Confess

1843 (speak out)

Matthew 3:6  Were baptized by Him in the Jordan, confessing their sins

Mark 1:5  Were all baptized in the Jordan River, confessing their sins

Acts 19:18  Many who believed came confessing and telling their deeds

Romans 14:11  Every tongue shall confess to God

Romans 15:9  I will confess to you among the Gentiles

Philippians 2:11  Every tongue shall confess that Jesus is Lord

James 5:16  Confess your faults one to and pray for one another

Revelation 3:5  I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels

3670-1 (speak what is really me)

Matthew 10:32  Whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father

Luke 12:8  Whoever confesses Me before men, him the Son of Man will also confess before the angels of God

John 1:20  He confessed…”I am not the Christ”

John 9:22  If anyone confessed that He was Christ, he would be put out of the synagogue

John 12:42  They did not confess Him lest they should be put out of the synagogue

Acts 23:8  But the Pharisees confess both [resurrection and angels]

Romans 10:10  With the mouth confession is made leading to salvation

1 Timothy 3:16  Pilate witnessed a good confession

Hebrews 11:13  Confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on earth

1 John 1:9  If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness

1 John 4:2  Every spirit that confesses Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God

1 John 4:3  Every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God

1 John 4:15  Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him and he in God

2 John 7  Many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh

  • Seventeen passages describe announcing who is in charge. Five reference bad behavior.
  • The point of James 5:16 seems to be, in light of the promises of overcoming, that the less successful ask the more successful to invoke that promise. Promises are gained by faith and ruined by doubt.
  • Perhaps the point of announcing misdeeds in Matthew, Mark, and Acts was to finally speak the truth after a life of excuses and/or covering up.
  • 1 John 1:9 seems to be in the context of becoming a Christian. The point of “confess” would be to admit our failures and our need for a sacrifice originating from grace.
  • Announcing misdeeds publicly or in a group is not mentioned as a common practice in the early church.
  • If we are counted right with God because of faith alone, announcing misdeeds would not be connected to being counted right.
  • At Judgment, the unfaithful are judged by their deeds (e.g., Romans 2:6, Revelation 20:12 – 13). They have chosen the right-and-wrong system.  We are judged by the system we adopt (Romans  2:12).  The faithful, having adopted the faith economy, are judged by their faith.
  • If God already knows what you have done, announcing misdeeds to God is no more than an apology, which would be the polite thing to do. For the faithful, misdeeds are not part of the accounting system. Announcing misdeeds are because of common sense, politeness, being believable to outsiders, and cleaning up the Temple.
  • Announcing misdeeds among the faithful is like sacrifice, a celebration of forgiveness, thankfulness not guilt, joy not misery.