Confessing ChristRecognizing Jesus Christ to be the Son of God and the willingness to publicly state that belief is essential to salvation. "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation" (Romans 10:9-10).Such a confession of Christ was required of the Ethiopian nobleman in Acts Chapter Eight. Immediately after he stated his faith in Christ, the nobleman was immersed in water for the forgiveness of his sins. "And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him" (Acts 8:36-38).Following a person's baptism into Jesus, his whole life as well as his words become public statements of belief in Christ. Then, Jesus also confesses that one to the Heavenly Father. "Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven" (Matthew 10:32). Do you believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God? Are you willing to tell others of your faith in Jesus? Have you been baptized for the forgiveness of your sins? Do you want Jesus to speak to God the Father about your faithfulness and profession of faith? The churches of Christ will gladly help you learn more about Jesus so that you might believe, confess His name and be baptized; then Jesus will confess your name to God in Heaven. |