Confession

The Prayer of Confession

Confession should not always be viewed in a negative sense. There is a confession of sin, but there is also a confession of faith! Many people have been taught to confess their sins and that is a vital key to the forgiveness of those sins. But we ought to reach beyond the negative and operate in a consistent confession of faith. As we walk in faith, if we stumble, we should confess to Jesus the sin--then get right back into a confession of faith.

1. Confession is a theme of Psalms -- Ps. 51:2
2. Confession of sin before God
   1. Examples of people confessing sin
      1. Aaron -- Num. 12:11
      2. David -- 2 Sam. 12:13; Ps. 32:5; 38:18; 51:1-5
      3. Nehemiah -- Neh. 1:6-7
      4. Isaiah -- Isa. 6:5
      5. Peter -- Lk. 5:8
      6. A tax collector -- Lk. 18:13
   2. Those who may confess sin
      1. Individual sinners -- Lev. 5:5; Mt. 6:12
      2. Priests on behalf of the people -- Lev. 16:21; Ezra 9:5-10:1
      3. Prophets on behalf of the people -- Isa. 6:5; 59:12-15; Jer. 14:7, 20-21; Dan. 9:7-11
   3. The results of confessing sin
      1. We receive God's mercy -- Pr. 28:13
      2. We receive God's forgiveness -- Ps. 32:5; l Jn. 1:9
      3. We are justified -- Lk. 18:13-14
      4. We receive healing -- James 5:16
      5. We become purified -- l Jn. 1:9
3. Confession of faith in Jesus Christ (See, How To Be Saved!)
   1. Such confession is necessary to be saved -- Mt. 10:32-33; Rom. 10:9-10
   2. Earliest confessions of faith
      1. "Jesus is Lord" -- Jn. 20:28; Rom. 10:9; 1 Cor. 12:3; Phil. 2:11
      2. "Jesus is the Christ" -- Mt. 16:16; Jn. 20:31; Acts 17:2-3; 1 Jn. 2:22
      3. "Jesus is the Son of God" -- Mt. 16:16; Mt. 27:54; Jn. 20:31; 1 Jn. 4:15
   3. Other elements added to confessions
      1. Certain teachings about Christ -- 1 Jn. 4:2-3; 2 Jn. 7
      2. Trustworthy sayings -- 1 Tim. 1:15; 4:9-10; 2 Tim. 2:11; Titus 3:8
      3. Brief creeds in the New Testament -- 1 Cor. 15:3-5; 1 Tim. 3:16; 2 Tim. 2:11-13; Titus 3:4-7