Salvation And Confession
The inspired apostle Paul establishes a vital connection between the salvation of man and the confession he is to make. (Rom. 10:9,10) Paul calls it "the good confession" made" in the sight of many witnesses" when writing to Timothy. (I Tim. 6:12, A. S. V. ) That faith in Christ is the subject of it is declared in many places. (Mt.16:16-18; Heb. 3:1)
This confession is not simply the telling of a "religious experience". It is not what the teaching and practice of some declare it to be: "That God for Christ's sake hath pardoned my sins." Neither is it merely a testimonial wherein one expresses how he feels.
It is a confession made with the mouth, which is to acknowledge or declare something openly. In this case one openly declares his faith in a certain truth pertaining to Jesus of Nazareth. He openly renounces allegiance to all others and professes allegiance to Christ.
The "good confession" is rooted in a believing heart and is made when one openly acknowledges or declares the Lordship of Jesus. It's a confession of Jesus as the Christ (Ac.8:37; 18:28; Gen.12:1-3; Gal. 3:16; Deut. 18:18, Ac. 3:22-23; 4:10-12); and the Son of God (A c. 8:37; Heb. 1:1-5; Mk. 15:39; Jno. 20:30, 31; Rom. 1:3,4; Ac. 22:22-24, 36).
There are several Bible reasons which may be offered to establish the importance and necessity of confessing Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the living God. We ought to confess because God's word commands it (Mt. 10;32), it is to the glory of God the Father (Phil. 2:9-11), it allows Christ to confess us before his Father which is in heaven (Mt.10:32), it is through this confession that we have God (1 Jno. 2: 23; 4:15), without it we will be denied before the Father in heaven (Mt. 10:33), it is unto (in order to) salvation (Rom. 10:9, 10).
That Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, has been confessed by God, the Father (Mt. 3:17; 17:5; 2 Pet. 1:16,17), by apostles (Mt. 16:16; Jno. 6:69; Ac. 18:28; Rom. 1:1-6), by close friends (Jno. 11:27), by enemies and former enemies (Mk. 15:39; Ac. 2:22-41; 26:9, 10; Gal. 1:23; I Tim. 1:12, 13), as well as all believers since the gospel was first preached in fact on the first Pentecost after the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ himself claimed to be what has been confirmed by his resurrection from the dead and confessed by both God and man. (Mt. 26:63,64; I Tim. 6: 12-13) Though this claim cost him his life, we are promised life (salvation) by means of it. And if we are "faithful unto death" (prove to be faithful, even if we have to die), we are assured possession of a "crown of life." (Rev. 2:10)
Moreover, we urge you to remember that without your living faith, your confession is lifeless (Jas. 2: 26); without your devoted love, it is useless (I Cor. 13:1); without your genuine repentance, it is aimless (Ac. 3:19; Lk. 13:3; Ac. 17:31); without your scriptural baptism, it is fruitless (Ac. 2:36-41; 22:16); without your faithful life, it is rewardless (Jas. 1:12; I Cor. 15:58; 2 Tim. 4:6-8).
Have you the faith to make this confession? Why do you wait?
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