117. Do the Scriptures authorize a confession of what God does for us?
They do. David says "Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul." Jesus said to one whom he had healed, "Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and had compassion on thee." Paul says, "If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus,and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness [holiness], and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." In his Letter to Timothy, a young minister of the gospel, he says, that he, Timothy, "professed a good profession before many witnesses." The apostle exhorts the Hebrew brethren after this manner: "Let us hold fast our profession." David says, "Thy saints shall bless thee. They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom, and talk of thy power, to make known to the sons of men his mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of his kingdom." Our Saviour repeatedly declared, "Whosoever shall I confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God." No fear of man, nor false modesty, should seal our lips against an honest confession of perfect love.
118. Does the Bible teach that Christians are God's witnesses?
It does. "Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord." "Ye shall be witnesses unto me, both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost parts of the earth." Nearly all the Scripture characters gave their testimony to what God did for them -- to their experience. St. Paul professes full salvation in Rom. xv. 29. "And I am sure that, when I come unto you, I shall come in the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ." He says in the first chapter, that the gospel is the power of God unto salvation." Then, if "the fullness of the blessing"' means anything, it means full salvation. Notice his strong assertion "I am sure," &c. Here is no doubt or uncertainty.
119. Does the church generally recognize a profession of religion as a duty of believers?
It does. A profession of religion is the acknowledged duty of all true Christians. It is recognized in all branches of the Protestant church. Believing with the heart and confessing with the mouth, stand closely connected and "what God hath joined together," no man has a right to put asunder. The mouth must and will speak, when the heart believeth unto righteousness; for of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh." The belief and experience of the heart, and the confession of the mouth. must go together. The possession of perfect love, and a desire for its diffusion, are inseparable, and this desire prompts to a profession.
Albert Barnes says, "that a profession of religion is, by St. Paul, made as really indispensable to salvation as believing." (Notes on Rom. x. 10. ) Matthew Henry, the commentator, says "What God has wrought in your souls, as well as for them, we must declare to others. ... God's people should communicate their experience to teach others." The commentator Dr. Scott says: "Every servant of God is a witness for him and they all can give such, an account of what he has wrought in them, shown to them, and done for them, as to lead others to know, believe, and understand his power, truth, and love."
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