Do We Deny Christ?

While Peter denied the Lord three times before the cock crowed, just as Jesus said he would, and as I wrote in a previous post, it didn't change the love Jesus had for Peter. But are there ways in which we too are guilty? In Peter's case the Strong's Concordance gives the Greek for deny as aparnĕŏmai, ap-ar-net'-om-ahee; to deny utterly, i.e. disown, abstain:—deny.

Disown also means refuse to acknowledge, renounce, reject, deny the existence of. Other words for abstain: desist, refrain, withdraw, withhold, go without, give up. Further into the Bible, we see another kind of denial.

ll Timothy 2:12b says, "If we deny him, he will also deny us." The Greek word is the same here, but has a slight variation in meaning: to contradict, i.e. disavow, reject, abnegate:—deny, refuse. Contradict means to: disagree with, say the opposite to, argue with, oppose. And disavow means to disown, renounce, reject or recant; some words for reject are: refuse, rebuff, decline, snub.

Wow, these words and their meaning are heavy duty, and what about that word abstain? Especially during a time when many say, "I don't have to go to church to be a Christian." But did you know the Church isn't a building?

The church is the body of Christ. Anyone who acknowledges they are a sinner, turns away from sin and asks Jesus to forgive them, are part of Christ body—the church. If we withdraw its like cutting off our hand or a foot. We can't function the way the Lord intended. I challenge you to dig into Romans 12, which speaks of our personal responsibility as the body of Christ.

We are His army, and I'll wager, a soldier on the battlefield has little power in and of himself.

If someone cuts themselves off from the body of Christ their missing out on all that God has for them; companionship, camaraderie, an alliance with those who have the same beliefs. How are they build up, supported, prayed for? It's difficult to engage in a meaningful relationship with other Christians if we don't spend time together on a regular basis.

In Matthew 16:17-18, after Peter acknowledges that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Johah, for this was not reveled to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it." (Emphasis mine)

Jesus wants to build his church! He used Peter even after Peter denied Him, and He wants to use you and me. Let's repent of the lies the enemy has weaved into our lives and live like children of the Light.

 

Lord, I thank you for this word you've brought to us today. Light a fire within us … that we burn for you and your will. That it be accomplished though your body, the church. For some, that means stepping out of their comfort zones and stepping into a whole new, wonderful realm of reality with their brothers and sisters in Christ. Give us spiritual boldness to do your will, in Jesus name, amen.

 

Love & Blessings ~ Danie Marie