Untitled Sermon

Confession of Jesus Christ

Synopsis

A public declaration of faith in Jesus Christ, acknowledging both his divinity and his lordship. Without such, salvation is impossible.

Confession of faith in Jesus Christ is necessary for salvation

Ro 10:9–10

Romans 10:9–10 (ESV) — 9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

See also Mk 8:38; 1 Jn 4:15; Mt 10:32–33; 1 Jn 2:23; 2 Ti 2:12

Mark 8:38 (ESV) — 38 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

1 John 4:15 (ESV) — 15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.

Matthew 10:32–33 (ESV) — 32 So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, 33 but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.

1 John 2:23 (ESV) — 23 No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also.

2 Timothy 2:12 (ESV) — 12 if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us;

Confessing Jesus Christ as Lord is only possible by the Holy Spirit

1 Co 12:3

1 Corinthians 12:3 (ESV) — 3 Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit.

Results of confessing faith in Jesus Christ

Baptism

Ac 2:38–41

Acts 2:38–41 (ESV) — 38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” 40 And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” 41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.

See also Ac 22:16; Ac 18:8

Acts 22:16 (ESV) — 16 And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.’

Acts 18:8 (ESV) — 8 Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord, together with his entire household. And many of the Corinthians hearing Paul believed and were baptized.

A change in lifestyle

Mt 7:21–23; 2 Ti 2:19

Matthew 7:21–23 (ESV) — 21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

2 Timothy 2:19 (ESV) — 19 But God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.”

See also 1 Jn 2:4; 1 Jn 1:6; 1 Ti 6:12; Heb 13:15; Lk 19:8–9

1 John 2:4 (ESV) — 4 Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him,

1 John 1:6 (ESV) — 6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.

1 Timothy 6:12 (ESV) — 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

Hebrews 13:15 (ESV) — 15 Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.

Luke 19:8–9 (ESV) — 8 And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.” 9 And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham.

Persecution

Jn 9:22

John 9:22 (ESV) — 22 (His parents said these things because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone should confess Jesus to be Christ, he was to be put out of the synagogue.)

See also 2 Ti 3:12; Jn 12:42–43

2 Timothy 3:12 (ESV) — 12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,

John 12:42–43 (ESV) — 42 Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.

Demons confessed Jesus Christ’s divinity

Lk 4:41

Luke 4:41 (ESV) — 41 And demons also came out of many, crying, “You are the Son of God!” But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew that he was the Christ.

See also Mt 8:28–29

Matthew 8:28–29 (ESV) — 28 And when he came to the other side, to the country of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men met him, coming out of the tombs, so fierce that no one could pass that way. 29 And behold, they cried out, “What have you to do with us, O Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?”

Ultimately all will confess Jesus Christ’s lordship

Php 2:9–11

Philippians 2:9–11 (ESV) — 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Notable confessions of faith in Jesus Christ

Jn 1:49

John 1:49 (ESV) — 49 Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!”

See also Mt 16:16; Jn 11:27; Jn 20:28; Jn 6:69; Mt 14:33

Matthew 16:16 (ESV) — 16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

John 11:27 (ESV) — 27 She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”

John 20:28 (ESV) — 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”

John 6:69 (ESV) — 69 and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.”

Matthew 14:33 (ESV) — 33 And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

The refusal to confess Jesus Christ

Mt 10:32–33

Matthew 10:32–33 (ESV) — 32 So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, 33 but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.

See also 2 Ti 2:12

2 Timothy 2:12 (ESV) — 12 if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us;