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LESSON SEVEN -- “C 0 N F E S S I 0 N”

When Jesus confessed that He is the Christ, He lost His life (see Matthew 26:63-68; 27:11-12, 22-35). When Stephen confessed Jesus as the Christ, he lost his life (see Acts 7:51-60). Though the world may react with hatred, the disciple of the Master must take his stand before people, because THERE ARE NO SECRET CHRISTIANS. The Son of God requires OPEN confession of His Deity. He said in Matthew 10:32, "Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in Heaven.'
In 1 Timothy 6:12 Paul said Timothy had professed a good profession before many witnesses. The American Standard Version renders it, “and didst confess the good confession in the sight of many witnesses.” When Philip preached to the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8, the eunuch (ready to obey the Gospel) asked in Verse 36, “what doth hinder me to be baptized? ” Verse 37 tells us, “And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. ” THIS is the "Good Confession" which is required of believers.

1. GOD The Father made THE CONFESSION:

a. Matthew 3:17, “And lo a ___________________ from ____________________, saying, This
is my beloved ______________ , in whom I am well pleased.”

b. Matthew 17:5, “and behold a _____________________ out of the ________________ , which
said, This is my beloved _______________ , in whom I am well pleased; hear ye Him.”

2. CHRIST made THE CONFESSION: Matthew 26:63-64, The high priest said, “I adjure thee
by the living God, that thou tell us whether _________________ be the ____________________,
the ___________ of ___________ . Jesus saith unto him, _____________ hast _____________ .”
(NOTE: The reply of Jesus was the Hebrew way of affirming that "What you said is true.")

3. PETER made THE CONFESSION: Matthew 16:15-16, “He saith unto them, but ___________
say ye that I ________ ? And Simon ____________________ answered and said, ____________ art the ____________________ , the ______________ of the living ______________ .”

4. THE EUNUCH made THE CONFESSION: Acts 8:37, “I _____________________ that Jesus
_____________________ is the ______________ of ______________ .”

5. SOME DID NOT MAKE THE CONFESSION: John 12:42-43, “Nevertheless among the chief
__________________ also many ________________________ on ____________ ; but because of the Pharisees they did not _______________________ _________________ lest they should be put out of the synagogue: For they ____________________ the _____________________ of men more than the ______________________ of _______________ .”

6. To refuse to confess Christ is in fact to deny Him. If we wish to be saved, then WE MUST MAKE THE GOOD CONFESSION (Matthew 10:32). If we deny Christ by failing to confess
Him, then Christ says in the VERY NEXT Verse --- Matthew 10:33, “But whosoever shall ______________ me before ___________ , him will I also ______________ before my Father.”

MULTIPLE CHOICE (UNDERLINE THE CORRECT ANSWER)

1. According to the Lord's statement in Matthew 10:32, THE CONFESSION: (a) Must be a secret thing between each individual and God; (b) Is to be a confession of one's sins;
(c) Must be open, and known by those about us.

2. When The Savior was asked if He is God's Son (Matthew 26:63-64), He: (a) Said He is; (b) Asked for a private conference with the high priest; (c) Said He is not.

3. Some are afraid to confess Christ today (compare John 12:42-43 and Matthew 10:32-33).
If in their life they do not openly take a stand for Christ, they: (a) Will be saved anyway;
(b) Will be denied before the Father in Heaven; (c) Will be overlooked.

TRUE OR FALSE (CIRCLE ONE)

True / False 1. A model of Scriptural confession is given us in Acts 8:36-37.

True / False 2. All People will be saved on the Judgment Day.

True / False 3. Confession of Christ must be made before baptism (Acts 8:36-38).

True / False 4. One can be a Christian while being afraid or ashamed to let the world know
who he is and what he stands for.

True / False 5. A confession of Christ is to the glory of the devil (Philippians 2:10-11).

True / False 6. If we do not confess Christ NOW, we WILL some day (Romans 14:10-12).

True / False 7. We can confess Christ, but still reject some of His commands (John 12:48).

True / False 8. Confession of Christ is the expression of a person's belief that Jesus Christ is THE Son of God -- Not just A son of God (John 11:27).

True / False 9. Each one must confess that he believes a human creed book.

True / False 10. We may safely substitute a human confession for the Divine confession.

-- COMPARING CONFESSIONS --

In making a careful study of the passages given in this lesson, we have found that confession is necessary to salvation, and that it comes before baptism. Now please consider this question: Is the GOOD CONFESSION (the one the Eunuch made) to be expressed BEFORE, or AFTER, salvation? The Bible answer: Romans 10:10, “For with the heart man
believeth _______________righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made _______________ salvation.”
So, belief and confession are both toward (in the direction of) salvation. Some teach that confession is made AFTER one is saved, and that the confession to be made is that the person HAS BEEN saved. Compare the two confessions below, then place a check mark before the one which is Scriptural (that is, it is according to the teaching of the Bible):
( ) “I believe that God for Christ's sake has pardoned my sins.”
( ) “I believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.”

Please read Acts 8:36-39 -- Did the man rejoice BEFORE his confession? YES ( ) NO ( )

Your interest is appreciated -- If you have friends who would enjoy the course, please
send us their names and addresses. Lesson Eight will be: "BAPTISM."

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