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 Too
often, in teaching others the "steps to salvation,"
there is a tendency to regard them as "steps" — i.e.
something that is accomplished in one easy motion prior to the
next "step." Take, for example, what is usually taught
in regard to the "step" of confession.
We
read Rom. 10:10, "for with the mouth confession is made
unto salvation." We then turn to Acts 8:37 to point out
what is said in this confession, "And he answered and said,
I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." Finally, to
stress the importance of making this "good confession"
before others, we read Matt. 10:32, "Everyone therefore who
shall confess me before men, him will I also confess before my
Father who is in heaven." Now, we think we have taught what
it means to confess Christ before men, so we proceed to the next
step — baptism.
Yet,
if we stop to think, we know that belief is more than mental
assent to the fact of Christ's deity. We stress that repentance
is more than saying "I'm sorry" and baptism entails
more than just going down under the water. In like manner,
confession involves more than the verbal acknowledgment that
Jesus is the Son of God. It is more than just a statement made
prior to one's baptism.
"The
verb (Confess- ko) really means 'to say the same thing' as
another, to voice agreement with him, and thus to acknowledge
and confess him" (Lenski — comments on Matt. 10:32). Vine
states the meaning of "confess" as to "speak the
same thing."
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Confession
then, in its broader sense, is recognizing that Christ is Lord.
It is an acknowledgment that He has all authority and that we
are to be in subjection to Him. To the extent that He is our
Master and we are His servants — His will becomes our Will,
His teachings become our teachings. Thus, as the definition
states, we strive to "speak the same thing" as Christ.
Now
we must ask, are we willing to practice the confession that is
"unto salvation?" Christ said, "Seek ye first the
Kingdom of God." Do we tell others by our words and
actions that God's business comes first — OR do we
teach that such things as friends, entertainment, or our jobs
maintain top priority? Do we "speak the same thing" as
Christ in regard to church discipline? Or do we say "Just
leave the unfaithful brethren alone, pressure might drive them
further away!" Are we willing to denounce denominationalism
— or have we swallowed the false notion of "just
preaching the truth and leaving error alone"? To what
extent are we willing to confess Christ (speak as he speaks)?
Christ
warned His disciples that such confession would have its cost.
He informed them that they would be scourged in the synagogues
and "hated of all men for my name's sake" (Mt.
10:16f). The cost of speaking as Christ speaks is high, but the
cost of not doing so is much higher. Remember His words
"But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also
deny before my Father who is in heaven" (Mt. 10: 33). This
"step" of confession is no small step.
Kevan O'Banion
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