Confession (3)

Confession

“Confession” = To Openly Admit or Take Ownership of Something

2 Main Types of “Confession” in the Scriptures:

Confessing Sin

Confessing Jesus

Confessing Sin

Openly Admitting or Taking Ownership of One’s Own Sin

Recap

God Forgives Sin When it is Confessed/Revealed

God Does Not Forgive Sin When it is Hidden/Concealed

An Essential Aspect of Walking in the Light & having Fellowship with God…

Is Confessing Our Sins to Him

We’re Also Told to Confess Our Sins to One Another

If We Don’t Confess Our Sins to Those We’ve Wronged…

In an Attempt at Reconciliation…

Then Our Lives are Not Pleasing to God

Private Sins should Be Confessed to God Privately

Interpersonal Sins should Be Confessed to One Another

Public Sins should Be Confessed to the Church

Confessing Sin isn’t Just for Disciples

It’s a Crucial Part of Conversion/Becoming a Disciple

The People Being Baptized By John…

In Order to Be Prepared for the Arrival of the Kingdom…

Confessed Their Sins:

Matthew 3:5–6 (NASB95)

5 Then Jerusalem was going out to him, and all Judea and all the district around the Jordan; 6 and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, as they confessed their sins.

Many in Ephesus Who Became Believers…

Came Confessing Their Sinful Practices

Acts 19:18 (NASB95)

18 Many also of those who had believed kept coming, confessing and disclosing their practices.

One Thing that I Loved about Ashton Jenkins’ Conversion to Christianity…

Was that She Told Me She’d Been Doing Daily Bible Devotionals…

And had Started Realizing All the Sin that She’s Committed in Her Life

She was Openly Admitting & Taking Ownership of Her Sin…

And She Wanted God’s Forgiveness & Grace

There can Be No True Conversion to Christ…

Without Comprehending & Confessing the Sin that You’re in

Confessing Jesus

Openly Admitting or Taking Ownership of Jesus as One’s Lord/King

An Expression of the Conviction that Jesus is Lord/King

It’s about Being Unashamed of Jesus & His Gospel

It’s Often Called a Confession of Faith

Openly Admitting Allegiance to Jesus & All that He Stands for

Many Times this Topic Comes Up Within the Context of Persecution

Persecution is for the Purpose of Causing the Believer…

To Denounce/Disown Jesus

Confessing Our Faith in Jesus is Being Unashamed of Being His Disciple…

And Being Willing to Boldly Claim Him as Lord/King…

Regardless of the Consequences

Matthew 10:28–33 (NASB95)

28 “Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 “Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. 30 “But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 “So do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows. 32 “Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. 33 “But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.

Jesus is Warning His Disciples…

“That Some will Slander, Insult, & Seek to Harm You…”

“Because You are My Disciples”

“They can Only Kill the Body, Not Your Soul/Life”

“But God can Kill Both Your Body & Your Soul/Life”

“He’s the One We should Fear Disappointing”

If We Cave to the Pressure & Denounce/Disown Jesus as Our Master…

He will Denounce/Disown Us Before God

But if We Stay Faithful/Loyal to Jesus…

And Openly Admit & Take Ownership of Him as Our Master…

Then Jesus will Openly Admit & Take Ownership of Us Before God

It Comes Down to:

Are We Ashamed of Our Allegiance to Jesus?

Or Are We Unashamed?

Many Jews Who Believed in Jesus…

Wouldn’t Openly Admit Their Belief in Him Being the Messiah…

Because They were Afraid of the Social & Religious Backlash

John 9:18–23 (NASB95)

18 The Jews then did not believe it of him, that he had been blind and had received sight, until they called the parents of the very one who had received his sight, 19 and questioned them, saying, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? Then how does he now see?” 20 His parents answered them and said, “We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; 21 but how he now sees, we do not know; or who opened his eyes, we do not know. Ask him; he is of age, he will speak for himself.” 22 His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews; for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone confessed Him to be Christ, he was to be put out of the synagogue. 23 For this reason his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”

They Cared More about Their Social/Religious Standing…

Than They Did about Jesus

John 12:37–43 (NASB95)

37 But though He had performed so many signs before them, yet they were not believing in Him. 38 This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet which he spoke: “Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” 39 For this reason they could not believe, for Isaiah said again, 40 “He has blinded their eyes and He hardened their heart, so that they would not see with their eyes and perceive with their heart, and be converted and I heal them.” 41 These things Isaiah said because he saw His glory, and he spoke of Him. 42 Nevertheless many even of the rulers believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they were not confessing Him, for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved the approval of men rather than the approval of God.

John Said it Best Here:

People were/are Ashamed to Be Associated with & Loyal to Jesus…

Because “They Loved the Approval of Men Rather Than the Approval of God”

They Wanted Approval, Glory, & Praise from People…

Instead of Approval, Glory, Praise from God?

The Book of Hebrews is All about Remaining Faithful to Jesus…

In Spite of All the Persecution is Brings

We See the Word “Confession” 3 Times:

Hebrews 3:1 (NASB95)

1 Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest of our confession;

Jesus is the Apostle & High Priest of Our Confession

He is the One in Whom We Place Our Allegiance

In Becoming His Disciples…

We Confess Our Allegiance to Him

Hebrews 4:14 (NASB95)

14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.

Hebrews 10:23 (NASB95)

23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful;

Since Jesus is Interceding on Our Behalf as Our High Priest in Heaven…

And Because He is Faithful to Keep His Promises…

Let Us Hold on to Our Confession of Allegiance to Jesus…

Which is Where We have Hope

The Author is Encouraging His Readers…

To Not Disown Jesus in the Face of Persecution

Hebrews 13:15–16 (NASB95)

15 Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name. 16 And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

“Give Thanks” is a Bad Translation

Literally it is: “Confessing His Name”

What are the Sacrifices that Christians are to Offer…

That Bring Praise to God?

Confessing Allegiance to Him

Doing Good Deeds

Sharing/Fellowshiping with One Another

Confessing Allegiance to God is Worship to Him

When Paul was Before the Roman Governor, Felix…

He Confessed His Allegiance to God:

Acts 24:14–15 (NASB95)

14 “But this I admit to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect I do serve the God of our fathers, believing everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets; 15 having a hope in God, which these men cherish themselves, that there shall certainly be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked.

“I Openly Admit & Take Ownership of”:

“Serving/Worshiping God According to the Way of Jesus”

“Believing Everything that is in Accordance with the Law & Prophets”

“The Hope of Resurrection”

These are the Things We Must Openly Admit & Take Ownership of Too

Confessing Jesus Passages:

(Philippians 2:11; Romans 14:11 [Isaiah 45:23]; 2 Corinthians 9:13; 1 Timothy 6:12-13; Romans 10:9-10; Titus 1:16; 1 John 2:23, 4:2-3, 15; 2 John 7)

The two types of confession are often combined in the Bible, producing many psalms of thanksgiving. In general those psalms contain some or all of the following ideas: (1) I sinned; (2) I became ill and nearly died; (3) I prayed to God, who delivered me; and (4) now I offer this song of confession, which I promised him (Pss 22; 30; 32; 34; 40; 51; 116). The same Hebrew word means both “praise” and “confession of sin”; the two meanings were part of a single concept. The psalmist began by admitting sin and God’s justice and ended by confessing God’s forgiveness and delivering power.

In the Church. Both types of confession continued to be practiced in the church. During the first 300 years of the church, confessing Christ publicly, especially in a court of law, was very important. Those who did so were honored with the title “martyr” (from a Greek word meaning “witness” or “confessor”), whether or not they were actually put to death for their faith. During that same period, in addition to congregational confessions of sin (which continue in virtually all churches), any Christian who sinned seriously was required to make a public confession in church.