The word “confess” is the Greek word ekzomologeo, a word that means {to declare, to say out loud, to exclaim, to divulge, or to blurt}.
Just what is CONFESSION; when and how are we to do it? The Roman Catholic teach that it is a sacrament and that sacramental reconciliation is required only for grave or mortal sins—but it is required.
It is taught in Christian Churches that to be saved you must REPENT and BE BAPTISED and then you must confess your sins (daily?) or as often as you commit them(?) It is also taught the sinners prayer is required for salvation, where one must confess he is a sinner and beg God to forgive and save him!
Now what exactly does the Scripture teach about confession and salvation?
The Lord Jesus speaking to Jews said:
Matthew 10:32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.
Luke 12:8 Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God:
But many Jews, even though they believed that Jesus was Lord and the Son of God, were afraid to publicly confess Him.
John 9:22 These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue.
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:
Now Paul, appearing before Felix, the Governor, confessed (not his sin but his belief):
Acts 24:14 But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets:
And Paul’s mission (after he was saved) was to go to the Gentiles:
Romans 15:9 And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name.
Paul told gentiles (and Jews) just what we are to confess to be saved:
Romans 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.
That Jesus is God, and we can do it now and be saved or later (after death, when it will be too late to be saved).
Romans 14:11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.
Philippians 2:11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
James, writing to Jewish believers (1:1-2), is still living UNDER THE LAW.
And following the Law he exhorts them to confess their faults (sins) to each other (James 5:12-16)
James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
John, likewise writing to Jewish believers, was still living UNDER THE LAW.
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Note that John exhorted that they (Jewish believers) are to confess Jesus is their Messiah:
1 John 4:15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.
2 John 1:7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.
And last of all The Lord Jesus will confess the name of all believers in heaven:
Revelation 3:5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
