A Public Answer
“So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 10:32-33)
Yesterday, we talked about the personal answer we must give for our relationship with Jesus. The answer Peter gave to Jesus’ question in Matthew 16 was a personal answer. But that’s not all there was to it. It was also a public answer. It was not a situation where Simon Peter said, “Jesus, come over here, let me whisper in your ear what I think.” It was public. It was in front of everyone who meant something to him in his life. It was public, out in front of God and everyone.
Christianity may be a private experience, and being born again may be a private experience, but it is not to be kept under wraps. It is to be expressed publicly. Jesus said in Matthew, “So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 10:32-33)
Public declaration of Jesus is required to follow Him. Have you wondered why many pastors give an invitation at the end of the worship service? This gives people an opportunity to publicly step out and speak to someone who is acting as a representative of the Lord. This lets them say, “I want to give my life to Christ.” It is a public step to say, “I am a follower of Jesus, personally. Regardless of whether anyone goes with me, I want to follow Christ.”
Let me ask you a question: have you ever made a public declaration that you are a follower of Jesus? Do you know what baptism is? That is your first declaration. It is your first sermon that says, “I am a follower of Jesus.” This is a public answer. God wants us to realize the importance of publicly declaring our faith in Jesus. Your relationship with Him might be private between you and the Lord, but it is to be publicly declared in front of other people.
Yesterday, we talked about the personal answer we must give for our relationship with Jesus. The answer Peter gave to Jesus’ question in Matthew 16 was a personal answer. But that’s not all there was to it. It was also a public answer. It was not a situation where Simon Peter said, “Jesus, come over here, let me whisper in your ear what I think.” It was public. It was in front of everyone who meant something to him in his life. It was public, out in front of God and everyone.
Christianity may be a private experience, and being born again may be a private experience, but it is not to be kept under wraps. It is to be expressed publicly. Jesus said in Matthew, “So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 10:32-33)
Public declaration of Jesus is required to follow Him. Have you wondered why many pastors give an invitation at the end of the worship service? This gives people an opportunity to publicly step out and speak to someone who is acting as a representative of the Lord. This lets them say, “I want to give my life to Christ.” It is a public step to say, “I am a follower of Jesus, personally. Regardless of whether anyone goes with me, I want to follow Christ.”
Let me ask you a question: have you ever made a public declaration that you are a follower of Jesus? Do you know what baptism is? That is your first declaration. It is your first sermon that says, “I am a follower of Jesus.” This is a public answer. God wants us to realize the importance of publicly declaring our faith in Jesus. Your relationship with Him might be private between you and the Lord, but it is to be publicly declared in front of other people.
Subscribe Now
Recent
Archive
2026
2025
January
Building Men Over MembershipsAre You Encouraging Others?Committing Others To ChristSharing Your StoryFaith Beyond Your FamilyGod’s Purpose In Your PainAligned PrayersPraying with PowerA Defining EncounterA Desire To ServeA Faithful and Helpful FriendRestoring Broken RelationshipsThe Power To RestoreA Guilt-Free LifeA Hand Of BlessingA Heart Of RepentanceAllowing God To Do The ChangingAre You Feeling Stuck?Trust His HeartBe Ready For InterruptionsFull of the Holy SpiritDefeating DepressionPowerful Prayers and a BurdenThe Triumphal EntrySurrender Your Life to ChristGratitude Is The Gateway To ContentmentGratitude Is A Defense Against AnxietyDealing With DoubtFocus On The WordGiving and ServingListening Instead Of Talking
February
3 Keys To A Heavenly PerspectiveA Faith Rooted in FactA Faith That Draws or DrivesWhy Support Israel?The Danger Of Being Full Of YourselfLiving Out The Great CommissionMaking SureGod Is All-SufficientGuided By ProblemsJoy In The Midst Of ProblemsRemember Who God IsA Brand New Glimpse Of JesusA Call To God’s ChurchA Childlike FaithA Christ-Honoring EpitaphA Church On FireA Faithful and Helpful FriendA Personal AnswerA Public AnswerBe Sensitive To Your WitnessAwakenings and Quiet TimesCraving Spiritual MilkEmbracing Your Second ChanceSigns Of True RevivalResisting EvilBe DifferentBe AstuteBe Loving
March
Witness with Your WordsGod’s Word Is EnoughStay Rooted In The TruthA Call to God’s ChurchFalse ProphetsJesus Intercedes for YouHave You Met Christ?Focus on the GiverEncountering God’s GraceStanding Accountable Before GodBe Ready for the End Jesus Understands Your PainLooking ForwardImmeasurably MoreLiving in DenialYour Salvation MomentWhat Does It Look Like To Be The Church?A Word of BlessingJesus Cares about YouThe PavementWhen You Need Hope The End Is Near Stand on the Word of GodA Gracious GiftCelebrating Through BaptismThe Promise of the Holy SpiritBe Aligned in PrayerI Am InnocentGod Draws Us to HimselfFind Rest in the LordBearing The Burdens Of OthersPrioritizing Your Love For Christ
1 Comment
Yes, I made that public profession at Westside in 1994. I was baptized there during a convention in 1996.It was a very rainy day so I had the wet look all day.