Bible Studies

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Matthew 10:32-33 – “Everyone who acknowledges Me here on earth, I will also acknowledge before My Father in heaven. But everyone who denies Me here on earth, I will also deny before My Father in heaven.”

Thesaurus Fun:

Acknowledge – to admit as true, to recognize the authority or claims of
Deny – to declare untrue, to refuse to accept, to repudiate

Acknowledge Christ with Your Life

Acknowledging Christ or not is more than simply acknowledging Him with your words (though that’s important too) but it is also about acknowledging Him with your life. So Scripture says, “by your words you will be justified and by your words you will be condemned (Matthew 12:37)”. And, “God will judge everyone according to what they have done (Romans 2:6)”. And, “Man looks at the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart (1 Samuel 16:7)”. You may fool other people and even yourself, but you will never fool God. He knows what you say when no one is listening, even before you say it (Psalms 139:4) He knows what you do when no one is watching (Matthew 6:4). Most importantly, God knows the condition of your heart. As Scripture says, “Everything is laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account (Hebrews 4:13)”. There is no lying to God. When we truly belong to God, then all these things will begin to consistently match up – our words, our deeds, and the attitudes of our hearts.

For those who recognize the authority of Christ in their lives and hearts, He says, “I will also acknowledge (admit as true) before My Father in heaven.” He will claim us as His own forever. As He has said, “My sheep hear My voice. I know them and they follow Me. I give them eternal life and they shall never die. No one can snatch them away from Me. (John 10:27-28)”. However, for those who deny Him (refusing to accept His authority) either by word or deed or in the depths of the heart He says, “I will also deny (reject, declare liars) before My Father in heaven.” As Jesus has also said, “Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ But I will say to them ‘I never knew you.’ (Matthew 7:22-23)”. Or in another place He says, “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord’ and do not do what I say? (Luke 6:46)”. Therefore Scripture says, “Examine yourselves to see if your faith is really genuine. Test yourselves. (2 Corinthians 13:5)”. And so we say with the Psalmist, “Search me, oh God, and know me. Test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any wicked way in me and lead me in the way everlasting (Psalms 139:23-24)”.

Point to Ponder

Is there some secret part of your life that denies Christ’s authority? Is there something that you do in secret or say in private or hide in your heart that would call your faith a lie? Never forget that God sees and knows all things. He does not condemn you, but offers forgiveness, freedom, and change. That is what the gospel is all about. We will never be completely free of temptation and sin in this life. We can, however, life a life of integrity. We can be consistent in the way that we live and, by God’s mercy, acknowledge and honor Him in all things.

Let us pray, “Oh, almighty God; You who searches the heart and knows us entirely; we are overwhelmed by Your love and grace. You have seen the things that we have done, You have known the things that we thought in our hearts, and You have loved us just the same. Thank You for Your mercy, grace, forgiveness, and love. Lord, help us to acknowledge You with everything that is in us. Help us to consistently honor You with our lives and to bring You glory. Lord, reveal to us the things that need changing, the things that displease You, and the things that deny You. Help us to commit our way to You and so lead us in the path of eternal life. Change us, oh God, do a miracle in us according to Your power that is always at work in us (Ephesians 3:20). To You be all glory and honor, thanksgiving and praise, forever and ever! Amen.”

See these songs: Anyway, All of My Life

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