Today’s devotion is Luke 12:8-9.
“And I say to you, everyone who confesses Me before men, the Son of Man will confess him also before the angels of God; but he who denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God.” Luke 12:8-9.
There must be more to this type of confession than just an acknowledgement that Jesus exists. “You believe that God is one You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder. But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless?” James 2:19-20.
Moreover, there must be a sufficient amount of important truth to a confession. Many believe that Jesus was an important prophet (or teacher) of God, but they do not believe that Jesus is the Son of God. Are those people saved? We would conclude that those people are not saved.
But, there may be more needed for such a saving confession than just believing that Jesus is the Son of God. Consider the confession in 1 John 4:14-16. “We have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.” 1 John 4:14-16. (Emphasis added.)
What If one believed that Jesus is the Son of God, but does not believe that Jesus is his Savior. Is that person saved? All, or almost all of us, would conclude that those people are not saved.
Let us push it one step further. What if one believed that Jesus is the Son of God and that Jesus is his Savior, but that person believed that God loves everyone and that Jesus died for everyone and that salvation was ultimately dependent on that person’s free will choice to accept or reject Christ. Is that person saved?
What if that person quarrels with the idea that God predestines some people to salvation and others to reprobation? Does Scripture have anything to say about such a person? “Woe to the one who quarrels with his Maker–An earthenware vessel among the vessels of earth! Will the clay say to the potter, ‘What are you doing?’ ” Isaiah 45:9. Is that person saved?
I wrestled with this issue in an article that I wrote “Calvinism: The True Doctrine of Salvation”, specifically Part 7 “Will Arminians Be Saved?”. Here is a link to that article –
So, this is why I have been pounding the table on the importance of Reformed Doctrine a/k/a Calvinism as did the Synod of Dordt in 1618.
In TULIP – The Five Points of Calvinism in the Light of Scripture by Duane Edward Smith, 2nd Edition, Baker Books, 2003, pages 13-14, it is stated: “… in 1618, a National Synod of the Church was convened in Dort to examine the teachings of Arminius in the light of Scripture. After 154 earnest sessions, which lasted seven months the Five Points of Arminianism were found contrary to Scripture and declared heretical (heresy).” (Emphasis and parenthetical synonym is Bill’s).
Here is a link to the Canons of Dordt – Click here: The Canons of Dordt
In conclusion, there is a lot more that could be said. At least, I hope that this email helps us to conclude that what we confess about Jesus is important and may determine whether or not we are saved.
We all would do well to follow the example of Paul who stated: “Not that I have already obtained it (“resurrection from the dead” see verse 11) or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you;” Philippians 3:12-15. (Parenthetical addition is Bill’s).
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 