STEP 4: CONFESS CHRIST!
The central theme that runs through the Bible is
the
salvation of man through Jesus Christ to the glory of God. Genesis
through
Malachi says, “Christ is coming.” Matthew through John says, “Christ
has come.”
Acts through Revelation says, “Christ is coming again.” Since God now
speaks to
us through His Son (Heb. 1:1; cf. Deuteronomy
“Confession” means to declare openly by way of
speaking out
freely. Such confession is the effect of a deep conviction of facts.
Jesus
said, "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” (Matt.
Since Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and since there is no salvation in any other name under heaven (Acts 4:12), the confession made “unto salvation” has to do with the deep convictions of an individual believing that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. This belief is based on the facts and evidences that are presented in the Word of God (John 20:30-31). But more than that, faith in Jesus also conveys the obedient response which must be rendered throughout life by the one who confesses Christ by the lip.
There are two ways to confess Christ. First, there must be the confession of the Christ on the part of one as he places himself under the obligation to accept the terms of salvation which have been set forth by the Christ. Part of one’s obedience to the Gospel is the public acknowledgement of his belief in Jesus as the Son of God (Matt. 10:32).
When we reflect back to the time of our Lord’s ministry, those who were going to follow Him had to acknowledge (had to confess) that He was the Christ, the Son of God. Obviously they had to indicate their belief in Jesus in some way. This is why it was said (to the shame of some) in John 12:42-43, that even among the chief rulers there were “…many who believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.”
Likewise today, when one comes to be a disciple there must be a willingness to abide in the teaching of Christ and a confessing of Jesus as the Christ. This confession cannot be a secretive or hidden kind of confession. In fact, how can anyone be assisted in their obedience to Christ unless a confession of Jesus takes place? How else can we know their desire? It would be impossible to know unless we find out from them! (cf. Acts 8:26-40).
Second, the one who has made the initial confession with the mouth – that “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God,” and has rendered obedience to the Gospel of Christ, must also add to that initial confession another kind of confession; i.e. – the confession that they belong to Jesus. This confession is made by the way one lives, and will be made as long as they live.
Please answer the four questions below by reading the scripture and filling in the blanks:
What must we confess?
Matthew 16:15-16… We must confess that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of ____________.
John 11:27… We must confess that Jesus is the Christ, the __________ of ______________.
1 John 4:15… We must confess that Jesus is the Christ, __________ ___________ of ___________.
How must we confess Jesus?
Matthew 10:32… We must confess Him before ___________.
Romans 10:9-10… We must confess Him with our ____________.
What will happen if we confess Jesus?
Matthew 10:32… If we confess Jesus, Christ will ____________ us before His Father in Heaven.
Luke 12:8… If we confess Jesus, Christ will ______________ us before the angels of God.
What will happen if we deny (do not confess)
Jesus?
Matthew 10:33… If we deny Jesus, Christ will _____________ us before His Father in Heaven.
Luke 12:9… If we deny Jesus, Christ will _____________ us before the angels of God.
2 Timothy 2:12… If we deny Jesus, Christ will ______________ us.
1 John 2:23… If we deny Jesus, we will not have the _____________.