Making A Profession Of Faith: A Personal Journey

Making a profession of faith is a public declaration of one's faith journey with Christ. This can be done through baptism, an outward symbol of an inner relationship with God, or by sharing one's testimony. For instance, in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, a person making a public profession of faith may be asked: Do you believe in one living and true God, in whom eternally there are three distinct persons—God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit—who are the same in being and equal in power and glory, and that Jesus Christ is God the Son, come in the flesh?

Publicly declare your faith journey with Christ

A profession of faith is a personal and public statement of one's belief or faith. It involves publicly declaring your faith journey with Christ and can be done through various means such as baptism or sharing one's testimony with others.

When making a profession of faith, you are openly declaring your intent to follow Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. This declaration is not just empty words but a reflection of the true condition of your heart. Romans 10:9-10 shows the value of a profession of faith in Christ:

> "If you declare with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved."

Faith in the heart is accompanied by a profession of the mouth. Those who are saved will speak of their salvation, even when that profession could lead to persecution or death, as it did for the early Christians.

There are many ways to make a profession of faith. One common way is through baptism, which symbolizes the death of your old self and your resurrection in Christ. In the early church, the kerygma, or the proclamation of Jesus Christ as Messiah and Son of God, summed up the profession of faith.

Another way to publicly declare your faith is by sharing your testimony, or your story of faith. This can include sharing how you came to faith, the challenges you've faced, and how God has worked in your life. Testimonies can vary widely and can be a powerful way to share the good news of what God has done for you.

Making a profession of faith is an important step in your spiritual journey as it declares to the world your commitment to following Christ. It is a public declaration that you are not ashamed to be called a follower of Jesus and that your words are accompanied by a change of heart.

As you make your profession of faith, remember that it is just the starting place for a lifetime of discipleship and following Jesus as Lord. Your words and actions should continue to reflect your faith and your commitment to growing in your relationship with God.

Get baptised

Baptism is a significant step in following Jesus and making a profession of faith. It symbolises death to sin, the burial of the old self, and a new life in Christ.

Preparing for Baptism

Baptism requires some preparation. The person being baptised will need to wear appropriate clothing, such as dark, tight-fitting attire to avoid accidental exposure when wet. The baptistry should be filled with warm water in advance, allowing enough time to fill, around 20-30 minutes. Baptisms can also be performed in any standing body of water, such as a river, pool, or the ocean.

The Confession of Faith

The person being baptised will need to repeat a confession of faith, usually a few sentences long. This can be done in phrases, with the baptised person repeating after the person leading the baptism. The confession can be done in questions, such as: "Do you believe that Jesus is the Son of God?" and "Do you accept Him as your Lord and Saviour?". After the confession, a blessing is said to make the baptism official.

Performing the Baptism

The person being baptised will be guided backward into the water and gently lowered until their body is fully submerged. They will be held under the water for a second or two before being raised back up. This action symbolises Christ rising from the dead and the baptised person gaining a new life.

The Meaning of Baptism

Baptism is a symbolic act that represents a person's commitment to following Christ. It is an outward expression of an inner relationship with God. The water represents the death of sin, mirroring the story of the flood in Genesis 6 when the world was drowned in water. Being submerged in the water symbolises the death and burial of one's sinful nature, and being raised out of the water represents the resurrection to new life in Christ.

The Importance of a Public Declaration

In the early church, and still in many parts of the world today, publicly declaring one's faith in Jesus could lead to persecution or even death. Therefore, believers took baptism very seriously, as it meant a lifelong commitment to Christ that could result in martyrdom. A public profession of faith, such as baptism, is a declaration that one is not ashamed to be called a follower of Christ.

Share your testimony

Sharing your testimony is a powerful way to make a profession of faith. It involves publicly declaring your faith journey with Christ and can be a way to inspire others to do the same.

Testimonies can take many forms and vary widely in content. For example, you could share how you grew up in a religious household and how your faith has evolved over time, or you could speak about a challenging life event that led you to find comfort in your faith. You might also talk about how your faith has helped you through difficult times, or how it has guided your actions and decisions.

The key aspect of sharing your testimony is to be open and honest about your experiences and how your faith has played a role in them. It is a way to bear witness to the power of your faith and to declare your commitment to following Christ. It can also be an opportunity to spread the word of God and to invite others to join you in your faith journey.

When sharing your testimony, it is important to remember that everyone's journey is unique, and there is no one-size-fits-all approach. Be authentic and speak from the heart about what your faith means to you and how it has impacted your life. This can be a powerful way to connect with others and to share the good news of your faith.

Make a profession of faith in front of others

A profession of faith is a personal and public statement of one's belief or faith. It involves openly declaring one's intent to follow Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. This declaration is often made during baptism, which serves as an outward symbol of an inner relationship with God. However, it's important to note that a profession of faith is not limited to baptism but can also be expressed through sharing one's testimony or faith journey with others.

When making a profession of faith in front of others, it is essential to recognise that this act is about more than just words. While declaring one's faith publicly is a powerful statement, true salvation comes from the possession of faith and the corresponding change of heart. In other words, faith must be accompanied by actions and a commitment to following Christ.

There are various ways to make a profession of faith in front of others. One common way is through baptism, which is often the first step of obedience in following Jesus as Lord. During baptism, individuals may be asked to publicly renounce sin and evil and confess their faith in Christ Jesus. This can involve reciting creeds or formulas, such as the Apostles' Creed or the Nicene Creed, which summarise the fundamental beliefs of Christianity.

In addition to baptism, individuals can make a profession of faith by sharing their personal testimony. This involves sharing one's story of faith, including how they came to believe in Jesus Christ and how their faith has impacted their life. Testimonies can be shared with both believers and non-believers and can be a powerful way to spread the good news of God's transforming power.

Different Christian denominations may have specific requirements for making a profession of faith. For example, in the Catholic Church, individuals may recite a profession of faith that begins with, "I believe and profess all that the holy Catholic Church believes, teaches, and proclaims to be revealed by God." In the Reformed Church in America, individuals are received into the congregation based on their profession of faith, reaffirmation of faith, or presentation of a certificate from another Christian congregation.

Profess your faith in Christ Jesus and confess the faith of the church

Professing your faith in Christ Jesus and confessing the faith of the church is a personal and public statement of your belief in Jesus. It is a declaration of your intent to follow Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour.

The origin of the profession of faith is in the New Testament, where believers declared their faith in Jesus during baptism. In the Reformed Church in America, for example, the profession of faith is anchored in and builds upon the Order for the Sacrament of Baptism. The profession of faith includes people seeking adult baptism, those baptised as infants making an initial profession of faith, those reaffirming their faith, and those transferring from another Christian church.

When professing your faith in Christ Jesus, you are declaring your belief in Jesus as the Son of God and your Saviour. You are also committing to follow him and live as his disciple. This may include promising to serve Christ daily, to walk in his way, and to be a faithful member of a congregation.

When confessing the faith of the church, you are affirming the core beliefs of Christianity, including the Trinity, the divinity of Christ, his death and resurrection, and the authority of the Bible as the Word of God. This may also include agreeing to accept the spiritual guidance of the church and to live according to its teachings.

In some churches, such as the Catholic Church, those joining the church are required to make a profession of faith according to a prescribed formula. For example, when joining the Catholic Church, one may profess:

> "I believe and profess all that the holy Catholic Church believes, teaches, and proclaims to be revealed by God."

In other churches, such as Baptist, Pentecostal, and non-denominational churches, the profession of faith consists of witnessing to one's personal conversion and faith in Jesus before being baptised.

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