A PUBLIC PROFESSION OF OUR FAITH

ISAIAH 44:5

A. "ONE SHALL SAY, I AM THE LORD'S; AND ANOTHER SHALL CALL HIMSELF BY THE NAME OF JACOB; AND ANOTHER SHALL SUBSCRIBE WITH HIS HAND UNTO THE LORD, AND SURNAME HIMSELF BY THE NAME OF ISRAEL."
  1. Our text reveals that believers have different ways to express their attachment to God and His people:
    1. One does it by a public statement. "One shall say, I am the Lord's".
    2. Another shall emphasize that he is attached to the name of Jacob. "Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and men, and hast prevailed" - Gen. 32:28
    3. And others will make the name "Israel" their name.
  2. All add up to give emphasis to one's belief; it is a public mark readable by the public: Matt. 5:14-16
B. THERE ARE, AS WE HAVE LEARNED FROM OUR OPENING TEXT, DIFFERENT WAYS TO GIVE EXPRESSION TO OUR FAITH
  1. One may stress the fact that he belongs to Christ:
    1. That is very important - Matt. 10:32; Luke 12:8
    2. To fail to identify ourselves with Christ is a denial of our faith.
      1. Peter had failed in this at the arrest of our Lord - Mark 14:66-72; John 13:36-38
      2. But Peter was not alone in this; the other disciples fled when they saw what was happening to their leader - Matt. 26:56; Mark 14:50
  2. Another believer may see great significance in a name:
    1. The Jews placed great emphasis upon a name - John 8:33-39
    2. Christ, too, emphasizes a public acknowledgement of His name - Matt. 10:22; 24:9; Luke 21:17
    3. So did Paul - Acts 21:13
    4. Bearing the name of Christ is very important.
  3. Still another shall subscribe with his hand unto the Lord:
    1. These people feel that a written confession has greater weight to publicize their attachment to the truth.
    2. Read prayerfully Neh. 9:38; 10:1-29; Gal. 6:16; 1 Pet. 2:9
C. BLESSING OF A PUBLIC CONFESSION
  1. It is a public acknowledgement that Christ and His cause are ours too:
    1. We are not ashamed to be identified with Jesus Christ and His cause - Rom. 1:16, 17
    2. The propagation of Christianity is our main business - Luke 2:49
  2. Jesus Christ has an original right on us and our lives:
    1. He created us - John 1:1-3; Eph. 3:9; Col. 1:15-17
    2. He redeemed us - Gal. 2:20; Gal. 3:13; Isa. 43:1- 7; Rom. 14:7-9
  3. It is a great honor and a personal privilege to belong to Jesus Christ and His church: Rom. 14:7-11; Acts 26:1-29
  4. There is great power in a public confession:
    1. Think of the effect of the confession of Elijah upon apostate Israel! 1 Ki. 18; 19; Daniel and his friends moved the heart and life of pagan rulers to acknowledge the God of Israel - Dan. 2; 3; 4; 5; 6; Peter's testimony - Acts 2:3
    2. A book of remembrance is written for those who freely confess the Lord in public - Mal. 3:16, 17
    3. The blind man that received his sight did not hesitate to confess Christ - John 9:23-27
    4. That is how one brother won the other for the Lord - John 1:41
    5. Read prayerfully Rom. 14:11; Phil. 2:10, 11


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