146. LUK 9:26. SHAME OF CHRIST, AND ITS CONSEQUENCES

Luk_9:26. Shame of Christ, and Its Consequences

"For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father’s, and of the holy angels."’97Luk_9:26.

Observe, that in the text there are two distinct parts: I. A Course of Conduct specified. And, II. The inevitable Results declared.

I. A Course of Conduct specified.

"Whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words." This course of conduct is exhibited,

1. In a skeptical rejection of Christ as the true Messiah.

The Jews were guilty of it, and are so to this day All infidels, from the professed atheist downwards to the deist, are guilty of it. It is exhibited,

2. In an unbelieving disregard to his demands and authority.

This is the course pursued by all practically wicked and profane persons. They do not regard his addresses; they do not believe his statements; nor do they fear his threatenings. His word is light, but they love darkness; his doctrines are holy, but they love impurity; his commands are righteous, but they love iniquity. It is exhibited,

3. In a compromising spirit of conformity to the world.

Christ says, "follow me," and they profess to do so; but they will not forsake the world’97they do not leave all’97they will not deny themselves’97they shun the cross; they cry "Hosanna!" with his friends; but when he is reviled and persecuted, they follow afar off, or walk no more with him. It is exhibited,

4. In a neglect of his ordinances, and in avoiding a public profession of him before men.

It is a duty to love Christ, and to believe in him; it is equally so, to profess both. His words require us to confess him before men’97to be his witnesses’97to be known as his friends’97to walk in his steps’97and scrupulously to observe all his ordinances To neglect these, is to be ashamed of hire as our lawgiver, and to despise his words. It is exhibited,

5. In an unwillingness to consecrate all we are and have to his service.

His demands extend to body, soul, estate influence, in short, to all. We are not our own, but his redeemed property. A retain ing any thing he requires, or living in any way to ourselves, is to be ashamed of him and his words. However poor his people, however scorned and hated his name or religion, it is our duty to display an entire and unchanging attachment to him and his blessed cause. Half-heartedness and coldness are really criminal in his account Then consider,

II. The inevitable Results declared.

"Of him shall the Son of man be ashamed," &c. The result shall be,

1. That such shall receive a similar return.

They have sown shame, and shame they shall reap: while saints are received, they shall be rejected; while saints are honored, they shall be disgraced; while saints are rewarded, they shall be excluded, and cast into outer darkness, &c.

2. Christ shall be ashamed of them.

He, who is now so anxious to save them, who has died for them; he, whose love has astonished both earth and heaven’97which angels cannot fathom, nor any but God understand’97will cease to pity and love them, and will now be ashamed of them!

3. He will be ashamed of them in the day of his glory.

When he will appear in all his original and uncreated glories, as Jehovah’s fellow and equal, and the Lord of angels. When he shall wear many crowns, and be accompanied by a splendid retinue of holy angels. When princes will deem it their highest honor to bend before his feet.

4. He will be ashamed of them when the dispensation of grace will have ceased forever.

Now there is forgiveness for all our shame and rebellion against Christ; there is a throne of grace; there is the blessed gospel, the interceding Saviour. But then, the day of salvation shall have ended; the summer of opportunities be forever past and the only throne shall be the great white one described in the Revelation, Luk_20:11 &c., and which shall be a throne of judgment and a throne of doom.

Or then, prize the precious Saviour! Let him have your hearts, your lives, your profession, your all! And then, when he comes in his glory, he will own, confess, and reward you with a crown and place in his kingdom, forever and ever.

Autor: JABEZ BURNS