Lesson 14
CONFESSION
King James Version (KJV)
Introduction
Webster's dictionary, in defining the word "confess" uses such terms as "to speak", "admit". "to acknowledge", "to disclose one's faults-sins", "to declare faith in or adherence to". In Greek, the word is homologeo. W.E. Vine's dictionary says this means "to speak, to assent, accord, agree with," and denotes either:
(a) to confess, declare, admit (John 1:20; and, for example, Acts 24:14; Heb. 11:13);
(b) to confess by way of admitting oneself guilty of what one is accused of, the result of inward conviction (1 John 1:9); or
(c) to declare openly by way of speaking out freely, such confession being the effect of deep conviction of facts (Matt. 7:23; 10:32).
Throughout both the Old and New Testaments, the terms confess, confession, and confessing are frequently used. Thus, we are dealing with something that is very important in God's dealing with man. In the New Testament, confession is linked to three things: (1) sins, (2) a profession or way of life, and (3) Christ as the son of God.
1. Confessing Sins
Those who received John's preaching in the wilderness: were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins (Matt. 3:6; Mk. 1:5).
Christians were instructed by James to Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed (Jas. 5:16). Of course, one cannot forgive another of sins, for only God can do this. But confessing our sins to another who is concerned about our relationship with God, and praying together will lead to God's forgiveness. The end result of the confession of those John baptized, and those who confess their sins to others, when coupled with prayer, was forgiveness or remission of sins.
1 John 1:9 says: If we confess our sins, he (God) is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. . Confessing sins is a condition of salvation . It is not something you can choose not to do and still be saved. It is an essential ingredient of being saved. This has always been true in God's dealing with man. David prayed, I acknowledge my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah (Psa. 32:5).
Proverbs 28:13 says: He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.
2. Confession as a Profession
Jesus said, "Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God: But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God (Luke 12:8-9). In Rev.3:5, those who overcome are the ones whom Jesus will confess before my Father, and before his angels . It seems that those in these passages had made a profession of (dedicating their lives to) confessing Christ, in word and deed, among men here on earth. In the days when it was physically dangerous to admit to being a Christian, the faithful ones kept on confessing their Lord, no matter what the situation or place happened to be.
J. S. Lamar's Commentary on Luke (Restoration Library) says on Luke 12:8-9: "As the confession is to flow out of a true fountain, and continue onward in a consistent practical life, so the denial must be willful and enduring, thus manifesting a deliberate rejecting of Christ." That this confession is continual is seen in Heb. 13:15: By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name .
3. Confessing Faith in Christ
Paul wrote to Timothy, his son in the gospel and fellow laborer: Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses (1 Tim 6:12). The confession of this passage is obviously not referring to manner of life, but to something Timothy had done in the past, at a certain place and time, before many witnesses. There was a time and place when Timothy had publicly made a confession (verbal declaration) of his faith in Jesus as Christ, the Son of God.
If one does not, at some point, in this life confess that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, he will certainly do so on the Day of Judgment. But then will be too late. God exalted Jesus so That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Phil. 2:10-11).
The word of faith preached by the apostles and prophets, that resulted in the salvation of many, says That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation (Rom.10: 9-10). The following verses (verses 11-12) show that confessing Christ is a part of believing in Him and calling on His name.
An example of this kind of confession occurred during the conversion of the Ethiopian eunuch. After Philip had preached Jesus to him, resulting in his faith and conviction, the eunuch asked about being baptized: Then Philip said, "And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him (Acts 8:37 (footnote) and 38). After the eunuch had heard Jesus preached, he had faith, was convicted, and asked to be baptized. Only one other thing was needed, a confession of Jesus as Christ. That good confession having been made, Philip then baptized the eunuch into Christ.
This good confession is the very foundation of Christianity. It is the rock on which Christ said His church would be built. Peter confessed, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered "...and upon this rock I will build my church;" (Matt. 16:16-18). On two occasions God declared Jesus to be the Christ and to be His Son. The first occasion was at the baptism of Jesus (Matt.3:17). The second was on the Mount of Transfiguration (Matt.17:5).
Jesus Himself, on trial before the High Priest, when asked, "that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God" replied, "Thou hast said:" (Matt. 26:63-64).
Stephen, just before the mob stoned him, declared, "Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God " (Acts 7:55-56).
Confessing Christ and denying Christ was a common thing among men in the first century (1 John 2:23). Those denying Christ were called antichrists (1 John 4:2-3).
Many religious groups require some kind of confession before accepting one into their fellowship as members. Some ask, "Do you believe that God has, for Christ's sake, pardoned your sins?" If they say "Yes", they are then baptized into their fellowship. Such a confession makes their baptism for the wrong purpose. New Testament baptism was for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38) or to be saved (Mark 16:16). Some groups ask the one seeking membership to testify, relate an experience, or give witness to that which would indicate their salvation. If accepted by the group, they would then be baptized into that fellowship. Again, Biblically speaking, that baptism would be for the wrong purpose, therefore, not valid. Still other groups deny the need for any confession at all, claiming it would be a "work" and therefore conflict with their unscriptural doctrine of salvation by faith only.
The only scriptural, valid confession necessary to being and remaining saved is that the resurrected Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. No one has Biblical authority to baptize someone in the name of Christ who has not made or will not make this confession. On the Judgment Day those who have not made this confession, by their mouth and in their life, will be denied an entrance into heaven.
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