Sermon:
THE GREAT CONFESSION
By:
Bro. Dale Leacock
Date:
December 03, 2000

Text Luke 9:18-26 -18-Once when Jesus was praying in private and his disciples were with him, he asked them, "Who do the crowds say I am?" -19-They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, that one of the prophets of long ago has come back to life." -20-"But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" Peter answered, "The Christ, son of God." -21-Jesus strictly warned them not to tell this to anyone. -22-And he said, "The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life."
-23-Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. -24-For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. -25-What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self? -26-If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.

INTRODUCTION:
  • Walter Scott and his conclusion
  • Today people are doctoring the doctrine of scriptures to suit themselves.
CENTRAL THESIS:

The heart of the scripture and the Christian life is the acknowledgement of who Jesus Christ is.

  1. Popular Opinion :

    (a)  A popular prophet
    (b)  A prophet come back to life
    (c)  Today's opinion

    • A good man
    • An embodiment of great ideas
    • A swear word

  2. Private Opinion :

    (a)  Peter - "The Christ of God"
    (b)   Central theme of Gospel - Jesus Christ is the Son of the Living God
    (c)   Divinely ordained
    (d)   A confession that we also must make

  3. Personal Sacrifice

    (a)  Self to be denied
    (b)  Cross to be taken up daily
    (c)  Christ to be followed.
    (d)  Life to be lost
    (e)  Live the unashamed life

CONCLUSION:

  1. What do you think of Christ? Is still the question that needs to be answered by all you today.
  2. Rom 10: 8 - But what does it say? "The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart, "D that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: 9 - That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 - For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.
  3. Today we need to stand up and be counted, to commit ourselves to the only one who can save us - Jesus Christ

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