One Must Confess Christ
What must I do to be saved? We have examined the first three elements of the Gospel Plan of Salvation (Hearing the Gospel, Believing the Gospel, and Repenting of Sin) over these last three weeks, and we will next consider confessing Christ. The Spirit says, “Because if thou shalt confess with thy mouth Jesus as Lord, and shalt believe in thy heart that God raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved: for with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Romans 10:9-10). From this we understand that a confession must be made as a prerequisite to salvation.
A Proclamation and a Promise
Who are you willing to confess? Did you know that your salvation depends on it? I trust that many of you who are reading this do know this and others have heard something along those lines, but we must not lose sight of what God has required for salvation. Paul reminded the Christians in Rome that this was something that they had done that brought them unto salvation. This was not some cleverly added thing of Paul's own volition but the Inspired Word of God. This was the same thing that Jesus said prior. “Everyone therefore who shall confess me before men, him will I also confess before my Father who is in heaven.” (Matt10:32). Who does this apply to? Everyone, if they would receive the gift of salvation. A Christian’s proclamation is based on Christ’s promise.
Our Confession is Public
Are you willing to confess Christ? I know it might seem scary to speak out. It might be hard for the introvert. However, the Lord was willing to be stripped and beaten, cursed, and crucified for your soul's sake. Is confession that big of a deal? Yes, it is! When one confesses Jesus is the Son of God, the previous three steps of salvation must accompany that confession, for these are the basis of the confession. Christians have confessed Jesus as the Son of God because they believe what they heard and are willing to change who they are to become who He has called them to be. Their lives will be marked by their belief in Christ. The change in their lives will be seen in view. A public confession of Christ is made as a prerequisite to salvation. There is no such thing as a private conversion, there must be at least one witness (consider the Ethiopian eunuch and Philip Acts 8:26-40).
Secret "belief" will not suffice. Some believed what Jesus claimed but yet would not confess it and they remained outside of the faith. It is written, "Nevertheless even of the rulers many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess it, lest they should be put out of the synagogue” (John 12:42). The reality of truly following Christ is that it will cost you. For those who left the old dead system of Moses to follow Christ, it cost them fellowship with those who remained. If you follow Christ today truly, you will have to leave any man-made religion or church. Confessing Christ is also a confession to follow Him in all things. That means to follow Him according to His Divine pattern.
Today is the Day of Salvation
If confession is a holdup, I want you to know that it does not have to be on a Sunday morning after I finish preaching in front of all the people assembled. That is just a time that we set apart so that if someone needs to obey the Gospel, we can provide an opportunity to do so. We would gladly take your confession on any day or time. In all actuality, if you are reading this right now and you know that you have not obeyed the Gospel of Christ and you need to put on Christ in baptism (cf. Gal. 3:26-27), there is no time like the present. Today is the day of salvation. Please remember that confession comes after hearing, believing, and repenting and points toward baptism, which I will cover next week. Can we study further about God’s desire to save us?
Grace and Peace,
R.D. Beavers
