Confession: April 1, 2011

APRIL 1. TODAYS WORD FOR FRIDAY APRIL 1, 2011

CONFESSION

DEFINITION:

Acknowledgment or disclosure of sin; admission; something that is confessed; a formal profession of religious belief.

SCRIPTURE:

“For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.” Romans 10:10.

“Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold of eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” I Timothy 6:12.

Confess your faults (sins) one to another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. James 5:16.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

When we worked with Billy Graham years ago we witnessed at every church meeting where we showed a Billy Graham film and at every crusade meeting where Billy Graham preached, an invitation at the conclusion of his message for one to accept Jesus as their Savior. When one was ready to make that decision they were invited to come to the front of the stadium or building to confess their sins and make their decision to receive Jesus into their heart in front of witnesses. This is what Timothy is saying in the above verse. God wants us to tell the world about our confession of being a sinner and our new found faith in Him and we begin by making a formal decision in front of witnesses.

The scripture is also very clear that in order for us to have a relationship with Jesus there is two requirements. We must believe in our heart that Jesus is Lord and Savior and then confess to Him that we are a sinner and ask for forgiveness. God’s response is immediate --- we are saved! (Romans 10:10).

The Bible is clear that we are expected to confess before men our decision to follow Christ. This is why we encourage you to get involved in a Christ honoring, Bible believing church that gives people the opportunity to accept Jesus as their Savior and to confess this before those in the church. Unfortunately, not many churches today will give this opportunity, but many do and we encourage you to be part of such a church and then you will grow in Him.

Confession is also important in family life. All of us, parents and children, need to be willing to confess and apologize to family members when we do them wrong. Confession is hard and many people struggle to admit guilt or any wrong.

For us as parents we are so very thankful that we had the blessed experience of hearing each of our children make their confession of faith and ask the Lord to forgive them of their sins and to come into their heart. Although, we have not been with our grandchildren at the moment they made their decision to accept Christ we can’t begin to tell you how thrilled we have been to get their telephone call saying: “Grandma and Grandpa, I asked Jesus into my heart today.”

Nothing heals better then confession. Often situations would arise with our children when an argument developed between two or three of them. When we got involved in the process of helping to solve the argument, blaming one another was very common. After we sorted out the problem we encouraged the guilty one to confess and say “I am sorry.” Confession is good for the heart and allows both parties to get on with life and they will usually not carry a grudge. As Christians, when we need to confess a wrong doing it is important that we do not procrastinate. Get on with your confession and apology today.

LEARNING:

Our memory verse for this week is found in Proverbs 11:2.

When pride comes, then comes shame; but with the humble is wisdom.

PRAYER:

Lord, thank You for Your Holy Spirit who convicted my heart and worked in me to accept You as my Savior. Thank You that I can come to You freely to confess my sins and that in turn know that I am forgiven. Keep my faith strong and help me to confess with my mouth what I believe so that others will know that I am a child of God.