CONFESSING CHRIST

Mark 5:6-9

6 When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshiped Him. 7 And he cried out with a loud voice and said, "What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God that You do not torment me." 8 For He said to him, "Come out of the man, unclean spirit!" 9 Then He asked him, "What is your name?" And he answered, saying, "My name is Legion; for we are many."

Mark 5:6-9

• Some people learn the plan of salvation and yet resist at the point of confession.

• « Why do I have to make a public statement about my faith? »

• « I believe. Isn’t that enough? »

Why confess?

• Confess – means to say the same thing, that is to be in agreement with another.

• God said – THIS IS MY SON.• What do you say?• Even the demons in this wild man confess

faith in Jesus.

Why confess?

• Identifies you with Christ• Whoever denies the Son does not have the

Father either; he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also. 1 John 2:23

• By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, 1 John 4:2

CONFESSING CHRIST:

• Identifies you with Christ• and every spirit that does not confess that

Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world. 1 John 4:3

CONFESSING CHRIST:

• Is evidence of union with God• Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of

God, God abides in him, and he in God. 1 John 4:15

CONFESSING CHRIST:

• Is necessary for salvation• 9 that 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. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Romans 10:9-10

CONFESSING CHRIST:

• Ensures Christ confessing us• 32 "Therefore whoever confesses Me before

men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. 33 But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven. Matthew 10:32-33

CONFESSING CHRIST:

• Fear of what men think• 12 And there was much complaining among

the people concerning Him. Some said, "He is good"; others said, "No, on the contrary, He deceives the people." 13 However, no one spoke openly of Him for fear of the Jews. John 7:12-13

SOME DON’T CONFESS CHRIST:

• Fear of what men think• 42 Nevertheless even among the rulers many

believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God. John 12:42-43

SOME DON’T CONFESS CHRIST:

• Fear of persecution• For whoever desires to save his life will lose it,

but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it. Mark 8:35

• If we endure, We shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us. 2 Timothy 2:12

SOME DON’T CONFESS CHRIST:

• Requires faith• that 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

CONFESSING CHRIST:

• Nathanael• Nathanael answered and said to Him, "Rabbi,

You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!" John 1:49

EXAMPLES IN THE NT:

• Nathanael• Peter• 68 But Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to

whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.“ John 6:68-69

EXAMPLES IN THE NT:

• Nathanael• Peter• Blind Man• If this Man were not from God, He could do

nothing.“ John 9:33

EXAMPLES IN THE NT:

• Nathanael• Peter• Blind Man• Martha• She said to Him, "Yes, Lord, I believe that You

are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.“ John 11:27

EXAMPLES IN THE NT:

• Nathanael• Peter• Blind Man• Martha• Peter and John• Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is

no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.“ Acts 4:12

EXAMPLES IN THE NT:

• Apostles• And daily in the temple, and in every house,

they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ. Acts 5:42

EXAMPLES IN THE NT:

• Apostles• Stephen• And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on

God and saying, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.“ Acts 7:59

EXAMPLES IN THE NT:

• Apostles• Stephen• Paul• And he spoke boldly in the name of the Lord

Jesus and disputed against the Hellenists, but they attempted to kill him. Acts 9:29

EXAMPLES IN THE NT:

• John• I, John, both your brother and companion in

the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. Revelation 1:9

EXAMPLES IN THE NT:

• John• Church at Pergamos• I know your works, and where you dwell,

where Satan's throne is. And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. Revelation 2:13

EXAMPLES IN THE NT:

• John• Pergamos• Martyrs• Then I saw the souls of those who had been

beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. Revelation 20:4

EXAMPLES IN THE NT:

• Have you confessed Christ?

• Are you confessing Him in your life?

• Will you confess your faith today?

WHAT ABOUT YOUR FAITH?