Confession — its Part in the Gospel

The word confess means to admit, declare or assert one’s own conviction, openly.  Note first that confession is personal.  If it is true confession it is the declaring of things personally known or believed, one’s own conviction.  Secondly, notice that confession is an open declaration.  How open, to how many people, may vary, but it is a declaration to others.  That shows us that there is confidence and courage in real confession.  Third, true confession is honest, it is the profession of what one knows to be.  Of course, a person might declare something they know to be false.  That, however, is not confession.  That is a lie.

While the literal meaning of the word confess allows it to be use in many ways, it has two primary applications in the New Testament.  The scriptures speak of confessing Christ and of confessing sin.  The word confess means the same thing in both cases, but these are two very different things.

“Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working”  (James 5:16).  The Bible teaches God’s people to admit or declare their own sins openly to other Christians.  That is personal, humbling, honesty that calls for spiritual courage.  The purpose is for prayers for forgiveness and spiritual healing.  Faith in God, His promises and His people enables one to take this difficult step.  “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness”  (1 John 1:9).  God is faithful … to forgive.

If we come to Him properly He will do what He said He will do!  The result of proper confession of sin is peace, comfort and joy.   The humiliation of confession precedes glory.  As God has said:  “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you”  (James 4:10).

Let me know if you would like to study confession further.  I will write about confessing Christ next week, Lord willing.