Bold Confession

Public confession of Christ is key to our discipleship!

“If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when He comes in His Father’s glory with the holy angels.” Mark 8:38

After Jesus is arrested, Peter follows at a distance to the courtyard of the high priest. While warming himself by a fire, a servant girl recognises him and accuses him of being with Jesus. Peter denies it, saying, “I do not know Him.” Later, another person accuses him, and Peter denies it again, even swearing that he doesn’t know Jesus. For the third time, Peter denies Jesus, and at that moment, the rooster crows. Peter remembers Jesus’ prophecy that he would deny Him three times before the rooster crowed, and he is filled with deep sorrow and regret, weeping bitterly.

Peter’s denial is a powerful reminder of the weakness we all experience when we rely on our own strength. Fear, doubt, and confusion can cause us to falter, just as they caused Peter to deny Christ. But Peter’s story doesn’t end in failure. After receiving the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, Peter is completely transformed. The same Peter who once denied Christ now boldly proclaims the gospel with fearless courage, even in the face of persecution and death.

Fear and weakness are real experiences for believers, but they are never excuses for inaction or denying Christ. Jesus calls us to boldly confess Him, and He empowers us to do so through the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit does not leave us in fear and weakness; He equips us to rise above them and testify to the world about the power of Christ’s salvation.

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” Acts 1:8. The Holy Spirit empowers us to testify to Christ without fear.

“For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control” 2 Tim 1:7. The Holy Spirit gives us the strength to overcome fear, enabling us to boldly declare our faith.

Are you ashamed of Jesus? Do you hesitate to identify with Him when the world questions your faith? Know that, like Peter, we all face moments of fear. But we don’t face them alone. The Holy Spirit strengthens us to stand firm, even when the pressure is great. We are no longer slaves to fear—we have been given the boldness and courage to boldly declare our faith in Christ.

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” Rom 1:16

Today, let us be ready to share the reason for our hope and peace with those who ask. The gospel is the power of God to save—never be ashamed of it. Our confession of Christ is not only a witness to the world but also a declaration of our trust in the One who has the power to save and transform lives. Let us boldly declare our allegiance to Jesus Christ, knowing that, with the Holy Spirit, we have the courage and strength to share the good news with fearless boldness. Just as the apostles did after Pentecost, we too are empowered to be witnesses of Christ to the ends of the earth.

Kay Alli