Christian Message Boards: Believe in Him but do not confess Him

This is topic Believe in Him but do not confess Him in forum The One Year Bible at Christian Message Boards.

To visit this topic, use this URL:
https://thechristianbbs.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=55;t=000247

Posted by KnowHim (Member # 1) on :

John 12:42-43 (NLT)
Many people did believe in him, however, including some of the Jewish leaders. But they wouldn’t admit it for fear that the Pharisees would expel them from the synagogue. For they loved human praise more than the praise of God.

-----------------------------
John 12:42-43 (King James Version)

Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

It looks to me that this is still a huge problem today. I believe there are multitudes of people attending churches today and many believe in Jesus but they never come to know Him because of the religious machine that wants to bring glory to it's self. I think the leaders for the religious machine are afraid if the people actually come to know Jesus Christ then they will not have control over them and the leaders will not get the glory they seek.

We need to remember that it is all about Jesus and not about us. If someone points to who they are or what they do in stead of who Jesus is, then be very cautious of them. All who know and love Jesus Christ will point you to Him and give Him the glory for anything Jesus does through them.

So the question is do you believe that these people that believe in Jesus but do not confess Him are saved?

Posted by Carol Swenson (Member # 6929) on :

I think it's hard not to talk about someone you're in love with. People in love with Jesus want to talk about Him, and perfect love casts out fear.

Posted by phillip tidwell (Member # 6966) on :

I could not read John 12:42, without thinking of Romans 1:16: (“For I am not ashamed of the gospel: it is the power of God for salvation to every one who has faith, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”) How could anyone be “ashamed” of the gospel of absolute, complete truth and salvation? Yet, we see it happen, often in the form of “political correctness” and “group think” as a means to be accepted by peers and avoidance of conflict.

Remember the frustration you expressed some weeks ago about trying to talk about Jesus to others only to have the subject quickly changed? Political correctness is an enemy of truth.

In John 8: 1-11, the woman caught in the act of adultery was overlooked until it became politically expedient to use her against Jesus.

In Mark 11: 15-18, Jesus cleansed the temple of the money changers. The sin had become acceptable practice and the concern of the priests and the scribes were (again) primarily concerned over the reaction of the people instead of the truth.

Many more examples exist in the Scriptures and in today’s society. To yield to it is perilous. Revelation 3: 15-16 "I know your works. You are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of my mouth."

There doesn't seem to be much dispute over your questioning the salvation of folks who are ashamed of the Gospel.

Posted by KnowHim (Member # 1) on :

Thanks for the replies.