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QUESTION 29:
What does it really mean to confess Christ before men? Must I confess my sinfulness to men?

ANSWER:
There is a lot of misunderstanding about this matter of confession of Christ or Christianity. Many think it is just calling yourself a Christian and going to church regularly; and should the occasion arise let people know that you are a Baptist, Pentecostal or otherwise. This is the traditional concept. Others like our questioner thinks it has to do with confessing your sin or sinfulness before men. These are both unscriptural. The word "confess" means "to speak the same thing as another, to assent, agree, accord" In the case of confessing Christ it means that WE AGREE and SAY THE SAME THING ABOUT HIM as GOD SAYS. God has given a testimony about His Son for me or you to confess Him is to say the same as God says, "If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son." 1 John 5:9.

This testimony of God about His Son is found throughout Scripture, but especially in the New Testament. On three occasions God spoke from heaven and especially in Matthew 3:17. "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." This clearly states that Jesus is the Son of God. This was the great confession of Peter, in Matthew 16:16, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." This is the ROCK that the church was to be built on. Peter was part of the material He would build of, Matthew 16:17-18. This same confession is in view in 1 John 4:15 "Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God.." "Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God" 1 John 5:5. These verses say, we are to believe and confess that Jesus is the Son of God. This is the basic truth of confessing Christ before men. From there the scriptures declare HE as such, died for our sins Galatians 2:20 "the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me." It is not our sins or our selves we confess before men, but Christ the Son of God and, His death and blood for our salvation. But don't do this unless you have first trusted Him fully for salvation, otherwise your confession will be empty; but rather receive Him as your Saviour and say what God says about Christ will be your true confession.

All comments and questions to: Harold Smith

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Updated July 2009, by Shelly Allen