Martin Luther said, ‘if a person doesn’t confess his sins he is not a Christian’.
He writes that Protestants also confess their sins. They accused him of returning to Roman Catholicism, but he replied that it’s not true, but a true Christian confess his sins with a counselor. (see http://bookofconcord.org/exhortationConfession.php )
John 14
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
This was the theme text at the ministers conference in Europe. By God’s grace the meetings went very well.
The crux of the matter is that Jesus is our Way, our Life and Truth. There is no other way. You can travel throughout the whole world but you will find no other way to bring us to God. You can go to the Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus or even the secular and atheist. You will find no other way that will bring us to God. The truth is that throughout history people have always tried to find a way to God outside of Jesus Christ, but they found none.
Matthew 28:16-20
16 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them.
17 And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted.
18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Even though we live in a modern era of transformation, God’s truth is still the same.
Jesus said to Peter to leave everything and follow Him. Then He also told them what they will receive and that the twelve apostles will sit on twelve thrones with Him in heaven (Matthew 19:28), but Judas Iscariot, being one of the twelve, lost his position because of the love of money. It’s terrible to fall from your position with God.
After His resurrection He told them to meet Him on a certain mountain, and they saw Him there. Amazingly even though they bowed before Him and worshipped Him, some still doubted.
What made them doubt? Did they not believe that it was He and that He arose from the dead? No, not at all, for they saw Him before this too and then they didn’t doubt. They knew He arose from the dead, but they doubted that all power belongs to Him.
Jesus saw their thoughts and answered their doubts.
When Jesus was at the house of Simon the Pharisee, a woman came from behind and wept at His feet and kissed them. Simon criticized Jesus in his heart. But Jesus answered his thoughts that her sins which are many are forgiven for she loved much (Luke 7:47).
Many speak about love but don’t know what love truly means. If you’ve not known deep regret and sorrow for your sins you don’t know love. If you don’t have godly sorrow for your sins, even if you confess them it won’t help. It doesn’t help to confess your sins but then go back to them again. Then you’re like a dog returning to its vomit, or like a sow, being washed, return again to her wallowing in the mire (2Pet 2:22).
Maybe you despair about a certain person, but remember that all power belongs to Jesus and He is able to reach that person too.
Perhaps you find yourself in a situation where you despair that the situation cannot change, with your wife or husband or children or another family member.
There are some who believe that things in South Africa cannot improve, or that a certain group of people cannot repent. And so they immigrate. There are blacks saying it of whites and whites of blacks.
We see that it’s possible for someone to bow before God, yet there’s doubt in the heart. God sees your doubt.
Jesus is not a liar when He said ‘all power belongs to Me’. It’s for this reason He sends us to all nations to make disciples. He doesn’t say we must go because He died on the cross, but because all power belongs to Him.
When we raise our children who are filled with satan, or whether it’s your husband, wife, or neighbour that you despair of, even there all power and authority belong to Jesus.
Do you believe Him, or is He a liar.
He sends us to make disciples and to teach them to keep what Jesus taught us. Not head knowledge, but heart knowledge.
Jesus’ great commission is indeed a great work! Woe to us if we’re not busy doing this. When Jesus returns we will stand before Him at His Judgment Throne. Woe to us if we were not busy with what He told us to do.
Jesus commands both husband and wife. You must teach your children to keep what He taught us. It doesn’t help that you just teach your children to know that it’s wrong to be cheeky or to steal, but they must be taught to keep it.
The power of Jesus is fully sufficient.
He didn’t tell you to go to China, but to start at home. Our first area of mission work is at home, with our own children.
The power and authority must be found in our lives. Woe to us if this power is absent from our life.