Confession Matthew 10:32-42

Review Hear –Matthew 11:15 –Acts 17:10, 11 –Romans 1:16; 10:17 –Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22

Review Believe –John 8:24; 9:38 –Acts 9:1-25

Review Repent –Matthew 21:28-32 –Luke 3:7-14; 13:1-9

Confession Another necessary step Done before others What do I confess? Answer: Christ (Acts 8:35-37) Several components

Confession Involves … Communication (vv. 32, 33) –Abused concept (Romans 10:9, 10) –Faith is an act of the heart unseen by others (John 9:21-23) –“Faith only” could go undetected

Confession Involves … Conflict (vv ) –Some want to avoid conflict

Author: Cecil Hook “When the financial security of the preacher’s family is threatened by each new thought he introduces, it is easy for him to rationalize that it is better to wait. But how long must we wait? Years have fled by and my time of opportunity on earth is limited. Shall I wait for another generation to speak out when I lacked the courage to do so?”

Confession Involves … Conflict (vv ) –Some want to avoid conflict –Godly people will suffer (2 Timothy 3:12; James 1:3, 4, 12) –Christians in the 1 st century (1 Peter 1:6-9; 2:20-23; 4:12-16)

Mariano Duncan Concerning playing with pain: –“When you get to heaven, God doesn’t look for medals, honors, or degrees. He looks for scars”

Confession Involves … Conflict (vv ) –Some want to avoid conflict –Godly people will suffer (2 Timothy 3:12; James 1:3, 4, 12) –Christians in the 1 st century (1 Peter 1:6-9; 2:20-23; 4:12-16) –My become someone’s enemy (Galatians 4:16; 1 Timothy 6:12)

Confession Involves … Commitment (vv ) –Essential (Matthew 19:27; Luke 14:26) –Obey at all cost (Acts 5:28, 29, 41) –Lack of commitment hinders conversions

Steve Wolf Left the Unification Church –“But, if the majority of brothers and sisters of that congregation were not living it, I would have walked away from the Gospel and would not have been converted. This is how important our lifestyle is to people of the world and of other religious groups, not to mention our Heavenly Father and His Son.”

Confession Involves … Conviction (vv ) –A man (John 1:14; Philippians 2:5-8) –Messiah (Acts 2:29-36) –Son of God (John 1:1; 5:18) –Savior (Luke 19:10) –Lord (Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 6:46)

Failure To Confess Jesus Denied by Jesus –Need His acknowledgement (Matthew 10:32, 33; John 12:42, 43) –Tragedy of being the one witness who could save an innocent man –Imagine Jesus denying us

Failure To Confess Jesus No relationship with God –Abides in those who confess Him (1 John 4:14, 15) –Requires separation from the world (2 Corinthians 6:17)

Failure To Confess Jesus A denial of His authority –God has exalted Him (Philippians 2:9-11) –All will eventually confess

Conclusion Confessed Christ? (Acts 8:37) Holding fast? (Hebrews 4:14)