That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved (Rom. 10:9).
Have I avowed the belief of my heart with the words of my mouth? At the beginning of the Reformation, Martin of Basel was afraid to confess Christ openly, so he wrote on a leaf of parchment: "O most merciful Christ, I know that I can be saved only by the merit of Thy blood. Holy Jesus, I acknowledge Thy sufferings for me. I love Thee! I love Thee!" Then he removed a stone from the wall of his room and hid it there. It was not discovered for more than 100 years.
About the same time Martin Luther found the truth in Christ and said, "My Lord has confessed me before men; I will not shrink from confessing Him before kings." And the mighty Reformation followed. The whole world knows of Martin Luther, but who has ever heard of Martin of Basel? Jesus said, "Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven" (Matt. 10:32).
When Victorinus was asked to join the church, he said, "What? Do walls make a Christian?"
"No" was the reply. "But he who is ashamed of Me, of him too will I be ashamed before My Father."
The apostle Paul insists upon a lip confession of the Lord. And notice, his words are very plain as to the result: "Thou shalt be saved." But to experience the beatitude of heaven, we must be saved from the guilt of sin, from the power of sin, from the punishment of sin, and finally from the very presence of sin.
Our Savior Himself "before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession" (1 Tim. 6:13). So it is our privilege to witness for Him at every suitable opportunity.
MEDITATION PRAYER: "I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed" (Ps. 119:46).
Have I avowed the belief of my heart with the words of my mouth? At the beginning of the Reformation, Martin of Basel was afraid to confess Christ openly, so he wrote on a leaf of parchment: "O most merciful Christ, I know that I can be saved only by the merit of Thy blood. Holy Jesus, I acknowledge Thy sufferings for me. I love Thee! I love Thee!" Then he removed a stone from the wall of his room and hid it there. It was not discovered for more than 100 years.
About the same time Martin Luther found the truth in Christ and said, "My Lord has confessed me before men; I will not shrink from confessing Him before kings." And the mighty Reformation followed. The whole world knows of Martin Luther, but who has ever heard of Martin of Basel? Jesus said, "Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven" (Matt. 10:32).
When Victorinus was asked to join the church, he said, "What? Do walls make a Christian?"
"No" was the reply. "But he who is ashamed of Me, of him too will I be ashamed before My Father."
The apostle Paul insists upon a lip confession of the Lord. And notice, his words are very plain as to the result: "Thou shalt be saved." But to experience the beatitude of heaven, we must be saved from the guilt of sin, from the power of sin, from the punishment of sin, and finally from the very presence of sin.
Our Savior Himself "before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession" (1 Tim. 6:13). So it is our privilege to witness for Him at every suitable opportunity.
MEDITATION PRAYER: "I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed" (Ps. 119:46).
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