Who Do YOU Say Jesus Is?
When Jesus took His apostles into the mountains near Caesarea Philippi, (Matthew 16:13 – 20) He asked them a very interesting question. He had been teaching for quite some time by now, and the fame of Jesus had spread throughout the nation of Israel and even to some Gentiles. He asked them, “Who do men say that I the Son of man am?” They answered, “Some say you are John the Baptist; some Elias; and others Jeremias, or one of the prophets.” Then Jesus put the question squarely to them. “But whom say you that I am?” Peter is the one who answered, saying, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” What a powerful admission!
It is this admission, i.e., confession, we make before we are immersed into Christ for the remission of our sins (cf. Acts 8:37). It is this admission/confession every mouth will make on the day of judgment (Philippians 2:9 – 11). It is this confession that permits Jesus to confess us before His Father (Matthew 10:32). Obviously, there is no greater admission of our faith than to utter those words, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God.”
If you were personally asked this question, how would you answer it? To many in our present world, Jesus is nothing more than a desired helper when one is troubled beyond one’s endurance. After the difficulty passes, Jesus is quickly forgotten, neglected, and ignored as He was before trouble came. To others, He is considered their Savior, but apart from stating their conviction, they do nothing to pattern their lives after the example of Jesus (see 1 Peter 2:21). Still others simply do not care who Jesus is, and therefore have no compunction to express the least bit of interest in Him. To them, the answer to our question would be, “Who cares?” What a shame! How sorrowful these souls will be on judgment day when every knee shall bow, and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:9 – 11). Even if against their present will, no soul will escape this admission at judgment. Every soul eternally bound in Hell will have confessed this truth: those who never believed it, and those who may have believed it, but refused to prove it via their lives! Further, judgment day will be too late to regret having never appreciated the integrity of the statement, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”
Consider that reality when you read 2 Thessalonians 1: 7 – 9. Two groups of lost souls are mentioned in that passage: 1) those who knew not God (1 John 2:3) and 2) those who may have known Him at some time in their lives, but failed to continue in the faith, rooted and grounded in Him in love (Ephesians 3: 14 – 19).
To those of us who have made that good confession, and obeyed the gospel by repenting of our sins, then being immersed into Christ Jesus for remission of our sins, the value of that admission remains very keen in our lives. We realize that before our immersion and at the judgment are not the only times we must confess that Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God. Our very lives – all that we say and all that we do – must be a proclamation of this admission! As James says, “Show me thy faith without thy works, and I’ll show thee my faith by my works.” (James 2:18) Just how do we answer the question?
“Jesus is my Redeemer.” (1 Peter 1:18 -21) Those of us who honestly and truly value the statement of Jesus being the Son of God, realize what a great price He paid for our redemption, and we are not ashamed to declare it in either word or deed.
“Jesus is my Savior.” (Titus 1:4; 2:13) This was the purpose of Jesus coming to earth, viz. to save mankind from their sins. Without His sacrifice, we would be lost in our sins – eternally lost! (Hebrews 10: 1 – 10) To declare Him as the only begotten Son of God is to announce the reality of Jesus being our Savior.
“Jesus is my King and my High Priest.” (1 Timothy 6: 13 – 16) I need a Ruler of my soul, One who has my best interests at heart, and disciplines me when I go astray (Hebrews 12: 3 – 17). He is the One God the Father appointed King and High Priest after the order of Melchesidec (Hebrews 7), Without beginning or ending of days, my King and High Priest is eternal (Hebrews 13:8). Declaring my faith that Jesus is the only begotten Son of God leads others to learn of this eternal King and High Priest.
“Jesus is my intercessor and my mediator.” (Romans 8:34; Hebrews 7:25; 1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 12:24). I need this heavenly being to plead my case before the Father. Jesus is the perfect being to do this! He was tempted in all points as I am (Hebrews 4:15) and therefore understands me and loved me enough to die for me (1 John 3:16; John 15:13). When I declare to all of mankind, “Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God,” I am admitting my faith in the only being that loves me that much! I want all the world to know Whom I have believed, and by Whom I am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day! (2 Timothy 1:12)
But there is a question we must ask in relationship to this confession: With the confession made before immersion, and the same confession made at the judgment day, the question is, WILL HAVING CONFESSED TWICE BE ENOUGH? I doubt it! The more I confess Him, the more others will hear of Him and the more He will confess me before the Father. Yes, I’ll confess Him many times!