Sermon preached by my grandfather in the Church of Christ. Preached 11 times, first preached in July 1968 and last preached in December of 1982. Topic is confession, one of the steps in their Plan of Salvation.

The sermon follows their standard of assertion → verse → assertion → verse → conclusion. The sermon uses common debate tactics taught by Alexander Campbell, Cite the text → Define what it must mean→ Contrast it with denominational error→ Conclude necessity. The sermon is preached through the Plan of Salvation lens.

The Entire sermon hinges on the premade assumption that the good confession “I believe Jesus Christ is the son of God,” is required for salvation and no other confession is scriptural. The sermon is then structure to fit around that assumption. The Bible is treated as a legal document with isolated facts and lacks narrative or contexts for these facts, again standard for the churches of Christ during that time.

Sermons like these are designed to instruct the congregation on how to read the bible so that it appears as plain reading. A true plain reading would include context, narrative, intent, genre, and theology development. This sermon isolates verses and strings them together to fit around a predetermined conclusion.

Transcript

SCRIPTURE READING: MATTHEW 10:32 THROUGH 37
SUBJECT: CONFESSION

EVERYONE WILL HAVE TO CONFESS.
PHILIPPIANS 2:9–11
9 THEREFORE GOD ALSO HATH HIGHLY EXALTED HIM, AND GIVEN HIM A NAME WHICH IS ABOVE EVERY NAME:
10 THAT AT THE NAME OF JESUS EVERY KNEE SHOULD BOW, OF THINGS IN HEAVEN, AND THINGS IN EARTH, AND THINGS UNDER THE EARTH;
11 AND THAT EVERY TONGUE SHOULD CONFESS THAT JESUS CHRIST IS LORD, TO THE GLORY OF GOD THE FATHER.

YOU ARE GOING TO CONFESS HIM.

WHAT IS TO BE CONFESSED?
ROMANS 10:9–10
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.
10 FOR WITH THE HEART MAN BELIEVETH UNTO RIGHTEOUSNESS; AND WITH THE MOUTH CONFESSION IS MADE UNTO SALVATION.

NOTE: A MAN CONFESSES WHAT HE BELIEVES IN HIS HEART. BUT IF WHAT HE BELIEVES IS WRONG, THEN THE HEART IS WRONG AND THE CONFESSION IS WRONG.

“HE IS SAVED BY FAITH ONLY”? – IT IS FALSE.
JAMES 2:24
YE SEE THEN HOW THAT BY WORKS A MAN IS JUSTIFIED, AND NOT BY FAITH ONLY.

ROMANS 10:10 (JUST READ) SAYS CONFESSION IS MADE UNTO SALVATION.

BUT, IF A MAN IS TAUGHT THE DOCTRINE OF “FAITH ONLY” AND BELIEVES IT, WHAT CONFESSION DOES HE MAKE?
ANSWER: TO BECOME A MEMBER OF SOME CHURCHES A MAN MUST CONFESS “I BELIEVE THAT GOD FOR CHRIST’S SAKE HAS PARDONED MY SINS.”

YES: SUCH A CONFESSION IS NOT FOUND IN THE BIBLE. THE ONLY THING LIKE IT IS NOT A CONFESSION AT ALL. (WE’LL LOOK AT THAT A LITTLE LATER.)

IF THE CONFESSION IS NOT IN THE BIBLE, THEN WE CAN KNOW IT IS NOT SCRIPTURAL.
WE MUST SPEAK AS THE BIBLE SPEAKS, AND BE SILENT WHEN IT IS SILENT.

WHY WOULD A MAN MAKE A CONFESSION LIKE THAT?

1. BECAUSE HE HAD BEEN TAUGHT WRONG.
2. BEING TAUGHT WRONG MADE HIS FAITH WRONG.
3. HE CONFESSED WHAT HE BELIEVED AND THEREFORE COULD NOT MAKE THE RIGHT CONFESSION.

THE RIGHT CONFESSION REQUIRES:

1. THE RIGHT FAITH
2. BASED UPON THE RIGHT TEACHING (THE WORD OF GOD)

ACTS 8:37
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 RIGHT CONFESSION.
IT MUST BE TAUGHT.
IT MUST BE BELIEVED.
IT MUST BE MADE IN ORDER TO BE SAVED.

EPHESIANS 4:32
AND BE YE KIND ONE TO ANOTHER, TENDERHEARTED, FORGIVING ONE ANOTHER, EVEN AS GOD FOR CHRIST’S SAKE HATH FORGIVEN YOU.

ABOUT THIS VERSE:

1. PAUL WROTE IT.
2. EPHESIANS 1:2 – “TO THE SAINTS WHICH ARE AT EPHESUS.” (THEY WERE ALREADY CHRISTIANS.)
3. THIS VERSE IS A STATEMENT OF FACT, AND IS NEVER USED IN THE BIBLE AS A CONFESSION.

PAUL ALSO SAID:
GALATIANS 3:27
FOR AS MANY OF YOU AS HAVE BEEN BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST HAVE PUT ON CHRIST.

HOW CAN ONE OBTAIN THAT FAITH NECESSARY TO MAKE THE RIGHT CONFESSION?
ANSWER: HE MUST BE TAUGHT.

JOHN 6:45
IT IS WRITTEN IN THE PROPHETS, AND THEY SHALL BE ALL TAUGHT OF GOD.
EVERY MAN THEREFORE THAT HATH HEARD, AND HATH LEARNED OF THE FATHER, COMETH UNTO ME.

ROMANS 10:17
SO THEN FAITH COMETH BY HEARING, AND HEARING BY THE WORD OF GOD.

JOHN 12:32
AND I, IF I BE LIFTED UP FROM THE EARTH, WILL DRAW ALL MEN UNTO ME.

WHEN ONE IS TAUGHT THAT JESUS IS THE SON OF GOD AND BELIEVES, THEN THE GOOD CONFESSION CAN BE MADE:
“I BELIEVE THAT JESUS CHRIST IS THE SON OF GOD.”

HOW ABOUT INFANTS? CAN THEY BE TAUGHT?
NO! THEN THEY CANNOT MAKE THE GOOD CONFESSION.

HOW ABOUT THE INSANE OR THE IDIOTS? CAN THEY BE TAUGHT?
NO! THEN THEY ARE NOT UNDER THIS COMMAND.

WE FIND IN THE NEW TESTAMENT THAT SOME BELIEVED BUT WOULD NOT CONFESS.

JOHN 12:42
NEVERTHELESS AMONG THE CHIEF RULERS ALSO MANY BELIEVED ON HIM; BUT BECAUSE OF THE PHARISEES THEY DID NOT CONFESS HIM, LEST THEY SHOULD BE PUT OUT OF THE SYNAGOGUE:
JOHN 12:43
FOR THEY LOVED THE PRAISE OF MEN MORE THAN THE PRAISE OF GOD.

WE MUST LOVE GOD MORE THAN WE LOVE MEN.

MATTHEW 6:16
MOREOVER WHEN YE FAST, BE NOT AS THE HYPOCRITES, OF A SAD COUNTENANCE: FOR THEY DISFIGURE THEIR FACES, THAT THEY MAY APPEAR UNTO MEN TO FAST. VERILY I SAY UNTO YOU, THEY HAVE THEIR REWARD.

IF WE DO NOT LOVE GOD MORE THAN WE LOVE MEN IT WOULD DO US NO GOOD AT ALL TO MAKE THE GOOD CONFESSION.

WHO SHOULD MAKE THE CONFESSION?

MARK 16:15–16
15 AND HE SAID UNTO THEM, GO YE INTO ALL THE WORLD, AND PREACH THE GOSPEL TO EVERY CREATURE.
16 HE THAT BELIEVETH AND IS BAPTIZED SHALL BE SAVED.

THEN SALVATION IS FOR EVERY LOST SOUL IN THE WORLD.

FAITH IS REQUIRED – MARK 16:16
REPENTANCE IS REQUIRED – ACTS 17:30
AND THE TIMES OF THIS IGNORANCE GOD WINKED AT; BUT NOW COMMANDETH ALL MEN EVERYWHERE TO REPENT.
AND CONFESSION IS ALSO REQUIRED – MATTHEW 10:32
WHOSOEVER THEREFORE SHALL CONFESS ME BEFORE MEN, HIM WILL I CONFESS ALSO BEFORE MY FATHER WHICH IS IN HEAVEN.

ALL WHO WISH TO BE PRESENTED TO GOD BY CHRIST AS ONE OF HIS OWN SHOULD CONFESS HIM BEFORE MEN.

WHO SHOULD CONFESS CHRIST?
EVERY MATURE PERSON WHO IS RESPONSIBLE BEFORE GOD AND WHO WISHES TO BE NAMED BY CHRIST TO GOD SHOULD CONFESS CHRIST.

WHY MAKE THE CONFESSION?

1. BECAUSE GOD COMMANDED IT.
   MATTHEW 10:32
   WHOSOEVER THEREFORE SHALL CONFESS ME BEFORE MEN, HIM WILL I CONFESS ALSO BEFORE MY FATHER WHICH IS IN HEAVEN.
   NO COMMANDMENT IS TO BE MINIMIZED.
   REVELATION 22:14
   BLESSED ARE THEY THAT DO HIS COMMANDMENTS.
   CONFESSION IS ONE OF GOD’S COMMANDS.
2. BECAUSE IT IS UNTO SALVATION.
   ROMANS 10:10
   … CONFESSION IS MADE UNTO SALVATION.

CONFESSION LOOKS TOWARD, LEADS CLOSER TO, SALVATION.

3. BECAUSE WITHOUT IT WE WILL BE DENIED BEFORE GOD.
   MATTHEW 10:33
   BUT WHOSOEVER SHALL DENY ME BEFORE MEN, HIM WILL I ALSO DENY BEFORE MY FATHER WHICH IS IN HEAVEN.
   IF WE FAIL TO CONFESS HIM HERE, HE WILL DENY US THERE.
4. BECAUSE HE DIED FOR US, AND HIS NAME SHOULD BE THE SWEETEST NAME THAT EVER PASSES OUR LIPS.

HAVE YOU CONFESSED HIM?
DO YOU CONFESS HIM DAY BY DAY?

ROMANS 10:10
FOR WITH THE HEART MAN BELIEVETH UNTO RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND WITH THE MOUTH CONFESSION IS MADE UNTO SALVATION.

MATTHEW 15:7–9
7 YE HYPOCRITES, WELL DID ESAIAS PROPHESY OF YOU, SAYING,
8 THIS PEOPLE DRAWETH NIGH UNTO ME WITH THEIR MOUTH, AND HONORETH ME WITH THEIR LIPS; BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR FROM ME.
9 BUT IN VAIN THEY DO WORSHIP ME, TEACHING FOR DOCTRINES THE COMMANDMENTS OF MEN.

IF HE CONFESSES THAT WHICH IS NOT IN HIS HEART…

YOU CANNOT SAY “I LOVE THE LORD” AND THEN FORSAKE THE ASSEMBLY, OR “I LOVE THE LORD” AND DO NOTHING, OR TEACH TRUE DOCTRINE AND THEN UPHOLD ERROR.

EVEN THE DEVILS CONFESS JESUS.
MARK 5:7–8
7 AND CRIED WITH A LOUD VOICE, AND SAID, WHAT HAVE I TO DO WITH THEE, JESUS, THOU SON OF THE MOST HIGH GOD? I ADJURE THEE BY GOD, THAT THOU TORMENT ME NOT.
8 FOR HE SAID UNTO HIM, COME OUT OF THE MAN, THOU UNCLEAN SPIRIT.

DO THE DEVILS CONFESS WHAT IS IN THEIR HEART?
JAMES 2:19
THOU BELIEVEST THAT THERE IS ONE GOD; THOU DOEST WELL: THE DEVILS ALSO BELIEVE, AND TREMBLE.

JESUS TOLD WHO HE WOULD CONFESS.
MATTHEW 12:46–50
46 WHILE HE YET TALKED TO THE PEOPLE, BEHOLD, HIS MOTHER AND HIS BRETHREN STOOD WITHOUT, DESIRING TO SPEAK WITH HIM.
47 THEN ONE SAID UNTO HIM, BEHOLD, THY MOTHER AND THY BRETHREN STAND WITHOUT, DESIRING TO SPEAK WITH THEE.
48 BUT HE ANSWERED AND SAID UNTO HIM THAT TOLD HIM, WHO IS MY MOTHER? AND WHO ARE MY BRETHREN?
49 AND HE STRETCHED FORTH HIS HAND TOWARD HIS DISCIPLES, AND SAID, BEHOLD MY MOTHER AND MY BRETHREN.
50 FOR WHOSOEVER SHALL DO THE WILL OF MY FATHER WHICH IS IN HEAVEN, THE SAME IS MY BROTHER, AND SISTER, AND MOTHER.

ALL OF GOD’S COMMANDS ARE IMPORTANT.
MARK 8:38
WHOSOEVER THEREFORE SHALL BE ASHAMED OF ME AND OF MY WORDS IN THIS ADULTEROUS AND SINFUL GENERATION; OF HIM ALSO SHALL THE SON OF MAN BE ASHAMED, WHEN HE COMETH IN THE GLORY OF HIS FATHER WITH HIS HOLY ANGELS.
IF YOU ARE NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO CONFESS HIM, YOU MUST BE ASHAMED OF HIM.

THOMAS CONFESSES CHRIST
READ: JOHN 20:24–31

WHERE DOES THE CONFESSION COME IN THE PLAN OF SALVATION?
ACTS 8:37–38
37 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.
38 AND HE COMMANDED THE CHARIOT TO STAND STILL: AND THEY WENT DOWN BOTH INTO THE WATER, BOTH PHILIP AND THE EUNUCH; AND HE BAPTIZED HIM.

THEN CONFESSION COMES AFTER BELIEF BUT BEFORE BAPTISM.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE CONFESSION ONE MAKES BEFORE BAPTISM AND THE ONE AFTER BAPTISM?
ACTS 8:37 (JUST READ)
“I BELIEVE THAT JESUS CHRIST IS THE SON OF GOD.”

REVELATION 2:13
I KNOW THY WORKS, AND WHERE THOU DWELLEST, EVEN WHERE SATAN’S SEAT IS: AND THOU HOLDEST FAST MY NAME, AND HAST NOT DENIED MY FAITH…

THIS CONFESSION IS TO BE MADE BEFORE AND AFTER BAPTISM.

JAMES 5:16
CONFESS YOUR FAULTS ONE TO ANOTHER, AND PRAY ONE FOR ANOTHER, THAT YE MAY BE HEALED.
THIS CONFESSION IS TO BE MADE AFTER BAPTISM.

PLAN OF SALVATION
ROMANS 10:17 – SO THEN FAITH COMETH BY HEARING, AND HEARING BY THE WORD OF GOD.
MARK 16:16 – HE THAT BELIEVETH AND IS BAPTIZED SHALL BE SAVED.
ACTS 17:30 – GOD… NOW COMMANDETH ALL MEN EVERYWHERE TO REPENT.
ROMANS 10:10 – …WITH THE MOUTH CONFESSION IS MADE UNTO SALVATION.
ACTS 22:16 – AND NOW WHY TARRIEST THOU? ARISE, AND BE BAPTIZED, AND WASH AWAY THY SINS, CALLING ON THE NAME OF THE LORD.
REVELATION 2:10 – BE THOU FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH, AND I WILL GIVE THEE A CROWN OF LIFE.