CAN I GET A TESTAMONY?

There has always been a cost involved in "confessing" that Jesus is the Messiah:  "for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that He was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue" (Jn. 9:22).  "Confess," as it is used here, is best defined as a word meaning the opposite of the word "deny" (see Jn. 1:20; 1 Jn. 2:22-23).  May we never be ashamed to acknowledge Jesus who unashamedly died for our sin (2 Tim. 1:8; Rom. 1:16; 1 Pet. 4:16)!

"Let the redeemed of the LORD say so" (Ps. 107:2).  How can we who have been redeemed, not proudly speak of our Redeemer?  He is not ashamed to call us His brethren (Heb. 2:11).  May we not be ashamed to call Him our God and Savior.  If we confess Him before men, He will confess us before His Father in heaven (Mt. 10:32).  As I enjoy a saving relationship to Christ, I am able to say to others: "I want you to know that Jesus Christ is my Savior."  My Savior, in turn, will say to the Father, "This person belongs to Me.  He is Mine!"  On the contrary, if we deny Christ before men, He will deny us before the Father, saying "This person does not belong to Me.  I never knew him."  How tragic!

"He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before My Father, and before His angels" (Rev. 3:5).  The person who truly believes on Christ "shall not be ashamed" (Rom. 10:11).

Have you publicly confessed Christ and acknowledged that He is your Lord and Savior?  Have you shared this with your friends and loved ones?  Do they know that you are a believer in Christ?  What about the people with whom you work or go to school?  Do they know about your relationship to Christ and what He means to you?  Have you ever confessed Christ in the services of a Christ-honoring church?  This can be done at the Pastor's invitation, or at a time when prayer requests are taken, and especially at a time when testimonies are given.  And, a very clear and concise confession of faith in Christ, is publicly declared when one is baptized.

"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. Let us never forget that. It is not for martyrs only, but for all believers in every rank of life. It is not for great occasions only, but for our daily walk through an evil world. The rich man among the rich, the labourer among labourers, the young among the young, the servant among servants – each and all must be prepared, if they are true Christians, to confess their Master. It needs no blowing a trumpet. It requires no noisy boasting. It needs nothing more than using the daily opportunity. But one thing is certain – if a man loves Jesus, he ought not to be ashamed to let people know it...Whether we like it or not, whether it be hard or easy, our course is perfectly clear. In one way or another Christ must be confessed."  (J. C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels)

"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.  For the Scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed" (Rom. 10:9-11).