A profession of faith is when someone openly declares their belief in and allegiance to Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. It is a public acknowledgement and confession of faith in Christ and is often done through baptism, church membership, or standing before the congregation. Here’s a more in-depth look at what the Bible says about making a profession of faith:
The Meaning Behind a Profession of Faith
At its core, making a profession of faith is verbally stating a belief in and commitment to Christ. It is not simply knowing facts about Jesus, but trusting in Him for salvation (Romans 10:9-10). A profession of faith acknowledges that we are saved by grace through faith in Christ alone and not by our own works (Ephesians 2:8-9). It indicates repentance from sin and an understanding that Christ’s death provides the only way for that sin to be forgiven.
Several key truths are inherent in making a profession of faith:
– Jesus is Lord – He is divine and has authority over all of creation (Philippians 2:9-11). A profession affirms He is the Messiah and ruler over all.
– Jesus is Savior – He died on the cross for our sins and rose again, providing the sole way for salvation (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). A profession puts trust in His redemptive work.
– Allegiance to Christ – Once someone makes a profession, they pledge their loyalty to follow after Jesus rather than continue living for themselves (Luke 9:23). Their lives are no longer their own.
– Repentance – To receive Christ, one must repent from the sinful ways of the world. A profession signifies this turning away from sin and toward God (Acts 3:19).
– Public witness – While someone can make a personal profession of faith between themselves and God, public professions openly testify to beliefs before others (Matthew 10:32-33).
So in summary, a profession of faith signals that someone has placed their complete trust in Jesus for salvation, turned from sin, and committed their life to following Him as Lord.
Why Make a Public Profession of Faith?
The Bible encourages believers to make public professions of their faith for several reasons:
1. It gives glory to God and testifies to what He has done – Our conversion and redemption through Christ is an act of God (1 Peter 1:3). Publicly attributing salvation to Him glorifies and honors God.
2. It identifies the individual with Christ – By taking a stand with Jesus, a public profession distinguishes the believer as part of the body of Christ and His kingdom rather than the world (1 John 4:15).
3. It demonstrates the transformational work of the Holy Spirit – A changed life evidenced by a profession of faith displays the miraculous saving work done by the Holy Spirit in regeneration (Titus 3:4-7).
4. It reminds believers of their commitment to follow Jesus – A public profession reinforces one’s pledged allegiance to obey and serve Christ through an outward statement (Luke 9:26).
5. It encourages and builds up other believers – Hearing testimonies of God’s work in other people’s lives emboldens our own faith and spurs us on to deeper commitment (Hebrews 10:23-25).
6. It bears witness to unbelievers – When nonbelievers observe professions of faith, it exposes them to the Gospel and the truth of Christ (1 Peter 3:15). This can lead them to salvation.
So while private professions of faith before God hold equal value, public ones proclaim His glory before both angels and men as a witness to what He has done in a life (Luke 12:8).
Examples of Public Professions of Faith in the Bible
There are many examples in Scripture of people making public professions and declarations of their faith:
– Romans 10:9 – Paul says that “if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” This confession is salvation.
– Matthew 16:16 – Peter declared “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” A foundational confession of Jesus as Messiah.
– John 9:38 – The man born blind whom Jesus healed worshiped Him and acknowledged his belief.
– Acts 8:36-38 – The Ethiopian eunuch professed faith in Christ to Philip right before he was baptized.
– 1 Timothy 6:12 – Paul urges Timothy to “fight the good fight of faith and take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” A public profession.
– Romans 14:11 – Paul quotes Isaiah 45 saying “every tongue will confess and give praise to God.” As believers we profess Christ with our words.
So the Bible highlights both individuals and the collective church making plain, public announcements of their faith in Jesus. These professions openly honor Him as Lord and testify to His work in their lives.
Common Ways Believers Publicly Profess Faith Today
How do Christians profess their faith publicly in today’s world? Here are some of the most common ways:
– Baptism – Being baptized signifies identification with Christ and publicly testifies to faith in Him. It marks the beginning of the Christian life.
– Church membership – Joining a local church requires agreeing to a statement of faith. It connects you to that body of believers.
– Testimony in church – Many churches offer opportunities to share what God has done in salvation or other faith stories.
– Confirmation – Some churches hold confirmation ceremonies where youth publicly confirm the faith for themselves.
– Evangelism – Boldly professing faith while sharing the Gospel with unbelievers.
– Mission trips – Believers who go on missions make a statement about living out their faith.
– Christian wedding – A wedding ceremony is a profession of faith in Christ and His design for marriage.
– Workplace sharing – Talking about faith experiences at work or identifying as a Christian publicly.
– Social media – Posting about Christianity on social platforms allows professions of faith to the online world.
– Christian apparel – Wearing clothing with crosses, Bible verses, or “Jesus” professes one’s beliefs.
So in whatever manner best fits their personality and opportunities, believers look for ways to openly profess that Jesus Christ is their Lord and Savior.
What Should Be Included in a Profession of Faith?
The exact wording and phrasing of a profession of faith may vary between denominations, churches, and individuals. Here are some key elements to include:
– Christ as Lord – An acknowledgement that Jesus Christ is “Lord” and Sovereign over your life.
– Christ as Savior – A statement about Jesus as the only way your sins can be forgiven.
– Commitment to follow – An intention to continue pursuing and obeying Jesus through the empowering of the Holy Spirit.
– Renouncing sin – An admission of being a sinner and turning from the sinful patterns and behaviors of your past.
– Accepting forgiveness – An understanding that Christ’s death provides cleansing and freedom from the penalty of sin.
– Allegiance to the church – A pledge to join in regular fellowship with other believers in service and community.
– Gratitude – An expression of overflowing thankfulness to God for the gift of salvation in Jesus.
The language should come sincerely from the heart and in your own words. The key is that it adequately explains the basis of your faith – the Gospel of Christ.
Can a Profession of Faith Be Rescinded or Reversed?
For true believers whose professions of faith reflect an authentic conversion experience, it would be difficult to completely rescind their confession of faith. However, there are some caveats to this:
– Christians can backslide – Someone who made a genuine profession of faith can still wander from the truth or revert to habitual sin. This doesn’t negate their salvation but shows the need to examine the heart (1 John 2:19).
– Not all professions are genuine – Jesus spoke of seeds falling on rocky ground representing those who hear the Word and seem to believe but later fall away because it did not take firm root (Luke 8:13). Their profession was not real belief.
– Public vs. private – A believer could conceivably keep a private profession of faith between themselves and God even if they publicly denounced it. God knows the heart.
– Doctrinal disputes – Changing churches or denominations over minor doctrinal squabbles need not negate the core profession of faith in Jesus.
– Mental competence – Those with advanced dementia, psychosis, or brain injuries may say things that seem to recant their beliefs even if their actual spiritual condition remains intact.
So in summary, while it’s possible for someone’s words or deeds to contradict or bring into question a past profession of faith, only God knows the authenticity and ultimate endurance of that confession. The evidence of a true profession is a life of ongoing fruit and faith.
What If Someone Strays After Making a Profession?
At times people step away from their professed faith in Christ or wander spiritually after making a public profession. How should this be handled? A few key points:
– Attempt to restore them – Anyone struggling after a profession of faith should be gently confronted and guided back to truth in a spirit of love (Galatians 6:1).
– Examine the heart – If efforts to restore fail, pastors/elders should carefully discern if the profession ever reflected saving faith and repentance (Matthew 7:21-23).
– Let God judge – Only He knows a person’s true spiritual state. We cannot judge whether someone was genuine or not if they stray (1 Corinthians 4:5).
– Keep praying – Persevering prayer for those who stray honors God. We should plead for their repentance and restoration constantly.
– Guard the church – Those behaving in unrepentant sin after a profession may need to be removed from church membership for the purity of the body (1 Corinthians 5:5).
– Trust God’s power – Regardless how far someone drifts from their profession, God can still draw them back to Himself by His grace (John 6:39).
So believers who stray should be lovingly and patiently pursued. The goal is always restoration, but the church must exercise discernment and uphold holiness if efforts prove fruitless.
Conclusion
In closing, a profession of faith is vitally important in the life of any Christian. It marks the moment someone openly confesses with their mouth and believes in their heart that Jesus Christ is Lord of their life and the sole way of salvation. This public declaration bears witness to God, identifies the believer with Christ, and reminds all of the transforming power of the Gospel. Professions of faith should be encouraged in churches and believers should look for ways to openly testify to their relationship with Jesus Christ. While the exact wording may vary, professions should express commitment to following Jesus, renouncing sin, and embracing forgiveness through His death on the cross. They signal the start of a devoted life lived in honor to Him.