The Three C's Of Salvation - Part 2 Confession Series

THE THREE C’S OF SALVATION

PART 2 - CONFESSION

Romans 10:8-13

INTRODUCTION: We have stated that the biblical formula for salvation is conviction plus confession plus conversion equals salvation. Simply put the design of true salvation consists of conviction leading to confession followed by conversion. When the Holy Spirit begins to deal with us He starts with convicting us of our sinfulness. He causes us to see our sin for what it is and how it separates us from God. When we are convicted we must then deal with that conviction through confession. Without conviction, confession would be meaningless. Without conviction without confession is useless. In our previous message we dealt with conviction, today we look at confession. The two primary passages in the word of God that deal with confession are Romans 10:9-10 and 1 John 1:9. One primarily deals with confession in relation to salvation, that is becoming a Christian, a child of God, and the other primarily in relation to sanctification, living as a child of God. Both, however, have application to every single one of us. Remember, as I have said, the pattern conviction plus confession plus conversion is for both salvation and sanctification.

I. What does confession mean?

A. The Greek words translated "confess" is homologeo. It means to assent or acknowledge.

B. Confess - It literally means to "speak what agrees with something which another speaks or maintains."

C. Confession expresses our "agreement or concord with what God holds to be true, and what he declares to be true."

D. Confession means to agree or acknowledge fully.

II. What does it mean to confess the Lord Jesus?

A. Romans 10:9-10 "That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, you shall be saved. For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."

B. If to confess is to "to say the same thing as another says or maintains", then confession of the Lord Jesus is to be in agreement or concord with Who Christ is and what he declares to be true.”

C. This "extends to all his declarations about our lost estate, our sin, and need of a Savior; to his doctrines about his own nature, holiness, and law; … about the necessity of a change of heart and holiness of life; and about the grave and the judgment; about heaven and hell." - Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible Albert Barnes (1798-1870)

D. It is acknowledging the truth of who Jesus Christ is. - John 8:24 "I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins."

E. It is seeing and admitting to yourself and to God your sin, your hopeless condition. – Romans 3:10-12 "As it is written: "There is none righteous, no, not one; There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; they have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one."

F. Further, it is declaring your acceptance and agreement of Jesus Christ as Lord, the Supreme authority and Controller of your life. It is acknowledging your need for the redemption offered by Jesus Christ.

G. Confessing Christ as Lord means allowing Him to have absolute dominion over every part of your life and being.

H. Note the phrase "with thy mouth." denoting a willingness to make a public declaration or assent of your acceptance of these things and to be identified with Christ.

I. Luke 12:8-9 "Also I say unto you, whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God: But he that denies me before men shall be denied before the angels of God."

J. There are several ways in which this public confession is to be made.

1. Baptism

a. Baptism is usually one’s initial public enactment of a individual’s profession of faith in Jesus Christ. Baptism is an outward expression of an inward decision to align oneself with Christ and what He lived and died for. It is the first act of obedience of the Christian life, followed by a lifetime of commitment to do all things as Jesus would do.

b. Acts 2:41 (NKJV) "Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them."

c. Water baptism is a picture and public testimony of spiritual realities. I seriously question the reality of one’s salvation who is not willing to submit to baptism.

d. A faith that cannot be tested – cannot be trusted. A faith that fails the test is not real. It true faith is there, obedience will result.