“Everyone therefore who shall confess Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever shall deny Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 10:32-33 In this lesson on confession, let’s answer some “basic” questions: What is confession, and why is it so important / necessary to salvation? What prevents and prompts confession? What, exactly, are we supposed to confess?

The Greek word commonly translated as “confess” is homo-logeo; a compound word made up of homo / same + logeo / word. Literally, it refers to the same word. In its verb form it means to speak the same thing (cf. Acts 24:14 where it is translated as “admit”). However, in Matt.10:32-32 homologeo is followed by en emoi (“in Me”); so the confession is made in Christ by saying the same thing about Him that He said: That He is Jesus the Christ, the Son of the Living God. see Acts 8:37 In this lesson on confession, let’s answer some “basic” questions: What is confession, and why is it so important / necessary to salvation? What prevents and prompts confession? What, exactly, are we supposed to confess?

Confession is important / necessary because: Through it salvation is attained, Rom.10:9-10 It is preliminary to having any relationship with God, 1John 2:23; 4:15 And obviously, as we’ve already noted, without it one will be denied by Jesus at judgment, Matt.10: In this lesson on confession, let’s answer some “basic” questions: What is confession, and why is it so important / necessary to salvation? What prevents and prompts confession? What, exactly, are we supposed to confess?

Several things may prevent confession: Fear of being ostracized by others, John 7:10-13; 9:22; 12:42-43 Fear of persecution, Matt.10:34-42; Rev.2:10; 12:11 Believing in falsehoods or false teachers rather than Truth, 2John 7. In this lesson on confession, let’s answer some “basic” questions: What is confession, and why is it so important / necessary to salvation? What prevents and prompts confession? What, exactly, are we supposed to confess?

Ok, so what prompts confession: Faith, Rom.10:8 > 9,10,14,17 The Holy Spirit, 1Cor.12:2-3 > 13; 13:8-10; Eph.3:1-10 Knowledge of sin and recognition of our need of salvation, Acts 2:36 > 37,38,41 In this lesson on confession, let’s answer some “basic” questions: What is confession, and why is it so important / necessary to salvation? What prevents and prompts confession? What, exactly, are we supposed to confess?

We’re suppose to confess: The Incarnation of Jesus Christ, 1John 4:1-3; 1Tim.3:16 The Lordship of Jesus Christ in our lives, Rom.10:9-10; Phil.2:11 For erring Christians, our sins to God, 1John 1:9; and when appropriate, to one another, Jas.5:16. In this lesson on confession, let’s answer some “basic” questions: What is confession, and why is it so important / necessary to salvation? What prevents and prompts confession? What, exactly, are we supposed to confess?

Now, Do you believe, and are you ready to say the same thing about Jesus that He said of Himself- that He is the Christ, the Son of the living God? Are you ready to confess Him as Lord / Master of your life both now and forever? As an erring Christian, do you need to confess your sins to your God so that your brethren can pray with you for your forgiveness (Acts 8:24)? In this lesson on confession, let’s answer some “basic” questions: What is confession, and why is it so important / necessary to salvation? What prevents and prompts confession? What, exactly, are we supposed to confess?