Basic Concepts of Faith

What it means to confess Jesus Christ as Savior.

October 6, 1991 pm

Romans 10:9,10 With the MOUTH we confess . . . with the HEART we believe that God has raised Him from the dead we shall be saved.

John 12:44-50; then 35-36; then 37-43:

Introduction:

TWO THINGS stand out in this passage:

  1. FAITH IS PERSONAL CONTACT WITH GOD!

    It is getting to know Jesus and walking with Him. It isn't so much a matter of being "right" or "wrong" as it is being in His Presence. Jesus IS Light!

  2. FAITH IS A MOVING TARGET!

    It moves toward God, and toward LIFE. We cannot sit in the light; we cannot merely bask in the light; we must walk in the light!

    We say of saving faith: 'Faith is believing! We are believers!' But here (42-3) were men who believed, but were not believers!

    1. They did not want to risk losing a situation that was in some (human) measure secure; and
    2. They would rather be liked by people than be approved by God. How could they "believe" and not be believers?

I. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BELIEVE?

Are there two kinds of believing? Can I truly BELIEVE and still be lost?

WHAT IS SAVING FAITH?

Look at Romans 10:9,10:

[It is important that our concept of salvation come directly from the Word, and not second-hand from proof-texting or cliche. It is very easy to hear what we want to hear.]

  1. One element of FAITH is to come to a crisis of persuasion. Many people do not know who Jesus really IS! It is the Holy Spirit that takes Christ's Words and His witness, and convinces the world that God has spoken the Final Word in His Son, Jesus Christ!

    This persuasion involves the simple facts of the Gospel: I have sinned, and deserve death. Jesus died on the cross for my life. Jesus rose again as MY champion over sin, death, hell.

    It is only by the revelation of the Holy Spirit that I can believe that in my heart!

  2. But very evidently there ARE two levels of faith. It is one thing to know who Jesus IS, and quite another to KNOW JESUS AS PERSONAL LORD AND SAVIOR!

    One level OF BELIEVING is at the point of accepting a thing as true, or being convinced. A second level OF BELIEVING is a willingness to line up the life in accordance with the truth.

  3. Here in this passage were men of leadership who had come to believe in Jesus as the Messiah. But they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God, so they did not confess their faith openly. Perhaps they rationalized, and said: "If He IS Messiah— as we believe Him to be, He doesn't NEED our help! He will do all right by Himself, and when He is established, then we'll get on the winning side." These men never went all the way and confessed Jesus as Messiah, Lord, and Savior!
  4. We must conclude: FAITH IS NOT COMPLETE UNTIL IT IS CONFESSED! or, scripturally, FAITH IS NOT SAVING FAITH UNTIL IT IS CONFESSED So—:

II. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO CONFESS JESUS CHRIST AS SAVIOR?

Confession is the other side of true faith; it is not the same as works . . . but involves a deliberate willingness to be available to God; to make our life HIS . . .

  1. Confession means baptism. The normal sequence of events includes baptism. It was Christ's clear command: "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved..."(Mark 16) A washing, a burial, a symbol of birth to a new way, and in all an open confession before the public.
  2. Confession means an acknowledgment of Jesus before others. Testimony has this sacramental aspect; it is like water baptism. Every time we acknowledge Jesus publicly we strengthen our faith.
  3. Confession also has the aspect of acknowledging our NEED of Jesus: the sinful acts and nature that brought us condemnation. Only sinners can be saved! Only confessing sinners. {Someone said this is the difference between Jesus and Uncle Sam: When Uncle Sam wants people for his army, he says: Only able-bodied people can apply; but when Jesus wants people to serve Him He says: "Only the broken can come! Come unto Me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest!"
  4. We need to keep on confessing! throughout our walk with Jesus: being OPEN with Him about our shortcomings . . . finding the 'middle ground' between extremes: (sin every day in word, thought, deed: no different from pre-conversion AND no need whatsoever to pray: "Forgive us our debts!") But this is not the main thrust of "confess" in this passage.
  5. This "confession" or unashamed acknowledging of Jesus as Lord- —this confessing HIM before people we know—becomes the cutting edge of WITNESS.

Conclusion:

Too much of the church has been like John 12:42-43. Somehow people have come to think that if they BELIEVE with their minds That Jesus is the Christ they are true followers of Jesus.

But this is not really what it means to be "Christian!" There must also be that abandoning of "security" and deliberate choosing rather to please GOD than care what people think! There must be the confession: JESUS IS LORD! LORD OF MY LIFE! And that is saving faith!

Make connection with JESUS! Throw caution to the winds, and CONFESS JESUS AS LORD! Walk in the Light . . . and keep on walking!

#7 (EH) JESUS IS LORD

#75 Jesus, My Strength, My Hope