“In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judea, and all the region round about Jordan, and were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins” (Matt. 3:1-2, 5-6).
People have gone to extremes with the subject of Bible confessions. Many misunderstand this subject because so much tradition and religious doctrine have been taught. But we shouldn’t throw out the whole spiritual principle because of extremes.
We just have to go back to the Word and find the truth.
You can find four basic types of confession in the Bible. Usually when the word confession is mentioned, people automatically think of confessing sin. This is the first type of confession, and it is discussed in Matthew 3:1-6.
This passage addresses John’s baptism—the baptism of repentance and the confession of sins. However, we need to understand that this was before the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. Under the old covenant, people couldn’t be born again, because Jesus hadn’t been to the cross yet. So to be in right relationship with God, they had to confess their sins.
This type of confession is biblical. However, confessing each and every one of our sins to get in right relationship with God, to be born again, doesn’t apply to us today, because we’ve changed covenants. Hebrews 8:6 tells us that we live under a new and better covenant established on better promises.
Paul tells us how to enter that new covenant: “If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved” (Rom. 10:9). Salvation comes by believing in our hearts and confessing with our mouths that Jesus is Lord and that God raised Him from the dead.
This is the second type of biblical confession and the one that leads us into salvation under the new covenant.
I confess that Jesus is my Savior and my healer.
He took my pain and sickness so I could have His health.
I walk in the healing covenant God has provided for me.
Excerpt permission granted by Harrison House Publishers
For over 40 years, Pastors Mark and Janet Brazee have traveled throughout the world sharing the Word of God and the Spirit of God. Together they've shared the powerful truths of faith and healing in more than 50 nations.
Today Mark and Janet pastor World Outreach Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where they base their ongoing outreach to the world. The Brazees still travel as the Lord leads, and they are raising up a congregation who share their passion to reach Tulsa and the world.