A Compelling Testimony: Maintaining a Disciplined Walk, Christlike Character, and Godly Relationships as God's Servant

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A Compe l l i ng Tes t imony

1. Definition of the discipline of confession: openly professing and acknowledging to God our sins, on behalf of ourselves and others, those we have wronged as well as those whom we pray for

a. Confession is used in Scripture regarding our profession of faith in Jesus Christ.

(1) Luke 12.8-9 – And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God, [9] but the one who denies me before men will be denied before the angels of God. (2) Rom. 10.9-10 – because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. [10] For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

(3) 2 Tim. 2.12 – if we endure, we will also reign with him;if we deny him, he also will deny us.

(4) 1 John 2.23 – No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also.

b. Confession also relates to our own personal acknowledgment for our sins committed against God.

(1) Lev. 16.21 – And Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat, and confess over it all the iniquities of the people of Israel, and all their transgressions, all their sins. And he shall put them on the head of the goat and send it away into the wilderness by the hand of a man who is in readiness.

(2) Ezra 9.5-7 – And at the evening sacrifice I rose from my fasting, with my garment and my cloak