What Makes the Good Confession Good?
Matthew 16:13-16
Intro:
1. The verbal expression of your faith is called “The Good Confession” in the New Testament.
a. This is why I ask you to make it before you are baptized.
b. It was confessed by the Ethiopian as a condition for his baptism. Act 8:36-37 - As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. Why shouldn’t I be baptized?” Philip said, “if you believe with all your heart, you may.” The eunuch answered, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”
2. The context:
a. v1 & 4 - The Jewish leaders demand a sign. Jesus tells them they will see the sign of Jonah & then walks out on them.
b. v6 & 12 - Jesus teaches to beware of the leaven of the Jewish leaders (their teach- ings) but doubt begins to arise because of the disappointment of not seeing a sign.
c. Then, the Lord takes His disciples to Caesarea-Philippi to show them the trans- figuration. Along the way He gives them the opportunity to express their doubts & convictions.
d. Although they don’t understand the implications, the Good Confession becomes the turning point in their spiritual development.
3. So - what makes The Good Confession good?
I. It is a Definite Confession
A. I Tim 6:12 - Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
1. The definite article is in the original language: “the good confession”.
2. This good confession is to be made before many witnesses!
B. I Tim 6:13-14 - In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1. Again - we have the definite article: “the good confession”.
2. This refers to when Pontius Pilate asked Jesus if he were the king of the Jews. The Lord’s answer was Yes, it is as you say, (Mk 15:2).
3. This is a command you are to keep!
C. This confession is to be held firmly, without wavering!
1. Heb 4:14 - Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.
a. In the original language we profess = “the confession of ours”.
b. You must grasp this confession firmly!
2. Heb 10:23 - Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.
a. Again - we profess = “the confession of our faith”.
b. Since the Lord is so faithful to you, you need to be faithful to Him through this confession!
D. The Good Confession will eventually be made by everyone. Phil 2:9-11 - Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
II. It Has Special Content
A. The Good Confession for the Jew = Jesus is the Christ.
1. Christ = Messiah, the one anointed by the Father to set up His kingdom.
2. The Good Confession was confirmed by the Lord when He was questioned by the high priest (Matt 26:63-64). This was a completely Jewish context!
3. The Good Confession was proclaimed by Peter (Matt 16:15-16). Peter was a Jew!
4. The Good Confession was not proclaimed by the parents of the man born blind because they feared being excommunicated from the synagogue (Jn 9:22).
B. The Good Confession for the Gentile (the non-Jew) = Jesus is the Son of God.
1. This is an expression of the Lord’s deity, His divine nature! Col 2:9 - For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form.
2. When Philip asked Jesus in John 14:9 to show them the Father, He replied, Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Any- one who has seen me has seen the Father.
3. I Jn 4:2-3 - This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that ac- knowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God.
4. This confession was attributed to the Lord when He was hanging on the cross. Matt 27:43 - He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.
5. Commitment to this confession is a condition for overcoming the world. I Jn 5:5 - Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.
C. The Good Confession for everybody = Jesus is Lord!
1. Rom 10:9 - That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
2. If Jesus is Lord - He has the authority to rule your life.
III. It is Necessary for Salvation
A. Confession with the mouth brings salvation. Rom 10:9-10 - That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.
B. For the Lord to confess you before the Father. Matt 10:32 - Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven.
C. The Good Confession is a condition for the Holy Spirit to dwell in your life.
1. I Jn 4:15 - If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God.
2. I Cor 12:3 - . . . No one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.
D. What does The Good Confession imply?
1. Obedience! Matt 7:21 - Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
2. Jn 12:42-43 tells us that the praise of men may keep you from making it!
The Good Confession becomes not only the condition
for baptism & fellowship in the church
it is also the main content of your witness.
It is the concept you would rather die for than forsake!
Are you ready to make the Good Confession?
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