September 16, 2012

Confession: September 12, 2012

TODAYS WORD FOR WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 12, 2012.

CONFESSION

DEFINITION:

Admission or disclosure of sin; 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 Paul is saying to Timothy in I Timothy 6:12 (above). 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 Christian faith requires action on our part. Jesus has made it possible to have forgiveness of sins and He offers us the gift of eternal life. Paul says to take hold of eternal life. To become part of God’s kingdom, we cannot sit passively on the sideline expecting God to act. God has given us a choice.

The scripture is very clear that in order for us to have a relationship with Jesus there are 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).

Our response must be to confess before men our decision to follow Christ. In Matthew 10:32 it reads, “whosoever therefore shall confess Me before men, him will I confess also before My Father which is in heaven.” 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.

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 3:5-6.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.

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 boldly confess with my mouth what I believe so that others will know what You have done for me and will do for them.


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