What is the signficance of our public profession of Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord? I suppose i could ask the question what is the significance of saying you are married or single, American or British, male or female. All of those are impotant but they fall short of stressing the importance of identifying yoruself as a Christian. That is exactly what a profession of faith is. In Paul's epistle to Timothy, we are told of the profession this young elder made. (it is as follows)
1 Timothy 6: 12-16
Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which he will display at the proper time--he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.
Timothy professed and covenanted to keep the great commandment (Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength.) free from reproach until Christ's second coming.
Meditate on this passage of Scripture which is nothing less than an elder's profession of faith from the apostolic era.
4.03.2006
a profession of faith
Posted by Robbie Schmidtberger at 14:50
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How often, I wonder, do we actually think about the vows of church membership we took when we joined the church? Are we actually viewing those promises as important duties that we ought to be fulfilling? Do we even remember what we promised we would do?
And just as important as our profession of faith before the congregation is, so also, even more important, is our actual faith in Christ Jesus - for we may be able to say that we have kept our promises to the church, but which one of us can truly say that he has kept God's law? How much this should bring us to our knees, crying out and thanking God for His wonderful mercy towards us.
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