Confession unto Salvation

Why it important to confess our sins in order to receive forgiveness?

In order to answer that question we must understand exactly what it means to confess.

According to the Greek translation to confess or homologeō means to acknowledge but it also means to profess.

To make a confession is to admit to one’s faults but it also means to admit to one’s belief.

To make a profession is to declare or admit openly. This means to state audibly using words.

Now these words have slightly different meanings in English but in the Greek language it literally means “to say it and to speak the same.”

This scripture translated in English says:
‘If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1 :9

With the Greek word homologeō it is translated in effect as this:
“If we say or speak the same thing that God says about our sins we can be forgiven from our sin and purified from all unrighteousness. “

This is very significant because there are many today who claim to know Jesus as their Savior but they deny him by rejecting what his word has to say about sin.

If one does not confess their sin by admitting that their lifestyle is not lining up with what God says is sin in the Bible then according to the Bible these people are liars and deceivers.

1John 3:9-18
1 John 2:15
Romans 6
John 8:44
1 Timothy 4:1
Revelation 21 :8
2 John 1:10,12
Mathew 7:13,14

In fact some today even reject the absolute authority of scriptures as the infallible word of the living God. They deny God’s word because they are not born again of his word and of his Spirit.

Again scriptures tell us that “if you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord you shall be saved.” Roman’s 10:9

For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Romans 10:10

Jesus must be confessed as Lord of our lives in order to be considered by his standards a child of God. Not just Savior.

Today we have many who want Jesus to be their Savior but not their Lord but it does not work that way.

If we do not confess what God calls sin as sin in our lives and if we do not receive Jesus Christ as Lord as well as Savior then no salvation will occur.

It does not matter if we go to church, sing worship songs, raise our hands, jump up and down or shout hallelujah. If we do not confess our sins and confess Jesus as both Savior and Lord we can not be saved.

Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Luke 15:21

I acknowledged my sin to you [God], and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,’ and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Psalm 32:5

To make a confession is to declare and profess openly and audibly. Why is it important to speak our confession out loud?

First of all what is in the open is in the light. Second of all speaking with the mouth solidifies a confession like an oral contract. Making admission is declaring allegiance. Both to God and before the angels and so the powers of darkness know where you stand.

We in effect come into contract or have declared our lives as belonging to Jesus Christ the Lord.

If you have not confessed your sin to the Lord Jesus Christ or received him as your Lord today then today is the day!

If you hear his voice speaking to your heart then confess your sin before him out loud and turn from the sin, receiving Jesus Christ as both your Savior and Lord.

He Comes Like a Thief !

Why does Jesus say in scriptures that he comes like a thief in the night?

A thief sneaks in without anyone knowing to snatch something away. Jesus was referencing in this parable to his coming for his bride.

In Revelations 3:3 Jesus is reprimanding his church. In particular the church that was in Sardis. He tells them that if they don’t repent of dead works and strengthen their walk in the Lord by returning to him zealously and being watchful (watching in prayer) then as punishment for disobedience they would find Jesus coming to them as a thief in the night.

In other words, like a thief who comes unaware to the owner of the house, ,Jesus will come to snatch away his prepared bride but those luke-warm and not watching will be left behind.

This scripture reveals that there will be unrepentant believers left behind in the snatching away of his bride. Referred to by some as the rapture or translation of the Spirit.

In Matthew 25
Jesus talks about coming for his bride.
There are 5 virgins with oil in their lamps and 5 virgins without oil. The 5 with oil were watching and waiting having their lamps filled with oil.

What is this oil? A Holy Spirit filled life. The other 5 virgins had the word. They knew what the Lord’s will was. They knew he said he would come to get them someday but these 5 did not take his word seriously. They were fooling around in the world. They thought they had lots of time but suddenly like a thief in the night the bridegroom came and they were left behind.

In 1 Peter 3:10- 11 it also says that the day of the Lord’s return is going to come like a thief in the night.

Peter goes on to exhort Christians to keep the Lord’s exhortation in mind. To walk worthy of our calling while we are here. Not walking in riotous living but in holiness and the fear of the Lord.

That is what Jesus was talking about. Having our oil burning. Having zeal in our walk with the Lord. Going about our Father’s buisness but at the same time having our eyes fixed on his return. Living in the world but not of this world.

Jesus told his people to be zealous and repent for not watching and living a Spirit filled life. He warned that if the owner of the house had been watching he would have known in what hour the thief would come.

Are you watching for the Lord’s return? Are you ready for his appearing? Is the oil in your lamp burning with zeal? If not return to the lover of your soul today! You do not know in what hour your Lord will appear!

He comes like a thief in the night!