Confession is a vital Biblical study. The New Testament notes two types of
Confession: (1) The Confession of Faith, and (2) the Confession of Sins.
CONFESSION OF FAITH
In Matthew 16.13-14 we read of a discussion between Jesus and His Apostles on
the subject of His identity. He asked, "Who do men say that I the Son of
Man am?" They answered, "Some say John the Baptist; some, Elijah; and
others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets." Then He asked, "But who do you
say that I am?" Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the
living God." Jesus answered and said, "Blessed are you, Simon
Barjonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who
is in heaven. And I say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will
build my church..."
It was not on Peter that the church was built, as some erroneously teach, but
on the great confession that Peter made. The entire Christian system is
embraced in this statement. Everything from creation pointed forward to Jesus;
and everything since His coming points back to Him, the Son of the living God.
This same confession was made by God at the baptism of Jesus. "And behold, a
voice out of the heavens, saying, 'This is My beloved Son, in whom I am
well pleased.'" (Matthew 3.17.)This confession was repeated at the
Transfiguration (Matthew 17.5.)
Jesus Himself witnessed this same good confession before Pilate: "and the
governor asked Him saying, 'Art thou the King of the Jews?' And Jesus said unto
him, 'Thou sayest.'" (Matt. 27.11.) Later Paul wrote to Timothy
reminding him of the good confession he made in the presence of many witnesses,
and of Christ Jesus, "who testified the good confession before Pontius Pilate."
(I Tim. 6.12-13.)
During His personal ministry Jesus taught: "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." (Matthew 10.32-33.) "For with the heart man believeth unto
righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." (Rom. 10.
10.)
In Acts 8 we find Philip preaching to the Ethiopian eunuch. As they rode by a
certain water the eunuch said, "See, here is water; what doth hinder me to
be baptized?" Philip said, "If thou believest with all thine heart,
thou mayest." And the eunuch answered and said, "I believe that Jesus
Christ is the Son of God." (Acts 8.37/KJV).
For Jesus, the good confession meant death; for us, it leads to life eternal.
Sooner or later you will confess Jesus as the Son of God--if not now, then in
eternity! Paul says that all men will be compelled to confess Christ at the
end of time: "that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those who are
in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, and that every tongue should
confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
(Philippians 2.9-11.)
Confession of Faith in Christ is a necessary part of the New Testament Plan of
Salvation. To be saved, we must believe (John 8.24), Repent of our sins
(Luke 13.3), Confess our Faith in Christ before men (Romans 10.10), and Be
Baptized for the forgiveness of sins. (Acts 2.38. Mark 16.16.)
CONFESSION OF SINS
We now turn from Confession of Faith to Confession of Sins.
Confession of sins takes various forms: (1) To God alone, (2) To one's neighbor
when he has been wronged (Luke 17.4, James 5.23), (3) To one's friend or
advisor as the confession of David to Nathan (2 Samuel 12.13), and, (4) To the
entire congregation where sin has created a public scandal to the church. The
Bible clearly teaches that every known sin, of whatever nature, must be
confessed to God. Any sin, every sin, not repented of, establishes a barrier
between God and the sinner. David said, "If I regard iniquity in my heart, the
Lord will not hear." (Psalm 66.18.) "If we confess our sins, he is faithful
and just to forgive our sins..." (I John 1.9.) God graciously forgives every
erring child who has genuinely repented and acknowledged his sin. Forgiveness
is dependent on confession of sin by those who stumble and fall. If the heart
is impenitent, confession will not follow; and without it there is no
forgiveness.
A confession of sin is an expression disowning the sin. When a person has
genuinely repented of sin, he or she is anxious to denounce and disown that
sin. So the confession of sin should be as public as the sin itself. "Confess
therefore your sins one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be
healed." (James 5.16.) Sins known only to God should be confessed only to God;
sins known only to one or a few should be confessed to only one or a few, as
the case may be. Public sin known to all should be confessed before the
church. Confession should be as public as the sin but not more so.
We all have need, in becoming a Christian, to make the good confession that
Jesus made before Pilate--the confession of Faith. (I Tim. 6.12-13, see also 1
Peter 3.15.)
We all also have need, as we seek to live the Christian life, to confess and
renounce the sins we commit from day to day. (I John 1.8-9.) Jesus, however,
never needed to make a confession of sins for He had none. (Hebrews 4.15.)
Instead Jesus died on the cross to provide forgiveness of sins to all who are
obedient to His commands. (Luke 6.46, Hebrews 5.8-9.)