When you know it, confess it!

Luke 18: 9-14

One of the most basic ideas of Christianity is “If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10: 9)

Yet there is another element that must also be considered: All of us have likely heard the phrase, “Confession is good for the soul.” It’s an old Scottish proverb but there is a word missing. The proverb actually reads, “Open confession is good for the soul.”

I believe there is biblical truth to this idea of confessing a little bit more than just Jesus as Savior. In fact, the Bible supports the conclusion that absent open confession, salvation is not guaranteed.

You can imagine how startled I was to come to the realization that most mainline denominations today don’t believe open confession is necessary for salvation. Just this past week a woman told me she asked her pastor if confession was necessary for salvation. He told her no and emphasized that Jesus saved her 2,000 years ago when he died on the cross.

I wonder how any denomination, pastors, and biblical scholars could read what Scripture says repeatedly and reach such a conclusion. Interestingly, this person went on to say that all she needs to recite for salvation is the Apostles Creed. “I say it every Sunday,” she said.

I believe the Apostles Creed, too – every word of it, and we’ve spent a lot of time on it. But the Apostles Creed is a statement of faith, not a tool to secure one’s salvation.

I also believe that the Catholics have it wrong in confession. You don’t have to confess to a priest, you have to confess to God. Given how humans wrongly repeat things why would I want somebody between me and Him? Today we’re going to talk about confession, repentance, and salvation.

BUT LOOKING AGAIN

The Prussian king, Frederick the Great was once touring a Berlin prison.

The prisoners fell on their knees before him to proclaim their innocence -- except for one man, who remained silent. Frederick called to him, "Why are you here?" "Armed robbery, Your Majesty," was the reply. "And are you guilty?" "Yes indeed, Your Majesty, I deserve my punishment."

Frederick then summoned the jailer and ordered him, "Release this guilty wretch at once. I will not have him kept in this prison where he will corrupt all the fine innocent people who occupy it." 

In 1884 Grover Cleveland was running against James G. Blaine for the presidency of the U.S. Blaine supporters discovered that Cleveland, who was a bachelor at the time, had fathered a son by Mrs. Maria Crofts Halpin, an attractive widow who had been on friendly terms with several politicians.

Subsequently, Republicans tried to pin an immorality tag on Democrat Cleveland by distributing handbills showing an infant labeled "One more vote for Cleveland" and by having paraders chant, "Ma, Ma, where's my pa? Gone to the White House, Ha, Ha, Ha!" The move, however, backfired badly.

Rather than deny the story, Cleveland decided to tell the truth and admit the intimacy. This candor helped defuse the issue, and Cleveland was elected president. 

When you know you are wrong admit it. Confess it. Repent and clear your soul.

There is a right way and a wrong way to confess that makes your repentance so much hot air. Listen to Luke 18: 9-14

Jesus told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt:

"Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, `God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.'

But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, `God, be merciful to me, a sinner!' I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted."

There are plenty of people like the Pharisee among us. They do what they do because of arrogance or ignorance. They have been taught wrongly or have, because of a “faith-heart” defect chosen the road that will lead to death.

People get into the mindset that says “I’m good because I do…” “I’m good because I give…” “I’m good because I don’t …” “I’m good because I’m not like…” God doesn’t want you for what you think or do, He wants you because you are willing to submit to His Will and embrace His Love.

People who campaign for social, civil, animal, or personal rights or are working to reduce Greenhouse gasses aren’t ever going to earn salvation because of it. You have to have a “come to Jesus moment.”

If you believe for a moment that Jesus’ work on the cross saved you automatically from hell, you are dead wrong. The verse I used to begin today’s message says that you have to do two things to secure salvation. Note that if you do, the verse emphasizes, “You will be saved.”

“The verb “will” is the future tense. In other words, salvation was been provided for us by Jesus’ death on the cross, but it is secured at a future date and time when the two conditions prescribed by Romans 10: 9 are met.

That is exactly what Jesus meant at John 14: 6 where he said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Jesus death on the cross is the “way” to salvation – the means, not the end.

There are other verses that support this truth. Think about these as you examine what your church believes.

• 1 John 1: 9: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 

• Matthew 10: 32: “Therefore whoever confesses me before men, him I will also confess before my father who is in heaven.”

• Psalm 32: 5: “I acknowledged my sin to you, and my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,’ and you forgave the iniquity of my sin.” 

• Acts 2: 21: “Whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

We are creatures who have been given free will. We must use that free will to seek out what we must do to be counted among God’s elect.

When it comes to salvation, Jesus provided the way, and God will knock on the door to our hearts. But the next move is up to us. Indeed, confession is not just good for the soul. It’s what saves it for an eternity.

Amen.