02.21. CONFESSION - 03 - Reasons for the Good Confession.
CONFESSION – 03 – Reasons for the Good Confession.
1. God asks it. That is reason enough for our making it. But we may venture to see how natural such a confession is. 2. It is due to Christ. If we believe Jesus is what he claimed, we should be glad to confess him and show our trust and love. 3. It is due to the church. It helps the church to hear others confess him who is the church’s Head. Christians love to hear the good confession, and are encouraged by it in their own Christian life. 4. It is due to the world. If Christ has done anything for you, he can do it also for others. Confession proclaims this. The confessor says in effect:--
"Now will I tell to all around What a dear Savior I have found; I’ll point to his redeeming blood, And say, ’Behold, the way to God.’"
5. It helps the man himself. There can be no permanent and secret discipleship. He who tries this must fail. Be openly decided, be committed publicly to Christ in confession of his name before witnesses, and this very fact will prove a strength in time of temptation. Professor James was perhaps the worlds greatest psychologist, as such he wrote: "In the acquisition of a new habit, or the leaving off of an old one, we must take care to launch ourselves with as strong and decided an initiative as possible. Accumulate all the possible circumstances which shall reinforce the right motives; put yourself assiduously in conditions that encourage the new way; make engagements incompatible with the old; take a public pledge, if the case allows, in short, envelope your resolution with every aid you know." Is not all this beautifully applicable to "the good confession" as leading to baptism and church membership? It seems as if we must make the confession some day; if not now, then in the great day when we all stand before the judgment seat of Christ (see Romans 14:11-12; Php 2:9-11). It would be wise to do it now; then there is no blessed promise attached to it. Then Jesus will be ashamed of him who was ashamed to confess him here (Mark 8:38). May we hasten to own his sway, confess his name, and then "let us hold fast our confession " (Hebrews 4:14; Hebrews 10:23).
QUESTIONS.
1. Give in your own words a definition of repentance and show that it is in harmony with Scripture. 2. Show the importance of repentance. 3. What is meant by "sorrow according to God"? 4. What is the difference between the sorrow which works repentance and sorrow unto death? 5. God gives repentance: how? 6. What are fruits meet for repentance? 7. Who made "the good confession"? 8. What must we confess? 9. Is it enough to confess Christ in a life of holiness? 10. What promises are attached to confession of Christ? 11. What great use can you see in public confession? 12. Do you think the eunuch confessed Christ? (See Acts 8:34-38, A.V. and R.V.).