‘Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered Him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 16:13-17
It is maybe the most obvious way to view confession as an admission of guilt, but a confession is also a statement of belief. And what I find so fascinating in this exchange with Jesus and His disciples is that a confession is not self-generated, but God-revealed (v17).
The salvation which is ours, when confessed with our mouths and believed in our hearts, is itself a gift of God (Rom 10:9, Eph 2:8-9). And when we stand and confess our faith through creeds passed down through the centuries, not only are we confessing our belief, we are admitting that none of us is self-made, or self-generated. We are only ever and always people who receive. How much more should we who receive from God be quick to confess our sin to Him and to others?
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy
Spirit and born of the virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried, He
descended to death.
The third day He rose again from the dead.
He ascended to heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father
Almighty. From there He will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian church, the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.
Amen
Confessing,
AB