Be Ready to Confess: Who you are in Christ
There are times during life when we might step back and ask the question: “Who are you?” Then there are opportunities we will encounter during our walk through life when we will be challenged to voice our answer to the question: “Who are you?” In both situations (both alone with our own self & with the question voiced to us), we must be prepared to give an answer. However, the answer we give is of significance, of upmost importance, and is quite staggering to the watching world.
In the Bible, we see the scene revealed when a man faced a time such as this, when men of the church came from Jerusalem to ask him the question: “Who are you?”, and he had to be prepared to voice his answer. Today, this same question (the one asked thousands of years ago) still rings true for followers of Christ Jesus. Evangelical Christians must be ready in a span of a second to give answer to the question that determines EVERYTHING.
“This is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent to him priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?”
(The Gospel According to John 1: 19-22 NASB)
And he confessed and did not deny, but confessed,
I am not the Christ.”
They asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” And he said, “I am not.”
“Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.”
Then they said to him, “Who are you, so that we may give an answer to those who sent us?
What do you say about yourself?”
Be Ready to Confess: Who you are in Christ
The King of Israel promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob was realized to the watching world on the day John was baptizing people in the Jordan River. The prophesy of the prophet Isaiah was proclaimed by God when He spoke from heaven on the day John baptized Jesus in the Jordan River. The Lamb of God had come to earth, the One who takes away the sin of the world.
We can know the truth, that Jesus was the Christ because of the pre-arranged sign that identified the Chosen One. The dove, an emblem of God’s Holy Spirit, descended onto Jesus, satisfying God’s legal requirement. Jesus Himself spoke this truth recorded in The Gospel According to Matthew.
“Then Jesus arrived from Galilee at the Jordan coming to John, to be baptized by him.
(The Gospel According to Matthew 3: 13-17 NASB)
But John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I have need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?”
But Jesus answering said to him,
“Permit it at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.”
Then he permitted Him.
After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him, and behold, a voice out of the heavens said,
“This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.”
- Jesus came to be baptized by John.
- Jesus asked John to permit the baptism to occur, and Jesus was anointed by the Holy Spirit.
- Jesus was confirmed at His baptism as God’s Only Begotten Son.
“Who are you?”
(The Gospel According to John 1: 19b-20a 22b & NASB)
And he confessed and did not deny, but confessed,
. . .
What do you say about yourself?”
John was called by God to testify that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of God. We have a similar responsibility. We testify to the lost, to those dying without Jesus. We proclaim the truth about Jesus.
Be Ready to Confess: Who you are in Christ
Today, this same question (the one asked thousands of years ago) still rings true for followers of Christ Jesus. Evangelical Christians must be ready in a span of a second to give answer to the question that determines EVERYTHING.
Jesus, the Only Begotten Son of God came to earth with an end objective: Jesus, the promised Messiah and Savior of the world. To those who identify with Christ’s death and life, by faith in Him, His death became our death and His life became our life, so that, His righteousness could be given to us.
“But Jesus answering said to him,
(The Gospel According to Matthew 3: 15a NASB)
“Permit it at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.”