R sbc
August 12th 2007
Sunday Morning
Series: “Christ the Sum & Substance of The Bible
Subject: “ What It Means To Confess Christ”
Text: I John 4-1-3 & 15
Intro: There is two words that we need to define in these verses that we have read. “spirit” and the other is “confesseth”. The word “spirit” This word references many ideas depending on how it is used in a text. It is the life given force in humans, it is the Third of the Trinity, it is our human life, and then it is used of those who may influence someone with a wrong spirit. The word “confesseth” means to say the same thing that another says.
To agree with, this word is in the present tense, and it carries with it the idea that one makes a firm statement concerning the subject that is before one. In this case it is the LORD JESUS CHRIST coming in the flesh.
In this message I see two things that is very important...
I... “ A PRESENT CONFESSION AS TO HIS COMING IN THE FLESH”..VS 1-3
1. The warning he gives: “believe not”
It is so easy for people to believe preachers and never check them out to see if they are dispensing the truth. The Apostle Paul taught this very doctrine. Heb 13:9 Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.
2. The reason for the warning: “ many false prophets”
These are the agents of the evil spirit in them. This is the antichrist, this is the ones who claim Jesus but not as the truth presents him. How many use his name today, how many claim they worship him, how many false teachers are there floating around today using his wonderful name:
a. They appear to be correct: Mt 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
b. They almost can deceive the elect: Mr 13:22 For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.
c. They bring in damnable heresies: 2Pe 2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
3. The mark of the warning: vs 2-3
a. The distinction made ..vs 2
1Ti 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
1. It was a great controversy:
2. It was a mystery:
3. It was manifestation:
His birth, his life, his visibleness to angels, his proclamation, his followers,
his ascension...
b. The false doctrine revealed: vs 3
This is outright denial, this is the work of antichrist. Denying that Christ came into the world as a man. To deny that he came in the flesh is to deny the very fiber of the gospel. It is heresy of the worst sort. This is the distinguishing part of the truth and error.
Look at verse number six: We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.
II.. “THE REALITY OF THE CONFESSION”..VS 14-15
This is not a mere confession of the mouth, whereby many are led to believe that is all that is necessary. The bible says: Jas 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
A biblical confession that is of reality that means something and that is genuine and that evident of salvation in the soul of a sinner is:
1. It is a heartfelt confession: vs “God dwelleth in him”
It would be virtually impossible not to make a proper confession one that is heartfelt because of God being in us. Ro 8:11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
1Co 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? Look also at verse 16.
2. It is a heart preparation in the making:
Romans 10: 9-17
(1.) The condition: If thou shalt confess vs 9
(2.) The avenue of belief: vs 10
(3.) The reference he uses: vs 11
(4.) The truth he proclaims...vs 12-14
(5.) The means of accomplishing the confession: vs 15-17
3. It is a obedient confession:
This has to do with baptism. Once a person has been truly saved by the grace of the LORD, and their heart has been changed, then they have a great desire in their heart to follow the LORD’S command to be baptized.
It is our public confession of faith. Col 2:12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. 1Pe 3:21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:
4. It is a heart changing confession:
Ro 8:10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
a. It changes our conduct:
2Co 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
b. It changes our hope:
Col 1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
c. It changes our desires:
Col 3-1 ¶ If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
d. It changes our destiny:
1 Thess 4-13 ¶ But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.