But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.
To deny Christ before people is to be denied before the angels of God in heaven. Those who do not confess Him now in word, life, and character cannot expect Him to confess them before His Father and the holy angels when He comes in glory, and those who have denied Him will face the great day of His wrath.
Confessing Christ is more than words or correct speech about Him. It requires Christ abiding in the soul by faith, with a holy daily life that shows the sanctifying power of the truth and expresses His mind and Spirit, His meekness and love. Conduct contrary to Christ denies Him despite a profession of faith, including evil or unkind speech, selfishness, indulgence in sinful pleasure, conformity to the world, and shrinking from life's burdens. Denial is also a life opposed to the fruits of the Spirit or opposed to God's work of separating His people from the world.
Those blessed with great light, especially students entrusted with truth, must not claim to believe the truth while striving in a tame, listless way without putting the whole heart into Christ's service, but must live the truth and practice the truth with daily prayer and watchfulness. Confessing Christ means choosing His love above the world, its honors, and its applause, and keeping a good conscience through temptation. Those who so confess Him by sharing His sacrifice for the lost are represented by Him before God and the holy angels, are seen clothed in His perfection, and will share the glory and joy of the redeemed. Those who patiently wait for Christ to acknowledge them before His Father and the holy angels will have the gates of Paradise opened to them.
To deny Christ before people is to be denied before the angels of God in heaven. Those who do not confess Him now in word, life, and character cannot expect Him to confess them before His Father and the holy angels when He comes in glory, and those who have denied Him will face the great day of His wrath.
Confessing Christ is more than words or correct speech about Him. It requires Christ abiding in the soul by faith, with a holy daily life that shows the sanctifying power of the truth and expresses His mind and Spirit, His meekness and love. Conduct contrary to Christ denies Him despite a profession of faith, including evil or unkind speech, selfishness, indulgence in sinful pleasure, conformity to the world, and shrinking from life's burdens. Denial is also a life opposed to the fruits of the Spirit or opposed to God's work of separating His people from the world.
Those blessed with great light, especially students entrusted with truth, must not claim to believe the truth while striving in a tame, listless way without putting the whole heart into Christ's service, but must live the truth and practice the truth with daily prayer and watchfulness. Confessing Christ means choosing His love above the world, its honors, and its applause, and keeping a good conscience through temptation. Those who so confess Him by sharing His sacrifice for the lost are represented by Him before God and the holy angels, are seen clothed in His perfection, and will share the glory and joy of the redeemed. Those who patiently wait for Christ to acknowledge them before His Father and the holy angels will have the gates of Paradise opened to them.