(1 Timothy 6:12-14), “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate, 14 that you keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ's appearing.” What is it that Timothy confessed? There is a parallel here with Jesus’ conversation with Pilate… Matthew, Mark and Luke record the same words in that conversation. (Luke 23:1-3), “Then the whole multitude of them arose and led Him to Pilate. 2 And they began to accuse Him, saying, “We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar, saying that He Himself is Christ, a King.” 3 Then Pilate asked Him, saying, “Are You the King of the Jews?” He answered him and said, “It is as you say.” Pilate may not have had a full understanding of what Jesus confessed before him. However, the Jews did, and so did Jesus. Remember Jesus conversation with Peter at Caesarea Philippi (Matthew 16:13-18), “When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” 14 So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” Let’s talk a bit more about this idea of confessing the Christ. When we talk about what is required of men to be saved, this is perhaps the least discussed of them all. 1 Timothy 6:12-14

“…the good confession in the presence of many witnesses” Confession is an acknowledgement, avowal (John 1:19-23, John the Baptist’s confession) The term implies an acceptance, a conviction, and is public in it’s nature (John 9:22-23; 12:42-43) A public expression of conviction, necessary for one to be saved (Romans 10:8-10) Confession is defined by the ISBE as an “acknowledgement, avowal” (avowal – an honest admission) (John 1:19-23), “Now this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 20 He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” 21 And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” 22 Then they said to him, “Who are you, that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?” 23 He said: “I am ‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Make straight the way of the Lord,” ’ as the prophet Isaiah said.” Vine defines the term (homologeo) “to speak the same thing… to assent, accord, agree with” Confession implies an acceptance of a truth, a change of heart because one is convicted. And it is a public action. It is something that is heard by others (John 9:22-23), [Jesus had healed a blind man, and the Pharisees went to his parents, who were afraid, so they said “He will speak for himself], “His parents said these things because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had agreed already that if anyone confessed that He was Christ, he would be put out of the synagogue. 23 Therefore his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.” Note: A public confession in Jesus as the Christ takes courage! (John 12:42-43), [After Jesus performed many wonders among them, some believed, and some did not] “Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.” Confession is a public expression of conviction that God has deemed to be necessary for one to be saved (Romans 10:8-10), “But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): 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.”

Confession is a Condition of Salvation One can’t be saved until he confesses his faith in Jesus as the Christ (Matthew 10:32-33; Romans 10:10) The confession is a verbal acknowledgement (Romans 10:9-10) It is made publicly (1 Timothy 6:12) Confession is a condition of salvation In other words, you can’t be saved until you confess your faith in Jesus as the Christ (Matthew 10:32-33), “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.” (Romans 10:10), “For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” The confession a an acknowledgment that is verbal. That is, it is made with the mouth. (Romans 10:9-10), “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.” Note: These verses indicates norms. Almost everyone can verbalize. It should not be construed to mean that a mute man or woman cannot be saved. They too can communicate publicly in their own way, and must publicly do so that others will know of their faith in Christ. The condemned man is one who REFUSES to acknowledge Christ before men. The confession is a PUBLIC, verbal acknowledgement of Christ (1 Timothy 6:12), “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”

What Specifically has to be Confessed? Confessing Christ is an acknowledgement that Jesus is the anointed Savior of mankind, and God the Son. (Deity & Christhood) (cf. Matthew 16:16-18) A demonstration of what is required can be found in the conversion of the Eunuch (Acts 8) What specifically has to be confessed? Confessing Christ is to acknowledge Him to be the anointed of God, the savior of Mankind. Also, that He is God the Son. It is to acknowledge both the Deity of Jesus, as well as God’s choice of Him to be the Christ. (Matthew 16:16-18), “16 Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” This exact action is recorded by Luke in Acts 8 (the Ethiopian Eunuch) (acknowledge Josh Scroggins recent invitation) (Acts 8:34-39), [Philip had preached Jesus, from the prophet Isaiah], “So the eunuch answered Philip and said, “I ask you, of whom does the prophet say this, of himself or of some other man?” 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him. 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.” 38 So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. 39 Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing.”

Final Considerations Though confessing our sins is necessary, such a confession is NOT the “good confession” (1 John 1:9; Acts 2:37-38) Though the “good confession” is necessary to be saved, acknowledging our faith before men is a lifetime requirement of God! (Ezekiel 18:24; Acts 4:18-20) Though confessing our sins is a necessary thing, this confession is not the good confession that we are discussing. (1 John 1:9), “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Note: There is an acknowledgement of sins inherent in the call to repent! (Acts 2:37-38), “Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” 38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Though the “good confession” is necessary to be saved, acknowledging our faith before men is a lifetime requirement of God (Ezekiel 18:24), “But when a righteous man turns away from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and does according to all the abominations that the wicked man does, shall he live? All the righteousness which he has done shall not be remembered; because of the unfaithfulness of which he is guilty and the sin which he has committed, because of them he shall die.” (Acts 4:18-20), “So they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. 20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.”

Will you confess Jesus today? Conclusion 1. Have you made the good confession? 2. You cannot be saved without doing so! (Romans 10:10), “For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Offer invitation