Salvation By Confession
Fundamentals 2021 • Sermon • Submitted
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Introduction
Introduction
Greetings…
This year our focus has been on the “Fundamentals” of God’s word.
2 Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—
Lately, we have been focused on specifically “God’s Plan of Salvation” by examining each specific step God requires for one to have their sins washed away. Thus far…
We have examined what “grace” really is.
It is God’s gift of Jesus for our sins and the free gift offered to everyone willing to take hold of that gift.
We have examined the necessity of studying God’s word unto salvation.
In other words, that one “must study” God’s word to actually know who their Savior, Jesus the Christ actually is.
We have studied the difference between belief in God, faith in God, and faithfulness in God.
Belief in God is knowing he exists.
Faith in God is trusting in God to keep his word.
Faithfulness in God is acting upon that trust in God.
Last week, we studied repentance unto salvation.
That one must understand their sin, have a godly grief concerning their sin, be willing to change their mind toward sin, and then change their behavior concerning sin.
That one cannot properly repent without counting the cost of each of these before actually repenting or “turning from sin to God.”
As was the case with each of those steps we now find the next logical or reasonable step in God’s plan of salvation which is “Salvation By Confession.”
The reality there is much more to “confessing Jesus” than most realize.
So, with that in mind let’s examine our lesson by first…
Defining Confession
Defining Confession
Webster’s Dictionary.
Webster’s Dictionary.
to tell or make known (as something wrong or damaging to oneself)
to acknowledge (sin) to God or to a priest
to declare faith in or adherence to
Vine’s Lexicon.
Vine’s Lexicon.
Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words Confess, Confession
lit., “to speak the same thing” (homos, “same,” lego, “to speak”)
Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words Confess, Confession
to confess by way of admitting oneself guilty of what one is accused of, the result of inward conviction
Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words Confess, Confession
to declare openly by way of speaking out freely, such confession being the effect of deep conviction of facts
Summary
Summary
In other words when God talks about confessing Jesus as Lord what he means is…
We are to “show our loyalty to Christ in confession.”
We are to “celebrate and honor Christ in our confession.”
We are to “make a promise with our confession.”
Let’s take a closer look at each of these.
Show Our Loyalty To Christ
Show Our Loyalty To Christ
By Admitting We Know Jesus.
By Admitting We Know Jesus.
We demonstrate our loyalty to Jesus when we admit we are not ashamed of knowing Jesus as our Lord and Savior.
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
Matthew 10:32–33 (NKJV)
32 Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. 33 But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.
We also show our loyalty in confession…
By Outwardly Revealing We Know Jesus.
By Outwardly Revealing We Know Jesus.
Again, we demonstrate our loyalty to Jesus when we outwardly reveal or show we are not ashamed of Jesus.
This is done by those seeking to have their sins washed away by “verbally” or “outwardly” expressing their recognition and loyalty to Jesus.
9 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. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Matthew 10:32–33 (NKJV)
32 Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. 33 But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.
Summary
Summary
It is our responsibility to expound to people the great importance of confession.
It isn’t just saying “Jesus is Lord and Savior” it is saying “Jesus is my Lord and Savior” and him will I be loyal to.
When God talks about us confessing Jesus he not only is discussing us revealing our loyalties but that we are to also…
Celebrate & Honor Christ
Celebrate & Honor Christ
We Celebrate Jesus As The Son.
We Celebrate Jesus As The Son.
When we confess Jesus we are celebrating his coming to this earth by becoming the “Son of God.”
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
This truth is bore out in the eunuch’s confession.
36 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?” 37 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.”
This is further seen in the Hebrew writer’s statement in Hebrews 13:15.
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.
Not only do we celebrate Jesus’ name as “Son of God” in our confession…
We Honor Jesus With Praise.
We Honor Jesus With Praise.
Notice how Jesus is praised in Revelation 5:9-14.
9 And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, 10 and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.” 11 Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands,
12 saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” 13 And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!” 14 And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped.
I’m not saying that when we confess Jesus, we must recite what is said here; what I am saying, is that we must have this heart when we confess Jesus.
Summary
Summary
We have a responsibility, when studying with someone, to help them see the need to celebrate and honor Jesus in their confession.
That Jesus is truly worthy of this celebration and honor.
Lastly, we find God expects when on confesses Jesus as their Lord unto salvation that they are…
Making A Promise
Making A Promise
A Promise To Stay Loyal Unto Death.
A Promise To Stay Loyal Unto Death.
When we make that great confession that Jesus is our Lord and Savior what we are saying is that “I promise, give an oath, give my word” that I will stay faithfully loyal to the Son of God and his righteous word.
Matthew 6:33 (ESV)
33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness…
28 Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life.
When we confess Jesus the Son of God we also make…
A Promise To Faithfully Celebrate & Honor Unto Death.
A Promise To Faithfully Celebrate & Honor Unto Death.
When we make that great confession that Jesus is our Lord and Savior what we are saying is that “I promise, give an oath, give my word,” that every day as a child of God, a disciple of Christ, a Christian, I will wake up, celebrate, and honor my Lord with praise and thanksgiving both personally and in my actions so as God is glorified.
5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
22 And let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving, and tell of his deeds in songs of joy!
Summary
Summary
People need to know that their confession is a promise to God, a giving of their word that they will stay faithfully loyal and will faithfully celebrate and honor Christ as is his due all the days of their life.
Conclusion
Conclusion
When we study with someone we shouldn’t gloss over the “confession” part of God’s plan for one’s salvation.
We must explain that one is verbally promising to be loyal, celebrate, and honor their God all the days of their life.
This is no small ask of someone nor should someone take it lightly (Matthew 23:16-22).
Invitation
1 Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; 2 but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.
6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
30 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent,
32 “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. 33 But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.
8 in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
1 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,
3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.