Confession
Summary
Acknowledgment or avowal, with implications of changed conviction or conduct. Scripture presents two primary forms: confession of faith in Christ, and confession of sin to God. Both are essential to Christian experience and salvation.
☩Confession of Faith in Christ
Confessions of faith are public acknowledgments of fidelity to God and surrender to Christ's service. Jesus taught, 'Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall I confess also before my Father' (Matthew 10:32), with the corollary warning against denial. Peter's confession at Caesarea Philippi—'Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God'—represents the high point of apostolic confession (Matthew 16:16). Paul declares, 'If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved' (Romans 10:9).
☩Confession of Sin to God
Wherever there is true repentance, the penitent freely confesses guilt to God. The Psalmist declared, 'I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin' (Psalm 32:5). The promise stands: '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). Such confession may be general or particular, silent or oral.
☩Examples of Confession
Scripture records beautiful examples of corporate confession. Ezra, Nehemiah, and Daniel confessed the sins of the people as if they were their own (Ezra 9:5-15, Nehemiah 1:6, Daniel 9:4-20). John the Baptist's ministry included confession as those being baptized 'confessed their sins' (Matthew 3:6). David's confession to Nathan (2 Samuel 12:13), the multitudes' confession to John, and the Ephesians' confession to Paul (Acts 19:18) show confession as response to conviction.
☩Mutual Confession
James instructs believers, 'Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed' (James 5:16). This refers to acknowledgment of wrongs done to neighbors, where reconciliation requires confession (Matthew 5:23-24, Luke 17:4). The apostle does not prescribe confession to a priest, but mutual confession among believers accompanied by prayer. Secret sins are rebuked secretly, public sins publicly.
Related Verses22 mentions
See Also
References
- 1.James Orr (ed.), "Confession," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. II (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
- 2.James Hastings (ed.), "Confession (of Christ)," in Dictionary of Christ and the Gospels, vol. I (T. & T. Clark, 1906–1908).
- 3.George Morrish, "Confession," in Morrish's Concise Bible Dictionary (George Morrish, 1898).
- 4.Andrew Robert Fausset, "Confession," in The Englishman's Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopædia (Hodder & Stoughton, 1878).