A. The facts:
1. Christ to be
confessed before men.
Matthew 10:32; Luke
12:8.
2. Christ will
confess the confessor.
Matthew 10:32.
3. John
confessed and denied not
that he was not the
Christ. John 1:20.
4.
Jews agreed if any
confessed Him, Jesus the
Christ, was put out of
the synagogue. John
9:22.
5. Confession a
part of word of faith
preached by apostles.
Romans 10:8-10.
6.
Confession in order to
salvation. Romans
10:8-10.
7. It is made
with the mouth. Romans
10:8-10.
8. Timothy
confessed before many
witnesses. I Timothy
6:12.
9. This, the good
confession. I Timothy
6:12.
10. Jesus
confessed same under
Pilate. I Timothy 6:13.
11. Jesus, apostle and
high priest of our
confession. Hebrews 3:1.
12. The confession to be
held fast. Hebrews 4:14;
10:23.
13. Confession of the
hope. Hebrews 10:23.
14. Whoever confesses
that Jesus is the son of
God— God dwells in him
and he in Christ. I John
4:15.
B. Meaning of the term.
John 1:20.
1. In antithesis to
denial. Matthew 10:32,
33.
2. Implies real or
supposed guilt of
something hitherto
concerned. I John 1:9;
Acts 19:18; John 1:20;
Acts 24; 14.
3.
Secondary meaning—to
praise and give thanks,
because confessing
goodness of God has
effect of praise or
thanksgiving. Luke
10:21; Hebrews 13:15,
Septuagint frequently,
e. g., Psalms 136; 1.
138:1.
4. Other
examples. John 1:49;
3:2-4; 9:28-29.
A. Origin of the
confession.
1. Jesus presented by
Jesus demanded
confession or denial.
2. These (confessions or
denials) made according
to convictions of men.
Hence facts 1, 7.
3.
It (the confession)
originated from nature
of preaching presented
by Jesus.
B. Why term
confess—rather than profess,
declare, or some other?
1. At first
considered a reproach.
Facts 4, 10.
2. Term
should be preserved to
perpetuate (memory of)
this fact.
3. Profess
is to avow something,
hence to lose this term
is to lose fact
mentioned in fact 2.
C. What is to be
confessed?
1. "Confess me."
Matthew 10:32.
2.
"Confess Him to be the
Christ." John 9:22.
3.
Confess with mouth the
Lord Jesus. Romans 10:9.
4. That Jesus is the Son
of God. Matthew 14:33; I
John 4:15.
5. The
Christ the Son of living
God. Matthew 16:16.
a. Conclusion:
Last the full term,
others the
abbreviation of it.
D. Blessings attached to
the confession.
1. Christ will
confess the confessor
before His Father and
the angels. Matthew
10:32.
a. Confess him as
a disciple.
2. It is in order to
salvation. Romans 10:10.
a. Promotes
attainment of
salvation.
3. God dwells in
confessor and he in God.
I John 4:15.
4.
Conclusion: Presenting
of these blessings not
to confession alone.
5. But all presented to
confession properly made
and followed by
immersion.
E. Obligations imposed by
the confession.
1. Having confessed,
required to fight the
good fight. I Timothy
6:12.
2. Makes Jesus
our apostle and high
priest. As apostle,
binds us to his word—as
priest, to His blood.
3. Requires us to hold
fast what is confessed.
Hebrews 4:14; 10:23.
F. History of the
confession.
1. Made by the
Father. Matthew 3:17.
a. Declared
sonship and pledged
the acceptance of
his work.
2. Peter's first full
confession by men.
Matthew 16:16.
a. Peter was
taught by the
Father. Matthew
16:17, 18.
3. Faith, confession,
foundation of Church.
Matthew 16:18.
4. Made by Jews a
crime to confess. John
9:22.
5. Before
crucifixion, chief mark
of discipleship. Matthew
10:23; John 9:22; 12:42.
6. Preached everywhere
by Apostles. Romans
10:8-10.
7.
Universally observed,
for what Apostles
preached, their converts
received.
8. When
remission obtained,
confession between it
and faith.
a. For could not
confess before
faith.
b. Baptism
last act after
confession.