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Sunday, November 8, 2009
The Importance of Your Confession
The Importance of Your Confession
If we are to make our faith effective (active, powerful) and enjoy the full benefits of salvation, we must learn to do what it says in Philemon 1:6
“That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.”
God’s Word says that when we do this our faith becomes effective. You must acknowledge every good thing which you posses after making Jesus Lord of your life. Acknowledgement involves making a confession.
Our confession is mentioned three times in the book of Hebrews.
(Hebrews 3:1, Hebrews 4:14, and Hebrews 10:21-23)
Our confession is mentioned elsewhere in God’s Word. I am taking the text of Hebrews as a point of study.
Our tongue connects us to the ministry of Jesus as our High Priest. Jesus entered into a ministry as our high priest, representing us in the presence of His Father after he died, rose again, and ascended into heaven. He is our high priest on the condition that we make the right confession with our tongue.
Hebrews 3:1 “Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;”
Notice what the Bible says here: “Jesus is the High Priest of our profession”. The word profession is translated in the Greek as confession or “to say the same things as.”
Jesus ministry as High Priest operates on our spoken confession not on our unspoken faith. It is important that we maintain a right confession with our mouth. When we agree with God’s Word in faith with our mouth it enables Jesus to exercise his ministry as High Priest on our behalf. His priesthood cannot operate on our behalf if there is no confession that agrees with His Word.
Wrong confession frustrates His ministry. The Bible tells us that we will give an account of every idle word that we speak.
Matthew 12:36 “But I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment”
Matthew 12:37 “For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.”
What are idle words? The word idle means “worthless”. Speaking words that are not in agreement with God’s Word. Idle words involve saying things that would contradict or exalt itself above God’s Word. Jesus cannot act on your behalf when you speak idle words.
Our confession linking us to the priesthood of Jesus is brought out two more times in Hebrews.
Hebrews 4:14 “Seeding then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.”
Hebrews 10:21 “And having a high priest over the house of God;”
Hebrews 10:22 “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.”
Hebrews 10:23 “Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)”
The right confession is essential for Jesus to operate as our High Priest. Faith is not exercised with idle words. Wrong confession…Jesus cannot operate as your High Priest.
Right confession is essential for salvation. There is a direct link with our heart and mouth. (Luke 6:45) Salvation depends on two things: Exercising faith in our hearts and making the right confession.
Romans 10:9 “That 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 10:10 “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
The word “salvation” in the Bible means more than just having eternal life. It means completeness in all areas of life. When you start making the right confession that agrees with God’s Word you can start moving into the full provision of salvation.
Look at the illustration of the tongue in James.
James 3:4 “Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.”
James 3:5 “Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!”
What the rudder is to the ship, the use of the tongue will determine which direction you go. Examine your path. Are you experiencing good things or bad things? Use God’s word to determine if you are living the life Jesus promised in John 10:10.
Here is a simple prayer that you can pray to help with what you say.
Psalm 19:34 “Let the words of my mouth, and the mediation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.”
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