The Shepherd's Scrawl: February 2019

Sunday, February 24, 2019
Series: "Pillars of a Vibrant Christian Life"
Part 5: "We Have a Great Confession" [to Make]
Key Scriptures: Matthew 16:13-20; 1 Corinthians 15:1-8
Delivered at: Community Baptist Church, Wappingers Falls, New York.

Listen to this message HERE

This morning we will continue in the series of messages I began last month, called:

9 Pillars of a Vibrant Christian Life

Definitions:

Pillar: any upright, supporting part; post

Vibrant: pulsating with vigor and energy; vigorous; energetic; vital; exciting; stimulating; lively

Last time we put the first pillar in place:

“A Great Commandment”

Today we are installing the second pillar, and you’ll begin to see the pattern of this series of messages taking shape.

The Second Great Pillar of a Vibrant Christian Life is: A Great Confession

The word “confess” is used in two different ways in the Bible.

It is used of confessing, or admitting, your sin:

1 John 1:9

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

James 5:16:

“Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.”

But the word “confess” is also used in another way: to state your belief or firm conviction, as in:

Romans 10:9-10

That if you confess 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 confess and are saved.

Here the word “Confess” means “to make a clear and firm statement of what you believe to be true.” Or “to publicly declare where your allegiance lies.”

Joshua did this famously in Joshua 24:15: “Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

In Matthew 16:13-18, Jesus asks His disciples to make a statement in which they would declare their belief in Him:

¹³ When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” ¹⁴ They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” ¹⁵ “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” ¹⁶ Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” ¹⁷ Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. ¹⁸ And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.

Here are a few other statements, or “confessions,” that appear in the New Testament:

1 John 4:1-3

¹ Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. ² This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, ³ but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.

1 Timothy 1:15

Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.

2 Timothy 2:11-13

Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us; if we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself.

Ephesians 4:4-6

There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called—one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

1 Corinthians 15:1-8

¹ Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. ² By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. ³ For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, ⁴ that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, ⁵ and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. ⁶ After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. ⁷ Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, ⁸and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.

1 Timothy 3:16

Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great: He appeared in a body, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory.

Sometimes, our “confession of faith” is called a “creed.”

A Creed is: an authoritative, formulated statement of the chief articles of Christian belief.

The Apostles’ Creed

1. I believe in God the Father, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth:

2. And in Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son, our Lord:

3. Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary:

4. Suffered under Pontius Pilate; was crucified, dead and buried: He descended into hell:

5. The third day he rose again from the dead:

6. He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty:

7. From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead:

8. I believe in the Holy Ghost:

9. I believe in the holy catholic church: the communion of saints:

10. The forgiveness of sins:

11. The resurrection of the body:

12. And the life everlasting. Amen.

“These Are the Facts” Michael Seward 1971