Our Need to Confess 2 Matthew 10 32

Our Need to Confess (2) Matthew 10: 32 -33 Confessing Jesus as Christians

This morning • We established a need to confess Jesus in becoming Christians. • Romans 10: 9 -10, 1 Timothy 6: 12 -13 • It involves confessing: Jesus as God But end One) of our Jesusis as that Christ the (Anointed Jesus as confessions? Savior Jesus as Lord

Confessing our sins • Has always been a part of making oneself right with God. • Even under the Old Law Leviticus 5: 5 Psalm 51 Daniel 9 Nehemiah 1: 6 Proverbs 28: 13

Confessing our sins • When we sin as Christians, we need to confess our sins to be forgiven • As John preached, they came confessing their sins - Matthew 3: 6 • 1 John 1: 9 – if we confess our sins… • James 5: 16 – confess your trespasses to one another and pray for one another

Confessing Christ as Lord • We will see in this study we need to continue to confess Him • It is one thing to confess Him before fellow believers, but it is another thing to confess Him before infidels • That is what the Christian life is about

Confessing Christ as Lord • Romans 10: 9 -10 – confession is never a one time act. Vs. 9 – a declaration Vs. 10 notes that with the heart one believes and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Both believes and confession are present tense verbs (ongoing action).

Confessing Christ as Lord • Confessing Jesus IS commitment – Luke 6: 46, 9: 57 -62, Matthew 16: 24 -26 • Consider failures: Peter’s denials – Matthew 26: 70 -75 John 12: 42 -43, John 9: 22 – unwilling to confess Him

Confessing Christ as Lord • Matthew 10: 32 -33 • Jesus is speaking to His disciples (He is sending out the 12). Instructions about receiving and rejecting the gospel and for them to not be fearful • THEN, we have our text • A warning to disciples to confess Him • Also something needed by those we are trying to teach • Luke 12: 8

Confessing Christ as Lord • 1 John 4: 1 -3, 15 • Dealing with Gnostics who denied the person of Jesus • Every spirit that confesses – here spirit would include anyone who is teaching about Jesus. False teachers (influenced by the spirit that doesn’t confess Him) are to be rejected. • Note: vs. 2 -3, confesses – present tense

Confessing Christ as Lord • Hebrews 3: 1 • Consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Jesus Christ. • The confession here is probably the one made in becoming Christians • Written to brethren, encouraging them to stand firm and not abandon the that confession. Implied is continued loyalty to Christ (e. g. confessing Him)

How do we confess Christ? • Verbally • We speak up. The primary meaning of confess • Acts 24: 14 – this I confess to you • 1 Timothy 6: 12 -14 – the “good confession” Timothy made was before many witnesses How long? Until the Lord Jesus Christ’s appearing

How do we confess Christ? • Verbally • 1 Peter 3: 15 – be ready to give a defense (answer, reason) for the hope in you. Far too many are ill prepared to defend their hope and faith. And thus they will not “confess” Him openly

How do we confess Christ? • By example • 2 Corinthians 9: 13 – the obedience of your confession. That confession is not just a one time act. It leads to obeying Him • Matthew 5: 13 -16, our light shines provoking others to glorify God Philippians 2: 15 we shine as lights in the midst of this crooked generation

How do we confess Christ? • By example • 1 Peter 2: 11 -12 – conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that they glorify God • Acts 4: 13, Peter and John before the council, they marveled and “realized that they had been with Jesus”

How do we confess Christ? • By sacrifice and suffering • As we give up the ways of the world, we are confessing Him – Romans 12: 1 • 1 Peter 4: 4, 12 -16, they “think it strange”, “on your part He is glorified” • 1 Peter 3: 15 -17 – as you defend your faith, you will be reviled, but in time they will be ashamed

How do we confess Christ? • When we come together • When we assemble (openly) we are declaring to the world, our faith and the He is our Lord • 1 Corinthians 11: 23 -26, as we partake of the Lord’s Supper, we proclaim His death • 1 Corinthians 14: 22 -25 – in teaching (properly), even the unbeliever is convinced & convicted

How do we confess Christ? • When we come together • Hebrews 10: 24 -25, we come together to “stir up love and good works” and to exhort one another • Assembling is a confession of our faith to one another and to those who know where we are and why!

Revelation 3: 5, He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.

Are you confessing Him?