John 18:17 Then said the damsel that kept the door to Peter, Are not you also one of this man's disciples? He said, I am not. I. THERE ARE THOSE WHO SAY "YES" WHEN THEY OUGHT TO SAY "NO." This is hypocrisy. They who belong to this class are loud in their professions, are regular attendants at public worship, and push their way into Church offices. If there were no other day but the Sabbath, and no other place but the Church, such would pass without suspicion. But when you follow them into the world their "I am" becomes "I am not." Their life is cut into two halves, and each gives a denial to the other. Let not such point to Peter in vindication of themselves. He was a hypocrite to the world, and desired to pass himself off as a worse man than he was. But this wearing of the mask was not usual to him, and he wore it so clumsily that he was soon detected. And let not the hypocrite to the Church think that his mask is impenetrable. He cannot impose on God. II. THERE ARE THOSE WHO SAY "NO," AND WITH TRUTH, This is avowed ungodliness; and when expostulated with, such persons, in extenuation, say, "But we don't profess to be Christians," and thus in their estimation the only sin is hypocrisy. "There is A, who makes a great profession, but is no better than others, go and speak to him." This is a very dangerous, because insidious, opinion. Of course, Judas was worse than Caiaphas, but that did not minimize the latter's guilt. Whatever a man's profession may be, it in no way absolves him from obligations which exist irrespective of his profession. That a man does not profess to be a Christian can no more relieve him from the guilt of rejecting Christ than the fact that a thief lays no claim to honesty can exonerate him. Suppose a prisoner accused of a violent assault were to admit it, and then were to plead in extenuation that he never pretended to be a peaceful citizen. At the bottom of this lies the sophism that it does not matter what a man is or what he believes if he be only sincere. How absurd this is! If a man be sincerely Christ's enemy, he is His enemy with this addition, that he frankly admits it. Away with such subterfuges i The man who says, "I am not Christ's disciple," is guilty of repudiating His Saviour and dishonouring God's Son. III. THOSE WHO SAY "NO" WHEN THEY OUGHT TO SAY "YES." 1. There are some who say this to the world. To this class Peter belonged. The fear of man brings a snare, and discipleship is denied to save from ridicule, penury, or martyrdom. This is distinct from hypocrisy, for the hypocrite's falsehood is told deliberately, and is the habit of his life, whereas these occasional fits of timidity are only like the deflections of the needle which are caused by some local influence; the general bearing of the soul is as true to Christ as the needle to the north. Still, such anomalies are to be guarded against. Where is your faith? Don't be afraid of adversaries and difficulties. Remember that God is on your side How many fears have been imaginary. Peter, except for his assault on Malchus, was in no more danger than John. 2. There are those who say this to the Church. Who does not know some excellent people who fear to make this avowal lest they should bring reproach on Christ? There is much in the modesty, &c., of such to be admired, but in some sort this is being ashamed of Christ, and the shirking of responsibility is a serious matter, a man may be a very good soldier though he wear no uniform and belong to no regiment, but if all men were like him there could be no army. So a man may be a good Christian, and yet belong to no Church, but if all men were like him there would be no Church, Sunday schools, home missions, &c. If it had not been for aggressive believers, the gospel would not have come to you to-day. If you say that you are not qualified for Church membership, the reply is that men do not join the Church because they are perfect any more than children go to school because they are educated. IV. THERE ARE THOSE WHO SAY "YES," AND TRULY. They belong to Christ, and are not ashamed to say so anywhere and every day. (W. M. Taylor, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: Then saith the damsel that kept the door unto Peter, Art not thou also one of this man's disciples? He saith, I am not. |
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