TEXT:  Matt. 10:32-33

INTRODUCTION:

A.  DENYING JESUS IS A SIN OF MOST SERIOUS CONSEQUENCE.

B.  THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF PEOPLE WHO DO THIS:

          1.  Intentional Deniers:  Atheists, Jews, modernists, evolutionists, pagans, muslums, etc.

          2.  Unintentional Deniers:

                   a.  Agnostics – don’t deny outright.  They don’t know.

                   b.  Hypocrites – Pretenders, other motives, money, girlfriend, parents, social, etc.

                   c.  Some don’t realize what they do amounts to denying Jesus.

C.  DO WE DENY JESUS WITHOUT KNOWING IT?

I.  HOW IS IT DONE?

A.  FALSE TEACHERS (2 Pet. 2:1-2).

          1.  Purveyors of error – that which conflicts with the Bible – that which is not in the Bible.

          2.  Error condemns (Matt. 15:13-14;  Gal. 1:6-9).

          3.  Error destroys the unity of the church (Rom. 16:17-18;  1 Cor. 4:6-7).

          4.  Is Christ divided? (1 Cor. 1:10-13).  What effect does division have? (John 17:20-21).

          5.  In the context of such division (1 Cor. 3:16-17).

          6.  To teach or fellowship error denies Jesus (2 John 9-11).

B.  BY OPPOSING GOOD WORKS (Titus 1:16).

          1.  We have a job to do (Eph. 2:10;  Titus 2:14).

          2.  God accomplishes his word through us (Phil. 2:11-12).

          3.  It is in our good works we glorify God (Matt. 5:16).

          4.  He expects the congregation to work (Rev. 3:1-2). – Sardis.

          5.  We need to let God tell us what good works he wants (Matt. 7:21-23; 24ff.).

C.  BY INCONSISTENCY.

          1.  We deny the power of the gospel through inconsistent lives (2 Tim. 3:1-5).

          2.  The name of God is blasphemed because on inconsistent brethren (Rom. 2:21-24).

          3.  Eph. 4:1;  Phil. 1:27.

D.  BY COMPROMISE – A SYMPTOM OF FEAR (Mark 8:38).  Ashamed of my words.

          1.  Concerned about appearance (Rom. 12:2).

          2.  You might look like an oddball or a radical (1 Pet. 4:4).

          3.  Who are we trying to impress? (Gal. 1:10).

          4.  Paul’s admonition to Titus (Titus 2:15).

                   a.  2 Tim. 4:2.  Preach the word, be urgent.

                   b.  Be gentle and humble (2 Tim. 2:24-26).  What should be our goal?

                   c.  Some will be offended anyway (Matt. 15:12-14).

          5.  Don’t hide your light (his light reflected in you) under a bushel (Matt. 5:14-16).

          6.  Do you glory in the cross? (Gal. 6:14).

E.  BY OUR SPEECH.

          1.  Peter’s denial of Jesus was sealed (Matt. 26:73-74).  “Thy speech…to curse …”

          2.  Do we profane the name of God? (Ex. 20:7;  Heb. 12:28-29).  What is OMG?

          3.  Profanity is condemned (Eph. 4:29;  5:3-5;  Col. 3:8;  Jas. 1:26;  Matt. 12:33-37).

          4.  In today’s world, opportunity for a marked difference!  A profane society.

F.  IF YOU WERE ARRESTED FOR BEING A CHRISTIAN,

      WOULD THERE BE ENOUGH EVIDENCE TO CONVICT YOU?

II.  HOW DOES ONE CONFESS CHRIST?

A.  WE ACKNOWLEDGE WHO HE IS (Rom. 10:9-10;  Acts 8:36-37).

B.  A PROMINENT PLACE IN THE PLAN OF SALVATION:

          1.  We must believe (Mark 16:16).

          2.  We must repent (Acts 2:38).

          3.  We must confess (Acts 8:36-37).  What doeth hinder me to be baptized?

          4.  We must be baptized (Rom. 6:3-4).

          5.  Our lives must be a confession of our faith (Gal. 2:20).

CONCLUSION:  WHERE DO YOU STAND?

A.  IF YOU ARE GUILTY OF DENYING JESUS, REPENT.

B.  HAVE YOU NOT YET MADE THE GOOD CONFESSION?