Salvation Series 6: Confession
By Lance Mosher
There is a game that young people play called “Truth or Dare.” If someone choses Dare, he or she usually has to do something dangerous or gross. On the other hand, if Truth is chosen, that person has to confess his or her deepest secrets. Sometimes secrets are kept for surprises, waiting to be revealed at the perfect time. However, sometimes secrets are kept because of shame. What are your secrets? What are you ashamed of? Are you ashamed of your faith in Christ?
For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels. Mark 8:38.
Most people who have experienced the salvation of Christ understand His liberating qualities. Christ can free us from sin (Romans 8:2), insecurity (1 John 5:13), the fear of death (Hebrews 2:14-15), and so much more! Christ allows us access to the throne of God (Hebrews 4:14-16). Christ can give us a home in heaven (John 14:1-6). With so much offered through Him, why would we ever hold back? Why would we ever be ashamed? Cast off your shame, and be willing to confess!
The Importance of Confession
First, we must address what it is we are confessing. In the context of salvation, when confession is mentioned, many people automatically think of confession of sins.
Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. James 5:13.
The confession of sin is certainly biblical and is certainly powerful. However, that is not the confession I want to study here. I’d like to look at the confession that the Ethiopian made before he was baptized into Christ.
As they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch said, “Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?” And Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” And he ordered the chariot to stop; and they both went down into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch, and he baptized him. Acts 8:36-38.
Candidates for baptism are only those who have believed in Christ and repented of their sins (Mark 16:16; Acts. 2:38). What a privilege for those who believe and have repented to tell all those around them why they are being baptized!
But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”–that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. Romans 10:8-10.
As discussed previously, all must come to believe in Christ in their hearts. Your belief must not simply remain in your heart. Instead, it must be confessed “with your mouth.” This passage claims that confessing Christ as Lord results in salvation.
A Quick Warning
Though Romans 10 says that confession "results in salvation,” that does not mean that confession is the only thing one must do to be saved. In fact, Jesus warns us plainly of that fact.
Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Matthew 7:21.
However, when one confesses that Jesus is Lord, that person will then have pledged himself or herself as a servant of Christ. Meaning, if Jesus is your Lord, you will obey Him in everything, which will guarantee your salvation.
Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation. Hebrews 5:8-9.
In other words, you believe Christ in your heart, confess Christ with your mouth, and please Christ with your actions.
Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven. Matthew 10:32-33.
Be aware that nowhere in Scripture does it teach that the “good confession” (1 Timothy 6:10) is a one-time deal. It is a lifetime commitment.
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. Romans 12:1 (KJV).
It might seem daring to express the truth you believe in your heart, but it is essential. Those unwilling to confess now will do so at the second coming of Christ with profound regret.
For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:9-11.
Join Peter today in confessing the reality of Christ before it’s too late!
Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Matthew 16:16.
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