By: George Zellar

Luke 12:4-12

As blood-bought believers it is our privilege to proudly confess that Christ is our Lord (Rom. 10:9-10). The word “confess” [homo–same; logeô–to speak] means “to speak the same thing, to agree.” Thus we are to publically and vocally agree with what God has said concerning His Son (1 John 5:9-12). May we not be afraid to publically claim Him as our own. During the great Christian persecutions of the second and third centuries, those believers who would not deny the Lord, even at the risk of great suffering, torture and martyrdom, were known as confessors. May we never be ashamed of the God who was unashamed to die for us (2 Tim. 1:8; Rom. 1:16; 1 Pet. 4:16). “Let the redeemed of the LORD say so” (Psalm 107:2). How can we who have been redeemed not proudly speak of our Redeemer?

“We must not be ashamed to let all men see that we believe in Christ and serve Christ and love Christ and care more for the praise of Christ than for the praise of man. The duty of confessing Christ is incumbent on all Christians in every age of the church. It is not for great occasions only, but for our daily walk through an evil world. It needs no blowing of a trumpet. It requires no noisy boasting. But one thing is certain—if a man loves Jesus, he ought not to be ashamed to let people know it” (J. C. Ryle).

As believers in Christ, may we like Timothy confess a good confession before all men (1 Tim. 6:12). May the world see that the Christ we name with our lips is the God we serve withour lives! May we not be ashamed of the Gospel (Rom. 1:16), and may we not be a shame to the Gospel (Phil. 1:27).

George W. Zeller has served on the staff of the Middletown Bible Church for more than 40 years. He is a graduate of Grace Theological Seminary where he studied under Dr. John Whitcomb. He has written numerous Sunday School lessons, Bible study materials, doctrinal booklets, and various papers on a wide range of Biblical topics. These studies are accessible at www.middletownbiblechurch.org.

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