The basic message # E14
Matthew 10:32-33
“Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven.”
Jesus really lays it down in this passage. I get frustrated when I hear Christians debating fine points of the Bible while ignoring power scriptures like the one above that needs no interpretation. The only thing that may need our study and consideration is what “disown” means. When I disown someone, I’m making a powerful statement- “I want nothing to do with you”. If we disown Jesus, does that affect our salvation? The scripture above tells us that Jesus will disown us before God if we disown him. I have to believe that anyone disowned won’t be allowed to enter Heaven. Is there any other way to view it? We come from a famous line-up of people who disowned Christ. Try this one:
Matthew 26:34-35
“I tell you the truth,” Jesus answered, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” But Peter declared, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the other disciples said the same.
I always find it incredible that Peter, knowing that Jesus Christ was the Son of God, could believe that Jesus could be wrong in his prediction of Peter’s denial. On Sunday morning we’re probably all like Peter. We’re strutting around righteous and holy, but just wait until Monday morning- then everything changes. What’s up with that? How do we deny Christ in our world? It’s really quite simple- we deny Christ every time we do something that Jesus wouldn’t do. Like what? No need to wonder, just read the red.
Matthew 5:43-44
“You have heard that is was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.”
The Master himself makes it very clear. Let me ask you a question- How can a person claim to love and follow Christ, yet hate his brother? I know white people who go to church regularly that genuinely hate black people. This is the most radical contradiction I can imagine. A person will go to church and sing “Oh How I Love Jesus” at the top of their lungs, yet harbor hatred in their heart towards another person of a different race who is singing the same song at a church down the street. I must assume that a person lives in rebellion if he knows what Christ commands, yet rejects the commands. If that person continues in rebellion for a lifetime, which millions do, will he enter heaven? I believe that person has disowned Christ, and will be disowned by God. But what about Peter, you say? Matthew 26:75 tells us that after the rooster crowed, Peter “went outside and wept bitterly”. In essence, Peter repented. As we all know, Peter’s weakness was made strong in the Lord, but Peter had to first become repentant for his actions. If a person lives their entire life as a racist without any feeling of repentance, what will become of them? Please don’t misunderstand- we’re all sinners. The difference is whether we choose to continue in that sin or repent. Willful disobedience = disowning Christ. Agree or disagree?