Historical Posts
Before whom will you confess Jesus today?
Thanks to Al Parr, working with the Saline Church of Christ, for the content of this post.John 9:21-22 – “But by what means he now seeth, we know not; or who hath opened his eyes, we know not: he is of age; ask him: he shall speak for himself. These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue.”
The parents of the man born blind, now healed by Jesus, were afraid to speak the truth about Jesus because they feared what the judges would do to them otherwise. Many continue in the same sin today. “He that sat upon the throne” (Revelation 21:5) said that “the fearful … shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone” (Revelation 21:5).
“God hath not given us a spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7). Trust the power. Exhibit the love. Use the sound mind.
Read again Matthew 10:32-33, then answer the question – Before whom will you confess Jesus today?
Al Parr works Confirming the Churches and preaches at the Saline Church of Christ
7300 East Michigan Avenue
Saline, MI 48176
734-429-4319
Content by Zachary Van Tassel
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How Do We Confess?
How Do We Confess - To Whom Do We Confess - What Do We Confess
For an answer, we had better consult the Word of God.
The title of this article may seem like an absurd question, but there are some preachers who teach that the confession of our faith in Jesus Christ is something that we do with our actions, rather than with our words. They contend that confession is not really one of the steps in the gospel plan of salvation, since it is something that we are supposed to do throughout our lives on Earth. Once again, we had better consult the Word of God on this subject.
Christian’s lives are a confession of their faith.
Of a truth, the Bible teaches that the lives we live on Earth must reflect our faith in Christ for all to see (Philippians 1:21). That is what the apostle Paul was talking about, when he wrote, “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. And be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:1-2). Indeed, the very lives that Christians live are a confession of their faith.
Our obedience requires a verbal confession of faith prior to becoming a Christian.
But, that does not mean that the Lord does not require a verbal confession of our faith, as a part of our obedience of the gospel plan of salvation. Romans 10:10 is the key passage on this issue: “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation“. Clearly, there is a need for everyone to make a verbal confession of their faith in Jesus Christ, prior to becoming a Christian.
A verbal confession of our faith is essential.
I am persuaded that a verbal confession of one’s faith in Christ was especially important in the early church. In the ancient Roman world, being a Christian was against the law, and the verbal profession of one’s faith could be dangerous. Only those who were truly committed to following the way of Christ would be willing to confess Him out loud, in front of witnesses. It was an act of supreme bravery and total commitment. Today, we may not face the same dangers as our ancient brethren, but the confession of our faith is still essential to our salvation.
“For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” – Romans 10:10
Content by Russell Kline
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To Whom Do We Confess?
How Do We Confess - To Whom Do We Confess - What Do We Confess
Who ought to receive our confession? Let’s look to the Bible for an answer.
The religious world is populated with many false ideas about the subject of confession. When it comes to the question of who ought to receive our confession, there are some who say that only a priest can hear such a thing, while others argue that confession must be made only to the Lord. What is the truth of the matter? As usual, the Bible has the answer.
We make a confession in the presence of other people, as a public record.
When it comes to the confession of our faith in Christ, prior to becoming members of His church, it is obvious that we must make such a confession in the presence of other people (Matthew 10:32,33). The confession of our faith in the Lord Jesus is supposed to be a matter of public record. We must never hide our faith from our fellow men (Matthew 5:13-16).
Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another.
Once we have obeyed the gospel plan of salvation, and become Christians, it may be necessary for us to confess when we have sinned. James 5:16 says, “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” It must be pointed out that this verse says nothing about making a confession to a priest, or about a priest granting absolution for sins. In the New Testament, every Christian is said to be a priest (1 Peter 2:9), and God is the only one who can forgive us for our sins (Matthew 9:1-8). That is why 1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
We must confess our sins to God and appeal to Him for forgiveness.
As Christians, we must confess our sins to God and appeal to Him for forgiveness. There is no human priesthood that can do what God does for us.
“Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in Heaven.” – Matthew 10:32-33
Content by Russell Kline
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What Do We Confess?
How Do We Confess - To Whom Do We Confess - What Do We Confess
What are we supposed to confess?
That confession is an important part of the gospel plan of salvation, there can be no doubt. Romans 10:10 plainly declares, “with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Clearly, a verbal confession is something that carries us all toward the ultimate goal of salvation. But, what are we supposed to confess? Admittedly, this is a source of great misunderstanding, in the religious world. But, as usual, a closer look at the Scriptures will make the matter easily discerned.
Confess our faith in the fact that Jesus Christ is the Lord!
In order to properly answer the question at hand, one must consider the full reading of Romans 10:9-10. “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.” The American Standard Version of the Bible offers us a slightly different, yet more insightful reading of Romans 10:9 ASV, which says, in part, “because if thou shalt confess with thy mouth Jesus as Lord…” This plainly tells us that, in order to be saved, we must confess our faith in the fact that Jesus Christ is the Lord! This is the very same confession that the apostle Peter made, in Matthew 16, and it is the same confession that the Ethiopian eunuch made, in Acts 8. This the abiding principle upon which the Lord’s church is founded (1 Corinthians 3:11). So it is the case that we must confess the Lordship of Jesus today, if we desire salvation.
Verbal confession of all sins is not required to wash them away in baptism.
Some have the mistaken impression that we must confess all of our sins, prior to their being washed away in baptism. This, however, is an impossibility, since the average person is not capable of remembering every sin that they have committed, especially if they are well into their adult years. Some argue that James 5:16 requires a verbal confession of sin, but the context in which that verse appears is a discussion of what one who is already a Christian ought to do, when sin is ruining his life. Certainly, Christians ought to talk to each other about the spiritual challenges we face, so that we will be better able to bear one another’s spiritual burdens (Galatians 6:2). The Bible does not teach that we have the power to absolve each other’s sins. For that, we must confess our sins to God, and ask Him to forgive us (1 John 1:9).
“…thou shalt confess with thy mouth Jesus as Lord…” – Romans 10:9 ASV
Content by Russell Kline
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Decision Tree – Confess Jesus as the Christ
(Did you jump into the middle of this? Please start at the beginning of the decision tree.)
Now that you have heard God’s Word and believe that Jesus is the Christ, are you ready to take further action? Jesus says that if we confess Him before men He will confess that we are His before the Father (Matthew 10:32) and the angels (Luke 12:8).
Will you demonstrate a living faith (James 2:17-20, 24) by verbally and publicly confessing Jesus as Christ?
Will you confess that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God?
More on confessing:
Content by Zachary Van Tassel
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Being Baptized – How Do I Know I’m Ready? – audio
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Introduction
1. “How do I know when I’m ready to be baptized?”
2. I appreciate this question!
3. All too often, I am afraid that we are guilty of simply telling people that they need to be baptized and not really explaining to them that baptism is merely a part of God’s plan to save man.
4. The one who asks this question realizes:
a. That baptism is important.
b. That baptism is not something to be done on a whim.
c. That one needs to be PREPARED to be baptized.
5. How do we know when we are ready?
6. All of the preparation is mental.
Body
YOU ARE READY TO BE BAPTIZED WHEN…
I. YOU UNDERSTAND SIN AND IT’S CONSEQUENCES…
A. A question to ask someone who says that they want to be baptized…
1. “If you were to die right now, before you were baptized, would you go to heaven or hell?”
2. If the person answers that they believe that they would go to heaven, then that person does not yet understand sin or the purpose of baptism.
B. Before one is a scriptural candidate for baptism, he must realize that he is lost!
1. One must understand what sin is.
a) All mankind lives under God’s Law.
Galatians 6:2. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
b) Sin is lawlessness or disobeying God’s law.
1 John 3:4. Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness.
c) There are sins of commission, omission, and ignorance.
2. Sin separates a person from God.
a) Genesis 2:17. But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.
b) Romans 6:23. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
c) Isaiah 59:1-2. Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear.
C. Unremitted sin will cause us to be eternally separated from God.
1. Revelation 14:11-13. And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.” Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.”
2. Revelation 20:13-15. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.
And…
II. YOU UNDERSTAND WHO JESUS WAS…
A. There has always been confusion and disagreement on the identity of Jesus.
Matthew 16:13-16. When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
B. Without a proper understanding of who Jesus was, one can not be scripturally baptized.
C. Our salvation depends, in part, on our perception of Jesus.
John 8:23-24. And He said to them, “You are from beneath; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”
1. What does it mean t believe that Jesus is the “I AM.”
2. If we acknowledge Jesus as the “I AM” we:
a) Are acknowledging Him as part of the Godhead.
Exodus 3:14. And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”
b) Are acknowledging His pre-existence.
John 8:56-58. Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.” Then the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?” Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.”
c) Are acknowledging His authority.
Matthew 28:18. And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
D. Belief alone is not sufficient to save.
James 2:19. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!
And…
III. YOU UNDERSTAND REPENTANCE…
A. Repentance is also necessary to salvation. Luke 13:3. I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.
B. But what is repentance?
1. Examples of repentance
Matthew 21:28-31. “But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, ‘Son, go, work today in my vineyard.’ He answered and said, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he regretted it and went. Then he came to the second and said likewise. And he answered and said, ‘I go, sir,’ but he did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said to Him, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you.
2 Corinthians 7:10-11. For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death. For observe this very thing, that you sorrowed in a godly manner: What diligence it produced in you, what clearing of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what vehement desire, what zeal, what vindication! In all things you proved yourselves to be clear in this matter.
2. Repentance is a change in mind (brought on by godly sorrow) that leads to a change in action.
C. People must be willing to repent of sin in their lives before they are ready to be baptized.
1. If one is a thief, he must quit being a thief.
2. If one is a liar, he must quit being a liar.
3. If one is an adulterer, he must quit being an adulterer.
And…
IV. YOU UNDERSTAND CONFESSION…
A. Jesus says we must confess Him before men.
Matthew 10:32. Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.
B. Paul said that confession is made to salvation.
Romans 10:9-10. That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
C. It is called the good confession.
1 Timothy 6:12-13. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate
1. The confession that Jesus made before Pilate was that He was the Son of God.
2. John 18:36-37. Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.” Pilate therefore said to Him, “Are You a king then?” Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”
D. Without this confession, one is not ready to be baptized.
Acts 8:36-37. Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?” Then 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…
V. YOU UNDERSTAND THE PURPOSE OF BAPTISM.
A. Without a proper understanding of the purpose, baptism is useless.
B. What is the purpose of baptism?
1. Remission of sins.
Acts 2:38. Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
2. Washes away sins.
Acts 22:16. And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.’
3. Saves us.
1 Peter 3:21. There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ
4. Puts us into Christ.
Galatians 3:27. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
5. Puts us into the body.
1 Corinthians 12:13. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—
Conclusion
1. When are you ready to be baptized?
2. When you understand sin and its consequences in your life.
3. When you understand who Jesus was and what He did for you.
4. When you are willing to repent of sin in your life.
5. When you are willing to confess Jesus.
6. When you understand the purpose of baptism.
Delivered on: December 18, 2011. Streetsboro.
Content by Ralph Price
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