TEXT:  Luke 12:8-9

INTRODUCTION:

A.  THE WORD “CONFESSION” IS PROMINENT IN OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS.

B.  MANY UNSCRIPTURAL IDEAS.

          1.  Saved at point of confession.

          2.  Confess because sins already forgiven.

          3.  Auricular confession.

          4.  Transparency, a perversion of James 5:16.

C.  THERE ARE 4 CONFESSIONS IN THE BIBLE WE MUST MAKE.  LET’S LOOK.

I.  THE GOOD CONFESSION (1 Tim. 6:12-14).

A.  Rom. 10:9-10.

          1.  With the mouth.  A verbal, spoken confession.

          2.  Along with belief, a requirement for salvation.

          3.  2 Cor. 7:10.  Both, along with repentance, are unto salvation.

B.  SALVATION IS IN CHRIST (2 Tim. 2:10;  1 John 5:11).

          1.  We are baptized into Christ where salvation is (Gal. 3:26-27).

          2.  Faith, repentance, and confession are “unto,” baptism is “into.”

          3.  Denotes connection.  These are prerequisites to baptism.

II.  THE CONFESSION OF A GOOD LIFE (1 John 4:15).

A.  Matt. 10:32-33.  THE DEEPER MEANING.

          Confess me,  homologeesei en emoi, . Literally, this Aramaic idiom reproduced in the

          Greek means "confess in me," indicating a sense of unity with Christ and of Christ with the

          man who takes the open stand for him. (Robertson's Word Pictures in the N T.)

B.  WE MUST NEVER BE ASHAMED OF JESUS (Mark 8:38), OR HIS WORDS.

C.  HOLDING FAST OUR CONFESSION (Heb. 4:14;  10:23).

D.  WE CONFESS BY DOING GOOD (Matt. 5:16;  1 Tim. 2:9-10;  James 2:18).

E.  INCONSISTENT LIVES DENY FAITH (Titus 1:16).

III.  CONFESSION OF THE ERRING CHILD OF GOD.

A.  THE O. T. REQUIRED PEOPLE TO CONFESS.

          1.  Lev. 16:21.  Confessed sins were placed on the head of the Scapegoat.

          2.  David (Psa. 32:5), and Solomon (Prov. 28:13).

          3.  The Thief on the Cross (Luke 23:39-43).

B.  IN THE N. T. (Acts 19:18).

          1.  Coming back to God when we sin (1 John 1:6-9).

          2.  The example of Simon (Acts 8:13-24).  REPENT AND PRAY!

                   a.  Simon, when confronted, did not deny at all.

                   b.  He recognized his inadequacy and asked for help (vs. 24;  Jas. 5:16).

                   c.  We CAN go to God ourselves (Heb. 4:14-16).

          3.  God wants us to return (2 Pet. 3:9). 

          4.  Repentance often involves public confession to make things right (Luke 19:8).

IV.  THE CONFESSION EVEN THE UNBELIEVER WILL MAKE.

A.  ALL WILL CONFESS THAT JESUS IS LORD (Phil. 2:8-11).

B.  EACH ONE WILL GIVE ACCOUNT (Rom. 14:10-12).

CONCLUSION:

A.  REMEMBER (Matt. 10:32-33;  John 12:42-43).

B.  HAVE YOU MADE THE GOOD CONFESSION?

C.  IS YOUR LIFE A CONFESSION – A PROFESSION OF YOUR FAITH?

D.  IS THEIR SIN THAT YOU NEED TO CONFESS?

E.  DO YOU NEED OUR HELP?