“IF I DON’T PUBLICLY CONFESS, i’m NOT A BELIEVER?”
Apr 10, 2019
ETERNAL SECURITY: PART 12
READ TIME: 2-3 MINUTES
“Dave, is Matthew 10:32-33 teaching that if I don’t publicly confess Christ, I’m not a believer?”
I’m thankful to Charlie Bing and Dennis Rokser for the following answer.
CONCISE ANSWER:
If a Christian does not confess Jesus publicly or is ashamed of Him, that person will be denied the reward of Jesus’s commendation before God the Father.
A MORE IN-DEPTH ANSWER
Matthew 10 explains Jesus Christ’s selection of His apostles (10:14), their targeted audience—Jews only (10:5-6), their message of the Gospel of the Kingdom (10:7), their demonstration of Christ’s power (10:8), and their physical provisions (10:9-10). Christ anticipates that some would receive their message and others would reject it (10:11-15) and that they will experience much persecution due to their Kingdom message (10:16-23).
Comparing Jesus’s statement in Matthew with His similar statement in Luke 12: 8-9, we find in both a common context about not fearing to speak to others about Christ. Though this could be a general principle, it certainly is addressed to the disciples first as both a warning and an encouragement.
One can identify with the world, lose his life, and earn Christ’s shame, or one can identify with Christ. Jesus’s confessing or denying a confession and being ashamed are issues of rewards deserved by believers.
He will be ashamed in the sense of refusing to acknowledge him or her with a commendation before the Father.
To those who have a relationship with Jesus Christ, to earn a word of approval or disapproval, or to make Christ ashamed would have a great motivating impact. Disapproval and shame assume a degree of relationship.
Our Lord then explains to them not the cost of salvation (which Christ fully paid at Calvary) but the cost of discipleship in being a devoted and faithful follower of Jesus Christ amidst anticipated persecution and rejection (10:24-42).
It is in this context that Jesus Christ declares verses 32-33. What is at stake for these believers whom Christ challenged to follow after Him in discipleship (10:38)? Is it their eternal salvation? No, they were already saved (except for Judas).
It is Christ’s positive confession to the Father regarding the disciples’ faithful service resulting in them receiving a reward or Christ denying them a reward they could have obtained had they been faithful to Him (see Matt. 10:41-42).
This passage does not teach that eternal salvation can be lost as it is a gift from God (Eph. 2:8), not a reward (Rom. 4:4-5). But what Christ’s disciples could lose was a potential reward they would have received for faithful service to the Lord. This echoes the same basic truth that Paul later taught Church-age believers in Christ in 1 Corinthians 3:14-15.
Our Savior’s approval or disapproval of our conduct and choices should be a motivation to us who are children of a Heavenly Father. In the end, it is the only approval that matters. Publicly identifying with Jesus Christ may or may not win approval from others in this world, but either way, the effect is temporary. God’s approval is eternal.
SOURCE USED
Bing, Charles C. Grace, Salvation, and Discipleship: How to Understand Some Difficult Bible Passages. Grace Theology Press, 78-80.
Rokser, Dennis M. Shall Never Perish Forever. Grace Gospel Press.