The vast majority of those
who profess to be "Christians" in this day actually deny the Lord Jesus Christ!
Christ said in Mark 8:38 "Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my
words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man
be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels."
There are two things revealed in this statement as inseparable; Christ and His
Words. That is, whatever represents Christ and His Words on earth, if they are
denied by men and women, Christ will deny these same people for all eternity.
What represents Christ and His Words on earth? It is His Church and His Gospel!
It is the message of salvation by the free and sovereign grace of God altogether
dependent on the merits of Christ's blood and the people who proclaim it,
believe it and who gather around this gospel to "worship God in the spirit,
rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh." (Phil.3:3) These
"little flocks" and this unpopular message are rejected by this religious world.
The evidence that we have heard the true gospel and believed on Christ in our
heart is that we willingly and immediately publicly confess and identify with
"Christ and His Words." The once religious Paul the apostle said he "was before
as blasphemer" but now declares "I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for
it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew
first, and also to the Greek." (Rom.1:16) When his stand for Christ and His
Words landed him in prison he wrote, "Be not thou therefore ashamed of the
testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the
afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;" (II Tim.1:8) Religious,
social or family connections will not keep the true believer from confessing and
identifying with the people and gospel of Christ. Christ drew the line when He
said, "Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his
cross, and follow me." (Mark 8:34) Will we come after Him or will we be ashamed
of Him? There is no straddling of the fence. He said all who are not for Him are
against Him and those who gather not, scatter abroad. Are you ashamed of Christ?
When people were first called "Christians," it was a name of contempt cast on
them by unbelieving religionists. Those early believers wore this name as a
badge of honor because it was a blessing to be persecuted "for Christ's sake."