What Do You Affirm?
We are quickly coming upon the New Year. This is when many people give up things or vow to improve themselves. Some people commit to losing weight, exercising more, saving money, finding a friend or a new job. The list could go on and on. But tonight, I don’t really want to talk about your New Year’s resolution. Instead, I’d rather focus on what you already believe. I’d love to hear what you affirm. What do you live by? What is important to you? How do you determine truth? What are your beliefs? What do you affirm?
Myself, I believe in Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior. I have repented from my sins and surrendered my life fully and completely to Him. We just celebrated Christmas, the birth of Jesus. Yes, Jesus was born of the virgin Mary and the Holy Spirit. As the angel announced to the shepherds near Bethlehem: Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord (Luke 2:10-11).
Jesus is the only Savior of mankind and His is Lord of my life. Christ Jesus lived a sinless perfect life and yet He died a cruel death on the cross to save His people from their sins. God poured His righteous wrath over sin, out upon Jesus as He hung on the cross. Jesus suffered, bled and died on the cross and rose victoriously from the grave three days later. Jesus defeated sin, death, Hell and Satan. God offers salvation to all who repent and trust Jesus.
I Affirm These Truths
Oh, I affirm these truths tonight. Again, Jesus is my Lord and Savior. Furthermore, as the apostle Paul said through the power of the Holy Spirit, I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believes (Romans 1:16). Not only is Jesus Lord of my life and the Savior of my soul, but I am not ashamed to share this Good News with others. I am not ashamed to proclaim the precious name of Jesus and I affirm this publicly on the streets of Springfield, MO.
Now, I’ve shared what I affirm. What do you affirm? Can you join me in saying that Jesus is your Lord and Savior? Is He truly both? I’m asking this because we run into a lot of people who profess Jesus with their lips while their heart is far from Him. Some people claim Jesus saved them, but there’s no evidence of Him in their life. They say they are saved, yet they live their life for the devil.
Do not be deceived tonight. If you are a professing Christian, please, examine yourself and see if you truly are in the faith. Has Jesus saved you? Has the Lord transformed your life? Are you a new creature in Christ tonight? Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new (2 Corinthians 5:17). Oh again I ask, are you new creature in Christ? Do you love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength?
Are You Truly Saved?
Do you hate the things you once loved and do you now love the God you once hated? Said hatred being proven true by your words and actions? A saved life is a changed life. Are you truly saved? Have you really bowed your knee and confessed with your tongue that Jesus Christ is Lord? Is Jesus Lord of your life or are you still going through life living selfishly for yourself? Have your utterly and completely surrendered your life to Christ the Lord?
What do you affirm tonight that you believe? What do you affirm by your words and your actions? Maybe tonight, you not only don’t claim to be a Christian, you don’t want anything to do with God. In fact, you hate God so much you think that you have the right to never hear God mentioned. Is this you tonight? Do you affirm your hatred to the very God that you say doesn’t exist? Oh, do you deny the great Creator God? Do you deny God by what you say and what you do?
If so, you are not alone. Not only are you not alone, but the Bible predicts you. The very Bible that is the very word of God, tells us that there will be people like you. People that affirm their hatred toward God because they love their sins. They have turned their back on God and gone their own way.
Wrath Of God
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things.
Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
God Gave Them Up
For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was due. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not proper;
Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them (Romans 1:18-32).
Tonight, if you are a God-denier and/or a God-hater, you did not catch God off guard. He perfectly describes you in His word. God says that you deny or suppress the truth in unrighteousness. You can look around at creation and know that God is real, yet you choose to put the blinders on and pretend that God isn’t real. God also says that you are without excuse.
No Excuses
When you stand before Jesus on Judgment Day (and there is judgment to come), you will be without excuse. You will have no where to hide and nothing to say. Your mouth will be stopped on that great and terrible day of the Lord. You see, you will bow your knee and you will confess with your tongue that Jesus Christ is Lord.
The only question is when. When will you do so? Will you confess and forsake your sins in this life? Will you repent and surrender your life to Jesus? Or will you die as an unrepentant sinner and be cast into the lake of fire after you confess that Jesus is Lord?
God says you know that He is real and you choose not to glorify Him. You are unthankful and your heart is darkened. Professing yourself to be wise, you have become a fool. You worship the created instead of the Creator. Do you worship the earth or the One who created the earth? Have you swallowed a lie instead of believing the truth of God?
Are You Living A Lustful Life?
If this describes you tonight, then God gives you up to your lusts. Furthermore, God turns you over to a reprobate mind. In other words, you continue to say no to God and He removes His hands of mercy from you. Continuing to live your life for the devil and for self and God says go ahead.
But make no mistake, Satan is not your friend. He will lure you into sinning more and more and God allows you to continue in your rebellion to the point it is very hard for you to recognize your rebellion and call out for God to save you. Not only do you keep on sinning more and more, but you also encourage others to join you. Unrepentant sinners want to drag others along with them in illegal drug use, drunkenness, sexual immorality and other sins.
Tonight, if God in His great mercy and grace is pricking your conscience over your sinfulness, over your rebellion against Him, don’t continue running from God. Oh, tonight, recognize that you are a sinner. Confess your sins to God. Cry out for God to save you. Repent from your sins and surrender your life to Jesus Christ the Lord. Then join me in affirming Jesus Christ is Lord to this lost and dying world.
(This message was proclaimed in downtown Springfield, MO on August 28, 2018)