Faith Bible Study Guide
First, there is the teaching of John the Baptist and Jesus’ teaching to the Jews which was the confession of their sins.
MARK 1:4,5
4 John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.
5 And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, CONFESSING THEIR SINS.
MARK 1:14,15
14 Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,
15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
The Confession of the Sinner Under the New Covenant
Second, there is the confession of the sinner under the New Covenant. Jesus made a very important statement in the New Testament in John 16:7-11 concerning the sinner under the New Covenant.
JOHN 16:7-11
7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. 8 And when he is come, HE WILL REPROVE THE WORLD OF SIN, and
of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 Of sin, BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE NOT ON ME;
10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;
11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.
Notice Jesus said, “Of sin, because they believe not on me” (v. 9). Jesus tells us that the sinner will be convicted by the Holy Spirit of but one sin, and that is the sin of rejecting Jesus: “… because they believe not on me [Jesus]” (John 16:9). How many times we’ve insisted that the sinner confess all the sins he’s ever committed in order to be saved. Actually, the sinner couldn’t confess all the sins he’s ever committed. He couldn’t even think of everything he’s ever done that was wrong. No, the main confession the sinner must make is the Lord-ship of Jesus.
ROMANS 10:9
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.