1700:00:49,840 –> 00:00:51,880This is a marvellous promise,1800:00:51,880 –> 00:00:54,680and the promise is given to those who confess him,1900:00:54,680 –> 00:00:56,040those who acknowledge him.2000:00:56,040 –> 00:00:59,840So that leads to a really important question.2100:00:59,840 –> 00:01:02,880Am I confessing Jesus Christ?2200:01:02,880 –> 00:01:06,760So it’s a great question for every person listening to the program.2300:01:06,760 –> 00:01:11,639Do you confess Jesus as your savior, as your Lord?2400:01:11,639 –> 00:01:14,839Don’t mean did you do that once at some point years ago.2500:01:14,839 –> 00:01:18,879I’m asking, do you confess Jesus Christ as your Lord,2600:01:18,879 –> 00:01:22,480your savior, your friend, your master, your redeemer, today?2700:01:22,480 –> 00:01:23,959Is he that to you?2800:01:24,000 –> 00:01:28,000In that case, there is this great promise that can be yours,2900:01:28,000 –> 00:01:30,000and if it’s not the case right now3000:01:30,000 –> 00:01:31,360at the beginning of the program,3100:01:31,360 –> 00:01:34,879I hope it will be the case that you confess Jesus Christ3200:01:34,879 –> 00:01:36,680before the end of the program today.3300:01:36,680 –> 00:01:40,040So I hope you’ll join us today in your Bible if you can.3400:01:40,040 –> 00:01:42,080Matthew 10 verse 32.3500:01:48,080 –> 00:01:51,639Now if you were to list the greatest days of your life,3600:01:51,639 –> 00:01:53,919you would probably have a few to choose from,3700:01:54,400 –> 00:01:56,320you might include a graduation,3800:01:56,320 –> 00:01:59,000some might include a wedding day3900:01:59,000 –> 00:02:00,720if that has been your experience,4000:02:00,720 –> 00:02:02,940a day a child was born.4100:02:02,940 –> 00:02:04,480A day a child graduated,4200:02:04,480 –> 00:02:05,839the day a child got married,4300:02:05,839 –> 00:02:06,800day you retired.4400:02:06,800 –> 00:02:09,240I mean there are a range of great days4500:02:09,240 –> 00:02:12,800that would be marvelous moments in your life.4600:02:12,800 –> 00:02:16,039But Jesus speaks here about a day4700:02:16,039 –> 00:02:20,639that will come in your experience so momentous4800:02:20,639 –> 00:02:24,080that it will outshine any other day of your life.4900:02:24,080 –> 00:02:26,880One day, you will stand in the presence of God5000:02:26,880 –> 00:02:30,679and you will know yourself to be there then5100:02:30,679 –> 00:02:34,580as much as you know yourself to be here now.5200:02:35,600 –> 00:02:38,720And on that day, when you stand in the presence of God,5300:02:38,720 –> 00:02:40,699you will see Jesus Christ.5400:02:40,699 –> 00:02:42,279You’ve heard about him all your life,5500:02:42,279 –> 00:02:43,880we worship him as we gather,5600:02:43,880 –> 00:02:46,300but you will see Jesus Christ5700:02:46,300 –> 00:02:49,080and more than that, you will hear him speak.5800:02:49,199 –> 00:02:52,580And more than that, he will speak about you.5900:02:52,580 –> 00:02:54,919And he tells us very clearly6000:02:54,919 –> 00:02:58,759that he will say one of two things about you,6100:02:58,759 –> 00:03:00,360one of two things about me,6200:03:00,360 –> 00:03:04,940one of two things about every person who has ever lived.6300:03:04,940 –> 00:03:08,419Either, he will confess you6400:03:08,419 –> 00:03:11,320or he will disown you.6500:03:11,320 –> 00:03:13,119That is what Jesus says here6600:03:13,119 –> 00:03:16,839in Matthew chapter 10 and verse 32.6700:03:16,860 –> 00:03:20,899To confess you would mean that Jesus would say to the father.6800:03:20,899 –> 00:03:23,320This is Colin, this is Greg,6900:03:23,320 –> 00:03:25,639you put your name in there.7000:03:25,639 –> 00:03:29,639They belong to me, he belongs to me, she belongs to me.7100:03:30,679 –> 00:03:33,600To disown you would mean that Jesus Christ7200:03:33,600 –> 00:03:36,940would say to the father, this is, put your name in there,7300:03:37,800 –> 00:03:39,539he is nothing to do with me,7400:03:39,539 –> 00:03:42,800or she is nothing to do with me.7500:03:42,800 –> 00:03:44,720But, Jesus says, now,7600:03:44,759 –> 00:03:47,699every person is going to hear me7700:03:47,699 –> 00:03:49,740say one of these two things.7800:03:49,740 –> 00:03:52,660Jesus Christ will say one of these two things about you.7900:03:52,660 –> 00:03:55,179Now, here’s what’s important.8000:03:55,179 –> 00:03:57,779Jesus makes it very clear,8100:03:57,779 –> 00:04:01,199that what he says about us then8200:04:01,199 –> 00:04:06,199is intimately tied to what we say about him now.8300:04:06,479 –> 00:04:07,800Look at what he says,8400:04:07,800 –> 00:04:11,059whoever acknowledges me before men,8500:04:11,059 –> 00:04:13,520that’s what we say about Jesus now,8600:04:13,520 –> 00:04:15,860I will acknowledge him before my father in heaven,8700:04:15,860 –> 00:04:18,619that’s what he will say about you then.8800:04:18,619 –> 00:04:20,880But whoever disowns me before men,8900:04:20,880 –> 00:04:23,500that’s what some folks are saying about Jesus now,9000:04:23,500 –> 00:04:25,019they are disowning him.9100:04:25,019 –> 00:04:27,779Well, Jesus says I will disown him9200:04:27,779 –> 00:04:31,119before my father in heaven.9300:04:31,119 –> 00:04:32,380Now, by any standards,9400:04:32,380 –> 00:04:34,619these are words of our Lord Jesus Christ9500:04:34,619 –> 00:04:38,380of supreme importance to every one of us.9600:04:39,579 –> 00:04:41,420And as I’ve reflected on them this week,9700:04:41,440 –> 00:04:43,899there have been many questions in my mind.9800:04:44,980 –> 00:04:47,700One has been well, what exactly is Jesus saying here?9900:04:47,700 –> 00:04:48,619What does this mean?10000:04:48,619 –> 00:04:50,380What does it mean to confess him?10100:04:50,380 –> 00:04:51,700What does it mean to disown him?10200:04:51,700 –> 00:04:53,220Is that something that I might have done10300:04:53,220 –> 00:04:55,339or that any of us may have done in the past,10400:04:55,339 –> 00:04:58,119and if so, where do we stand?10500:04:58,119 –> 00:04:59,880Then what would it actually look like10600:04:59,880 –> 00:05:04,040for us to confess Christ in our lives?10700:05:04,040 –> 00:05:08,459What does this look like in real terms in our experience?10800:05:08,459 –> 00:05:11,119And how are we going to go about doing it?10900:05:11,119 –> 00:05:13,119Well, these are the questions that are before us,11000:05:13,119 –> 00:05:15,040and again, I hope that you have the Bible open11100:05:15,040 –> 00:05:18,179in front of you at Matthew in chapter 10.11200:05:18,179 –> 00:05:19,679Let’s begin with what it means.11300:05:19,679 –> 00:05:22,019What is Jesus saying here?11400:05:22,019 –> 00:05:24,000And I want to ask three questions11500:05:24,000 –> 00:05:25,359and then point out two things11600:05:25,359 –> 00:05:27,839that to me at least were a surprise.11700:05:27,839 –> 00:05:29,040Here’s the first question.11800:05:29,040 –> 00:05:31,480Trying to get at what it means.11900:05:31,480 –> 00:05:33,959What does it mean to confess Christ?12000:05:33,959 –> 00:05:34,920What does that mean?12100:05:35,899 –> 00:05:38,000Well, the word that’s used here, confess,12200:05:38,220 –> 00:05:40,980in the Greek, it is homologio,12300:05:40,980 –> 00:05:42,299which tells you what it means.12400:05:42,299 –> 00:05:45,640Homologio, one word.12500:05:45,640 –> 00:05:50,640To confess Jesus is to be of one word with Jesus Christ.12600:05:50,859 –> 00:05:53,720In other words, you say what he says.12700:05:53,720 –> 00:05:55,600His word has become authoritative12800:05:55,600 –> 00:05:58,200for you in your life.12900:05:58,200 –> 00:06:00,399You’re not saying, well, you know, Jesus says this,13000:06:00,399 –> 00:06:02,619but of course, I’ve got an alternative opinion.13100:06:02,619 –> 00:06:05,519No, you are of one word with Jesus Christ.13200:06:05,579 –> 00:06:08,200What he says is truth for you.13300:06:08,200 –> 00:06:10,440When he says I’m the way, the truth, and the life,13400:06:10,440 –> 00:06:13,160you’re saying he is my way, he is my truth,13500:06:13,160 –> 00:06:15,600and he is my life.13600:06:15,600 –> 00:06:18,100By the way, in this culture of ambivalence13700:06:18,100 –> 00:06:20,179in which we live, in which it really is13800:06:20,179 –> 00:06:22,859much more comfortable for us to describe ourselves13900:06:22,859 –> 00:06:26,160as seekers on a journey and so forth,14000:06:26,160 –> 00:06:28,440that’s fine if you’re looking14100:06:28,440 –> 00:06:30,059at the claims of Jesus Christ.14200:06:30,059 –> 00:06:31,880He invites you to do that.14300:06:31,880 –> 00:06:33,859But I have to say to you today14400:06:33,859 –> 00:06:38,859that if you want Jesus to confess you on the last day,14500:06:39,239 –> 00:06:42,880you cannot remain ambivalent about him forever.14600:06:42,880 –> 00:06:45,079There has to come a moment in your life14700:06:45,079 –> 00:06:48,040where you cross the line from being a seeker14800:06:48,040 –> 00:06:50,559with a kind of open mindedness about the whole thing14900:06:50,559 –> 00:06:54,559to being a confessor to say I am of one word15000:06:54,559 –> 00:06:58,619with Jesus Christ, and I place myself under his authority,15100:06:58,619 –> 00:07:01,399and I invite you to take that step even today.15200:07:01,540 –> 00:07:04,679There would be no better day to do that.15300:07:04,679 –> 00:07:06,239What does it mean to confess Christ15400:07:06,239 –> 00:07:07,959to be of one word with him?15500:07:07,959 –> 00:07:10,440What does it mean secondly to disown Christ15600:07:10,440 –> 00:07:13,899when Jesus says whoever disowns me before men?15700:07:13,899 –> 00:07:15,519Now some of us I think may be saying,15800:07:15,519 –> 00:07:20,500what, now you know I remember a time when I said in anger,15900:07:20,519 –> 00:07:23,260I said to God I’m done with you or perhaps16000:07:23,260 –> 00:07:25,440you said something absolutely blasphemous,16100:07:25,440 –> 00:07:28,779perhaps you made a commitment, a pledge in your life16200:07:28,779 –> 00:07:31,720in the past that was the very opposite16300:07:31,720 –> 00:07:34,420of faith in Jesus Christ and you say,16400:07:34,420 –> 00:07:38,859well, I certainly have disowned him, so where do I stand?16500:07:40,040 –> 00:07:44,519Well now remember that Peter disowned Jesus,16600:07:44,519 –> 00:07:47,519he did it three times and then afterwards16700:07:47,519 –> 00:07:49,260he went out and he wept bitterly,16800:07:49,260 –> 00:07:52,519he was very sorry about what he had done.16900:07:52,519 –> 00:07:53,980After the Day of the Resurrection,17000:07:53,980 –> 00:07:56,720the Lord Jesus Christ spoke to Peter17100:07:56,760 –> 00:07:59,760and you remember Jesus did not say to Peter,17200:07:59,760 –> 00:08:02,519well now Peter, I’m sorry but you’ve disowned me17300:08:02,519 –> 00:08:04,420and therefore you’re done, my friend,17400:08:04,420 –> 00:08:07,899I am now disowning you, that’s not what Jesus said.17500:08:07,899 –> 00:08:09,299At the end of John’s Gospel,17600:08:09,299 –> 00:08:11,559Jesus forgives Peter17700:08:11,559 –> 00:08:15,260and restores him to fellowship with Christ17800:08:15,260 –> 00:08:18,760and more than that, to ministry for Christ.17900:08:18,760 –> 00:08:19,980So in the light of this,18000:08:19,980 –> 00:08:23,920we can be very sure that Jesus is not saying here,18100:08:23,980 –> 00:08:26,040you know, if you have ever disowned me,18200:08:26,040 –> 00:08:27,920then you’re done, you’re gone forever.18300:08:27,920 –> 00:08:29,440He’s not saying that.18400:08:29,440 –> 00:08:33,039What he’s clearly saying is if you continue to disown me,18500:08:33,039 –> 00:08:36,239apart from me, you live your life apart from me,18600:08:36,239 –> 00:08:40,080then I will disown you on the last day.18700:08:40,080 –> 00:08:41,840Now, that is very important18800:08:41,840 –> 00:08:44,119because if that is how we are to understand18900:08:44,119 –> 00:08:46,840the second part of the verse,19000:08:46,840 –> 00:08:49,580it follows that it must be the way in which we understand19100:08:49,580 –> 00:08:52,119the first part of the verse.19200:08:52,140 –> 00:08:53,979In other words, Jesus is not saying19300:08:53,979 –> 00:08:56,200when he talks about confessing Christ,19400:08:56,200 –> 00:08:57,919you know, if there was ever a time in your life19500:08:57,919 –> 00:08:59,340when you said that you believed in me,19600:08:59,340 –> 00:09:00,940then everything’s fine with you forever.19700:09:00,940 –> 00:09:03,359That is certainly not what he’s saying.19800:09:03,359 –> 00:09:07,700He is saying if you continue to confess me,19900:09:07,700 –> 00:09:10,559I will confess you before the Father in heaven.20000:09:10,559 –> 00:09:14,739In other words, Jesus Christ calls us his disciples20100:09:14,739 –> 00:09:16,760to a life of confession.20200:09:16,760 –> 00:09:19,619The life that he calls us to when he says, follow me,20300:09:19,640 –> 00:09:23,419is a life in which we are to seize every opportunity20400:09:23,419 –> 00:09:26,500to confess Jesus Christ.20500:09:26,500 –> 00:09:29,099That is the life to which we are called,20600:09:29,099 –> 00:09:31,039and he calls us to it right here.20700:09:32,260 –> 00:09:33,859Now one more question is we’re trying to get20800:09:33,859 –> 00:09:35,719to the heart of what Jesus means.20900:09:35,719 –> 00:09:38,739How is our confession of Christ21000:09:38,739 –> 00:09:43,039connected to his confession of us?21100:09:43,039 –> 00:09:45,000Jesus brings these two things together.21200:09:45,000 –> 00:09:48,320Whoever confesses me, I will confess him.21300:09:48,320 –> 00:09:52,080Now, how are these two things connected together?21400:09:53,960 –> 00:09:57,039If you read this verse in isolation,21500:09:57,039 –> 00:10:00,919it could sound like salvation by works, couldn’t it?21600:10:00,919 –> 00:10:02,159You know, if you do this for me,21700:10:02,159 –> 00:10:04,059Jesus says I will do this for you.21800:10:04,059 –> 00:10:06,320That would be salvation by works,21900:10:06,320 –> 00:10:09,479and of course that is not the Gospel.22000:10:09,479 –> 00:10:11,719So let’s remember this as we understand22100:10:11,719 –> 00:10:14,280the words of Jesus correctly.22200:10:14,320 –> 00:10:18,239We are saved by the blood of Christ,22300:10:18,239 –> 00:10:21,020not by an act of confession.22400:10:21,020 –> 00:10:22,039That is very important,22500:10:22,039 –> 00:10:23,919because otherwise, if you get this confused,22600:10:23,919 –> 00:10:25,599you’ll spend the rest of your life thinking,22700:10:25,599 –> 00:10:26,840am I confessing enough?22800:10:26,840 –> 00:10:28,359Is my confession consistent?22900:10:28,359 –> 00:10:29,820And so forth, and so on.23000:10:29,820 –> 00:10:31,919We are saved by the blood of Christ,23100:10:31,919 –> 00:10:34,080not by an act of confession.23200:10:34,080 –> 00:10:38,559There is no redeeming power in confessing Christ.23300:10:38,559 –> 00:10:41,320The redeeming power lies in the Christ23400:10:41,320 –> 00:10:43,200who is confessed.23500:10:43,200 –> 00:10:45,919The importance of confession, then, is this,23600:10:45,919 –> 00:10:48,080Christ becomes ours by faith,23700:10:48,080 –> 00:10:52,000and confession is an evidence of our faith23800:10:52,000 –> 00:10:55,559in this Christ who saves us.23900:10:55,559 –> 00:10:57,919So very important to have this distinction clear,24000:10:57,919 –> 00:11:01,520and this is how we should understand Romans 10 in verse nine,24100:11:01,520 –> 00:11:02,880when Paul says,24200:11:02,880 –> 00:11:06,119if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord,24300:11:06,119 –> 00:11:07,239and you believe in your heart24400:11:07,239 –> 00:11:09,859that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.24500:11:09,859 –> 00:11:13,200Remember that redeeming power lies in the Christ24600:11:13,200 –> 00:11:14,859who is confessed,24700:11:14,859 –> 00:11:18,219not in the act of confessing itself.24800:11:18,219 –> 00:11:20,080It’s him who saves us.24900:11:20,080 –> 00:11:22,440That’s important to keep clear.25000:11:23,340 –> 00:11:24,659You’re listening to Open the Bible25100:11:24,659 –> 00:11:25,940with Pastor Colin Smith,25200:11:25,940 –> 00:11:29,500and we’ve been looking at what it means to confess Christ.25300:11:29,500 –> 00:11:32,659And in a moment we’ll be back to hear about two surprises25400:11:32,659 –> 00:11:34,380that are in the words of Jesus.25500:11:34,380 –> 00:11:36,940So I hope you’ll stay with us if you can.25600:11:36,940 –> 00:11:37,979The message is called,25700:11:37,979 –> 00:11:40,099Jesus will confess you before the father.25800:11:40,099 –> 00:11:41,659And it’s part of our series,25900:11:41,659 –> 00:11:45,419Rock Solid Seven Promises Christ Makes to You.26000:11:45,419 –> 00:11:47,340If you’ve missed any of the series so far,26100:11:47,340 –> 00:11:49,659or if you ever want to go back and listen again,26200:11:49,659 –> 00:11:52,719It’s easy to do by coming online to our website,26300:11:52,719 –> 00:11:55,479openthebible.org.uk26400:11:55,479 –> 00:11:58,760Or you can also find Pastor Colin’s teaching as a podcast,26500:11:58,760 –> 00:12:00,979and those are on all the main podcast sites.26600:12:00,979 –> 00:12:02,780Search for openthebible.uk26700:12:02,780 –> 00:12:05,400or follow the link from our website.26800:12:05,400 –> 00:12:06,479Back to the message now,26900:12:06,500 –> 00:12:09,000we’re in Matthew 10 verse 32.27000:12:09,000 –> 00:12:10,679Here again is Colin.27100:12:10,679 –> 00:12:13,219Now, as we thought a little about what Jesus means,27200:12:13,219 –> 00:12:15,380what it means to confess, what it means to disown27300:12:15,380 –> 00:12:16,960and how our confession of Jesus27400:12:16,960 –> 00:12:20,400and His confession of us are connected together.27500:12:20,400 –> 00:12:23,380Let me just identify two things that at least to me27600:12:23,380 –> 00:12:27,099were surprising about these words of Jesus.27700:12:28,500 –> 00:12:31,140The first surprise to me was this.27800:12:32,000 –> 00:12:36,479That Jesus is not speaking to unbelievers here,27900:12:36,479 –> 00:12:38,820but to disciples.28000:12:38,820 –> 00:12:40,840If you look back to chapter 10 in verse one,28100:12:40,840 –> 00:12:43,119you’ll see it’s very clear throughout this whole chapter,28200:12:43,119 –> 00:12:45,619Jesus is speaking to the Apostles.28300:12:45,619 –> 00:12:48,219He is speaking to those who have made a commitment28400:12:48,219 –> 00:12:50,580to follow Him already.28500:12:50,580 –> 00:12:53,099So if you are a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ,28600:12:53,099 –> 00:12:55,219if you are truly a Christian,28700:12:55,219 –> 00:12:59,520this statement of the Lord Jesus is especially for you,28800:12:59,520 –> 00:13:00,780it is for me.28900:13:01,679 –> 00:13:03,880See, when we read about confessing Jesus,29000:13:03,880 –> 00:13:06,520we immediately think, oh, this must be evangelism,29100:13:06,520 –> 00:13:09,340calling people who are unconverted to make a decision29200:13:09,340 –> 00:13:10,960and to confess Christ.29300:13:10,960 –> 00:13:13,640Well, surely there’s an application in that regard,29400:13:13,640 –> 00:13:17,320but Jesus is not speaking to the unbelieving world here,29500:13:17,320 –> 00:13:19,580He is speaking to disciples,29600:13:19,580 –> 00:13:21,700and He’s speaking to them at the very moment29700:13:21,700 –> 00:13:23,940when He’s sending them out on a mission trip.29800:13:25,000 –> 00:13:27,599He’s telling us, therefore,29900:13:27,599 –> 00:13:29,960what He is calling us to do30000:13:29,960 –> 00:13:33,000as those who are committed to follow Him.30100:13:33,840 –> 00:13:36,400And the second thing that was really a surprise to me30200:13:36,400 –> 00:13:40,239looking at this is that when you read the chapter,30300:13:40,239 –> 00:13:42,919and we’ve read a large part of it already today,30400:13:44,020 –> 00:13:48,200you discover that Jesus is not talking about something easy,30500:13:49,000 –> 00:13:52,440but He is talking about something hard.30600:13:53,419 –> 00:13:55,580You see, you read this verse,30700:13:55,659 –> 00:13:58,700whoever acknowledges me,30800:13:58,700 –> 00:14:00,380so you say, oh, this sounds pretty easy.30900:14:00,380 –> 00:14:01,559That’s what I have to do?31000:14:01,559 –> 00:14:03,099Oh, I just have to acknowledge Jesus?31100:14:03,099 –> 00:14:04,320Oh, right, okay.31200:14:04,320 –> 00:14:05,820I have to say that He’s the Savior?31300:14:05,820 –> 00:14:08,219I have to say that I believe in him?31400:14:09,640 –> 00:14:11,659Nothing very difficult about that.31500:14:12,820 –> 00:14:15,440So you read this verse and you might be tempted to think,31600:14:15,440 –> 00:14:17,900oh, this is the easiest thing in the world,31700:14:19,179 –> 00:14:21,219but in actual fact, we’re going to see today31800:14:21,219 –> 00:14:22,500that it’s the opposite.31900:14:22,500 –> 00:14:24,500It’s the very hardest.32000:14:24,539 –> 00:14:26,539Look with me at the context.32100:14:26,539 –> 00:14:27,580Verse 16.32200:14:27,580 –> 00:14:29,739See what Jesus is saying?32300:14:29,739 –> 00:14:31,080He says to his disciples,32400:14:31,080 –> 00:14:36,080I am sending you out as sheep among wolves.32500:14:36,900 –> 00:14:40,559What chance do sheep have among wolves?32600:14:41,460 –> 00:14:45,340Verse 17, they will hand you over to the local councils32700:14:45,340 –> 00:14:47,700and flog you in their synagogues.32800:14:48,619 –> 00:14:50,380Verse 18, this is all what’s going to happen32900:14:50,380 –> 00:14:51,460on the mission trip.33000:14:51,460 –> 00:14:53,900On my account, you will be brought33100:14:53,900 –> 00:14:56,859before governors and kings.33200:14:56,859 –> 00:14:59,780Verse 19, when they arrest you.33300:14:59,780 –> 00:15:03,619Verse 21, brother will betray brother to death,33400:15:03,619 –> 00:15:05,799children will have parents put to death.33500:15:05,799 –> 00:15:09,219Verse 22, all men will hate you because of me.33600:15:09,219 –> 00:15:12,419Verse 23, when you are persecuted in one place,33700:15:12,419 –> 00:15:13,260flee to another.33800:15:13,260 –> 00:15:15,900Not if you are persecuted, when you are persecuted.33900:15:15,900 –> 00:15:19,940Verse 28, do not be afraid of those who kill the body34000:15:19,940 –> 00:15:22,239and cannot kill the soul.34100:15:22,239 –> 00:15:25,479So Jesus is describing what lies ahead of them34200:15:25,479 –> 00:15:27,219in the mission that he’s sending them out to.34300:15:27,219 –> 00:15:29,700Not just at this moment, but in the mission34400:15:29,700 –> 00:15:32,219that lies ahead of these disciples through their life.34500:15:32,219 –> 00:15:34,739And he then says to them, verse 32,34600:15:34,739 –> 00:15:37,739whoever acknowledges me before men,34700:15:38,739 –> 00:15:42,919I will acknowledge him before my father in heaven.34800:15:44,219 –> 00:15:47,299Now, you see, suddenly when you see where Jesus says this34900:15:47,380 –> 00:15:50,239and to whom he says it and the context,35000:15:50,239 –> 00:15:52,440you realize that this confessing of Jesus35100:15:52,440 –> 00:15:55,479is obviously gonna be the most demanding,35200:15:55,479 –> 00:16:00,479challenging thing in all of these men’s lives.35300:16:01,039 –> 00:16:02,559It’s gonna be done in courts.35400:16:02,559 –> 00:16:05,320It’s going to be done on pain of floggings.35500:16:05,320 –> 00:16:07,760It’s going to be done in the most desperate35600:16:07,760 –> 00:16:10,260and violent of situations.35700:16:12,479 –> 00:16:15,619Now, folks, as we try and apply the scripture to us today,35800:16:16,599 –> 00:16:20,359we have to understand that what Jesus is speaking about here35900:16:22,039 –> 00:16:26,679is not some light, easy, hey, I’m a Christian.36000:16:28,299 –> 00:16:32,159He’s describing something that will be the most demanding,36100:16:32,159 –> 00:16:35,200challenging thing in your entire life.36200:16:37,679 –> 00:16:42,000And the question, therefore, that is on my mind36300:16:42,039 –> 00:16:45,719as I’ve tried to meditate about these scriptures36400:16:45,719 –> 00:16:50,719is simply this, what does it mean36500:16:52,299 –> 00:16:57,299for us to confess Christ in America?36600:17:00,099 –> 00:17:03,380See you know, from history,36700:17:03,380 –> 00:17:05,180that since Jesus spoke these words,36800:17:05,180 –> 00:17:08,939there have been a long line of faithful men and women36900:17:08,939 –> 00:17:10,619who have been tortured for their faith,37000:17:10,619 –> 00:17:11,939who have laid down their lives37100:17:11,939 –> 00:17:14,260and never more than in our lifetime.37200:17:16,319 –> 00:17:19,800And there are some here who have suffered significantly37300:17:19,800 –> 00:17:22,420for your profession of faith in Christ.37400:17:23,939 –> 00:17:27,479There are some among us here in our congregation,37500:17:27,479 –> 00:17:30,199you have been disowned by your family37600:17:30,199 –> 00:17:32,239because of your faith in Jesus.37700:17:33,239 –> 00:17:35,959There are some who have been cut out of an inheritance,37800:17:35,959 –> 00:17:39,040cut out of a will because of your faith37900:17:39,079 –> 00:17:40,660in the Lord Jesus Christ.38000:17:40,660 –> 00:17:42,560There are others among us who have suffered38100:17:42,560 –> 00:17:47,560in other particular ways but not most of us.38200:17:49,560 –> 00:17:53,359I have never been beaten up for my faith in Christ.38300:17:53,359 –> 00:17:56,339I have never been imprisoned far less tortured.38400:17:58,099 –> 00:18:02,619I’ve experienced hatred, but never beyond words.38500:18:03,560 –> 00:18:08,560So what does it mean for me to confess the Lord Jesus Christ?38600:18:09,760 –> 00:18:13,880I mean, let’s not think that when we say,38700:18:13,880 –> 00:18:16,719oh, I’m a Christian in this environment38800:18:16,719 –> 00:18:18,560where we are so protected38900:18:18,560 –> 00:18:22,239that that somehow aligns itself with the costliness39000:18:22,239 –> 00:18:24,119of what Jesus is describing here39100:18:24,119 –> 00:18:27,040and the costliness of what our brothers and sisters39200:18:27,040 –> 00:18:29,760in Jesus Christ are experiencing right now39300:18:29,760 –> 00:18:31,319in other places in the world.39400:18:32,739 –> 00:18:34,260So you see, my question,39500:18:35,459 –> 00:18:40,680what does it mean for us39600:18:40,819 –> 00:18:45,339to confess Jesus Christ in America,39700:18:45,339 –> 00:18:48,199given that this confession that Jesus describes39800:18:48,199 –> 00:18:50,140is clearly for disciples,39900:18:50,140 –> 00:18:52,300the hardest thing they will ever do in their lives,40000:18:52,300 –> 00:18:54,599the most challenging thing you will ever face?40100:18:56,459 –> 00:18:58,300And I want to answer that question40200:18:58,300 –> 00:19:01,359by suggesting to you seven ways40300:19:01,420 –> 00:19:05,520in which we can confess Jesus Christ.40400:19:05,520 –> 00:19:10,520Seven ways in which we can confess the Lord Jesus Christ.40500:19:12,400 –> 00:19:14,839And I commend these to you,40600:19:14,839 –> 00:19:17,280they relate to particular situations40700:19:17,280 –> 00:19:19,939in which some of us find ourselves right now.40800:19:21,339 –> 00:19:23,640And they give us the opportunity40900:19:23,640 –> 00:19:28,640to do what Jesus is saying right here.41000:19:29,500 –> 00:19:31,219Now, the first one really is the easiest,41100:19:31,239 –> 00:19:34,020perhaps they’re in ascending order of difficulty.41200:19:35,260 –> 00:19:39,959You can confess the Lordship of Jesus Christ in baptism.41300:19:39,959 –> 00:19:41,300Just very briefly on this,41400:19:41,300 –> 00:19:44,380Christian faith involves a clear cut drawing41500:19:44,380 –> 00:19:46,000of the line in the sand.41600:19:46,000 –> 00:19:48,680You move from being a seeker to being a confessor,41700:19:48,680 –> 00:19:50,079you take your stand with Jesus,41800:19:50,079 –> 00:19:52,239you become one word with him.41900:19:52,239 –> 00:19:53,920And that is not a private matter,42000:19:53,920 –> 00:19:56,180it is in the new testament a public matter42100:19:56,180 –> 00:19:58,459and that is the significance of baptism,42200:19:58,459 –> 00:20:00,979that’s why we have a dedication for children,42300:20:00,979 –> 00:20:05,119because they can’t confess Jesus as Lord right now,42400:20:05,119 –> 00:20:08,300we have a dedication and prayer and teaching for them42500:20:08,300 –> 00:20:10,420in anticipation of the day, when they will,42600:20:10,420 –> 00:20:12,260and that will happen in baptism.42700:20:12,260 –> 00:20:14,280Have you been baptized as a believer?42800:20:15,619 –> 00:20:17,119And if not, why not?42900:20:18,579 –> 00:20:22,420Second, you can confess the glory of Christ43000:20:22,420 –> 00:20:24,819in costly obedience.43100:20:25,660 –> 00:20:28,140Now I want to encourage us as a congregation this morning,43200:20:28,140 –> 00:20:31,739because in all of these ways of confession,43300:20:31,739 –> 00:20:33,859I have to tell you my own heart is moved43400:20:33,859 –> 00:20:36,380and my own faith is greatly strengthened43500:20:37,219 –> 00:20:40,979by seeing examples of this happening among us43600:20:40,979 –> 00:20:42,819in this very congregation.43700:20:43,739 –> 00:20:46,660Jesus said, the Kingdom of Heaven43800:20:46,660 –> 00:20:49,300is like treasure hidden in a field.43900:20:49,300 –> 00:20:51,359When a man finds it, he hides it again,44000:20:51,359 –> 00:20:53,780and then with joy he sells everything he has44100:20:53,780 –> 00:20:56,219in order to buy the field.44200:20:56,219 –> 00:20:57,260In other words, Jesus says,44300:20:57,260 –> 00:20:59,900when you see something of supreme value,44400:20:59,900 –> 00:21:04,119you go after it irrespective of cost.44500:21:04,119 –> 00:21:07,739And I see that happening in costly obedience44600:21:07,739 –> 00:21:10,959widely among us as a congregation.44700:21:10,959 –> 00:21:14,199Some of us are stretching ourselves out44800:21:14,199 –> 00:21:17,380in serving Jesus Christ as never before.44900:21:18,920 –> 00:21:21,819Some of us are stretching ourselves out45000:21:21,819 –> 00:21:25,979in giving to Jesus Christ as never before.45100:21:26,060 –> 00:21:29,880Costly acts are proclaiming,45200:21:29,880 –> 00:21:34,880confessing the glory of Jesus Christ.45300:21:35,500 –> 00:21:38,380I love the story in the Gospels of Mary45400:21:38,380 –> 00:21:42,060who had this flask of perfume45500:21:43,140 –> 00:21:45,739and it was very valuable,45600:21:45,739 –> 00:21:48,239so valuable that it had become a family heirloom45700:21:48,239 –> 00:21:50,819passed down perhaps through the generations.45800:21:51,619 –> 00:21:55,140And so here’s this nest egg45900:21:56,160 –> 00:22:01,160and Mary seeing Christ just before the crucifixion,46000:22:02,619 –> 00:22:07,619she takes it and she breaks it over the feet of Jesus.46100:22:09,660 –> 00:22:12,300Jesus says, she has done something beautiful.46200:22:13,140 –> 00:22:15,900In this act of costly obedience46300:22:16,520 –> 00:22:21,060she has confessed the glory of Christ.46400:22:22,420 –> 00:22:24,380You’ve been listening to pastor Colin Smith46500:22:24,380 –> 00:22:25,500on Open the Bible,46600:22:25,500 –> 00:22:26,520with a message called,46700:22:26,520 –> 00:22:29,739Jesus will confess you before the father.46800:22:29,739 –> 00:22:33,500Based on Matthew chapter 10 and verse 32.46900:22:33,500 –> 00:22:34,760It’s part of a series,47000:22:34,760 –> 00:22:38,060rock solid seven promises Christ makes to you.47100:22:38,060 –> 00:22:39,760And if you’ve missed any of the series47200:22:39,760 –> 00:22:40,979or if you tuned in late47300:22:40,979 –> 00:22:43,260or if you ever want to go back and listen again,47400:22:43,260 –> 00:22:44,900you can do that by coming online47500:22:44,900 –> 00:22:48,380to our website, openthebible.org.uk.47600:22:49,520 –> 00:22:51,619Open the Bible is able to stay on the air47700:22:51,619 –> 00:22:52,859and on the internet47800:22:52,859 –> 00:22:55,699because of the very generous financial support47900:22:55,699 –> 00:22:57,660that we received from our listeners.48000:22:57,660 –> 00:22:59,780So if you’re already give to support48100:22:59,780 –> 00:23:01,219Open the Bible in that way,48200:23:01,219 –> 00:23:02,780thank you so much.48300:23:02,780 –> 00:23:05,300If that’s something you’d like to begin to do,48400:23:05,300 –> 00:23:07,060this month we have an offer.48500:23:07,060 –> 00:23:09,660If you’re able to begin a new direct debit48600:23:09,660 –> 00:23:11,420to the work of Open the Bible48700:23:11,520 –> 00:23:13,739for five pounds per month or more,48800:23:13,739 –> 00:23:16,819or a one off gift of 50 pounds or more,48900:23:16,819 –> 00:23:18,280we’d love to say thank you49000:23:18,280 –> 00:23:19,900by sending you two copies49100:23:19,900 –> 00:23:22,959of Pastor Colin’s book, Christmas Stories,49200:23:22,959 –> 00:23:25,819and also five beautiful Christmas cards49300:23:25,819 –> 00:23:28,339based on the illustrations from the book.49400:23:28,339 –> 00:23:29,540Christmas Stories is49500:23:29,540 –> 00:23:31,479a retelling of the Christmas story49600:23:31,479 –> 00:23:34,619from the point of view of various biblical characters49700:23:34,619 –> 00:23:37,479including Adam, Joseph,49800:23:37,479 –> 00:23:40,979even King Herod and the angel, Gabriel.49900:23:40,979 –> 00:23:43,540Colin, this book will make a great Christmas gift,50000:23:43,540 –> 00:23:44,459don’t you think?50100:23:44,459 –> 00:23:46,540You know it’s beautifully produced50200:23:46,540 –> 00:23:50,219and it’s just designed to be read50300:23:50,219 –> 00:23:53,239with some friends, with family at Christmastime.50400:23:53,239 –> 00:23:55,900So picture yourself in your home50500:23:55,900 –> 00:23:58,479or wherever you’re gathering, with some friends50600:23:58,479 –> 00:24:00,699and someone says,50700:24:00,699 –> 00:24:03,420let’s read one of the Christmas stories50800:24:03,420 –> 00:24:05,859and here you’ve got the Christmas story50900:24:05,859 –> 00:24:07,819through the eyes of the angel, Gabriel,51000:24:07,819 –> 00:24:10,060through the eyes of Mary, Joseph, Simeon,51100:24:10,079 –> 00:24:11,339and even King Herod51200:24:11,339 –> 00:24:13,979and each of them could be read quite easily51300:24:13,979 –> 00:24:15,359in maybe just 10 minutes51400:24:15,359 –> 00:24:18,500but the heart of the Gospel is in all of them51500:24:18,500 –> 00:24:20,319and that’s what we wanted to encourage51600:24:20,319 –> 00:24:22,260that families and friends51700:24:22,260 –> 00:24:24,959would have a new Christmas tradition.51800:24:24,959 –> 00:24:29,280Take a few minutes to read part of the Christmas story51900:24:29,280 –> 00:24:31,280and here’s a beautiful gift book52000:24:31,280 –> 00:24:32,880that would enable you to do this52100:24:32,880 –> 00:24:35,479with your family or with your friends.52200:24:35,479 –> 00:24:38,380Well, we’d love to send you two copies of this book,52300:24:38,380 –> 00:24:40,839Christmas Stories by Pastor Colin Smith52400:24:40,839 –> 00:24:43,339and five lovely Christmas cards52500:24:43,339 –> 00:24:45,839if you are able to setup a new direct debit52600:24:45,839 –> 00:24:47,540to the work of Open the Bible52700:24:47,540 –> 00:24:49,719for £5 per month or more52800:24:49,719 –> 00:24:52,900or a one off gift of £50 or more52900:24:52,900 –> 00:24:55,280full terms and conditions on our website53000:24:55,280 –> 00:24:57,739and please don’t give anonymously53100:24:57,739 –> 00:25:01,619and include your full name and address.53200:25:01,619 –> 00:25:05,540Our website address is www.openthebible.org.uk53300:25:05,800 –> 00:25:06,819For Open the Bible53400:25:06,819 –> 00:25:08,260and Pastor Colin Smith53500:25:08,260 –> 00:25:09,400I’m David Pick53600:25:09,400 –> 00:25:10,979Thanks for joining us today53700:25:10,979 –> 00:25:12,699and I hope we will see you again soon.53800:25:18,319 –> 00:25:19,959Confessing Jesus Christ53900:25:19,959 –> 00:25:21,680will be the most challenging thing54000:25:21,680 –> 00:25:24,079you will have to face in life.54100:25:24,079 –> 00:25:25,739What does it mean to confess Christ54200:25:25,739 –> 00:25:27,579in our culture today?54300:25:27,579 –> 00:25:29,719Find out next time on Open the Bible.