For Those Who Deny Christ

Davezelenka, Peter Denies Christ, CC BY-SA 4.0

Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. (Matthew 26:34)
And Jesus saith unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this day, even in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. (Mark14:30)
And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me. (Luke 22:34)
Jesus answered him, Wilt thou lay down thy life for my sake? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, The cock shall not crow, till thou hast denied me thrice. (John 13:38)

We often find the four gospels omit something found in two or three of the others. Sometimes the timeline appears differently. But this particular incident, as many others, is found in all four gospels - from the action that begins during the Last Supper through Jesus' trial. In this one incident, we prophecy spoken and just hours later fulfilled.

Peter did as so many people have done, denied knowing Jesus as Christ, even denied being a follower.

People still do that today. I won't go into their denials, no doubt those reading here have heard or read of multiple people saying God doesn't exist, the Bible is a collection of Jewish myths, and when they die, there is nothing afterward. Peter denied Christ out of fear. Others have denied Christ out of ignorance. However, a number deny Him out of rebellion.

Doesn't matter what their reason is, our job is to give them every opportunity to change their mind as we witness, as I wrote two blogs ago: Witnessing - Telling What We Believe and Why. I won't repeat all of that here. However, to have the faith that saves ...

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV)

... it is necessary to believe:

God exists

The Bible was inspired by God, though written by men over millennia

There is a consistent them of prophecy in the Bible

Jesus' life and death were part of God's plan

Jesus was the physical son of God as well as the Spirit of God

There is no other name under heaven whereby we must be saved

Rejection of God and His salvation means separation from Him for eternity

That takes a lot of faith, doesn't it. But the Bible tells us we are to tell people all the time, everywhere:

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 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. (Matthew 28:19-20 KJV)

It may not be in God's will that we physically go, but we are all to teach, and take part in the process:\

But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That 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; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:8-17 KJV)

Peter repented of his denial. He spent the rest of his life telling people about Jesus. Paul went beyond denial to making "havock the church,"  while "breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord," getting permission from Jewish authority to "bring them bound unto Jerusalem." Paul also repented of his denial, and also spent the rest of his life telling people about Jesus.

Christians - we have marvelous examples of witnessing and witnesses. Non-Christians - will you hear us? Simply because we love you enough we want to know now that you have the opportunity to spend eternity with God and His promises.