Confession unto salvation
There are two Greek words translated in the N.T. as confess or confessed or confesseth.
They are different words but translated the same.
One is exomologeo {ex-om-ol-og-eh'-o} meaning: to confess, to profess, acknowledge openly and joyfully, to one's honour: to celebrate, give praise to, to profess that one will do something, to promise, agree, engage
The other is homologeo {hom-ol-og-eh'-o} meaning: to say the same thing as another, i.e. to agree with, assent, to concede, not to refuse, to promise, not to deny, to confess, declare, to confess, i.e. to admit or declare one's self guilty of what one is accused of, to profess, to declare openly, speak out freely, to profess one's self the worshipper of one, to praise, celebrate.
The meaning of the two words are somewhat similar but the differences are found in the context in which they are used
Exomologeo is used 11 times in the following verses:
Math 3:6, Math 11:25 (thank)
Mark 1:5
Luke 10:21 (thank), Luke 22:6 (promised)
Acts 19:8
Rom 14:11, Rom 15:9
Phl 2:11
James 5:16
Rev 3:5
Lets look at these verses one at a time
Math 3:6
And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.
The context here would suggest that an acknowledgment of sins is the proper meaning. They acknowledged that they were sinners and so were baptized.
Math 11:25
At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank (exomologeo) thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.
In this case the context would suggest the words means to honor or give praise to.
Mark 1:5
And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of
This is Marks account of John baptizing. The meaning here is clearly the same as the Math 3:6 account
Luke 10:21
In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank (exomologeo) thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight.
Same as Math 11:25. The word is translated ‘thank’ obviously means honor or praise.
Luke 22:6
And he promised, (exomologeo) and sought opportunity to betray him unto them in the absence of the multitude.
Here the word is translated ‘promised’. This verse refers to Judas and his promise to betray the Lord. The context here implies to profess that one will do something.
Acts 19:18
And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds.
Here acknowledgement seems to be the proper context.
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.
This is an interesting verse because Paul here is quoting Isaiah 45:23 which says;
….That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.
So we need to look at the original Hebrew word which the King James Bible translates as ‘shall swear’ in the O.T. and confess in the N.T. The word is;
So we see that again in this context confess means to acknowledge. Every knee shall bow and every tongue shall acknowledge their own sin before God.
Rom 15:9
….For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name.
Again here Paul is quoting O.T. scripture. In this case it is 2 Sam 22:50 so let’s look at this verse
2Sam 22:50
Therefore I will give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and I will sing praises unto thy name.
Here, the Hebrew word is yadah {yaw-daw'} meaning to give thanks, laud, praise, to confess, confess (the name of God)
So here we see the word used in the context of celebration, honor, and the giving of praise.
Phl 2:11
And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
To acknowledge seems to be the clear contextual meaning here. Every tongue will acknowledge the Lordship of Jesus.
James 5:16
Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed….
Again, acknowledgment seems to be the proper understanding. We must first acknowledge our sins before we can be forgiven.
Rev 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.
Jesus says that overcomers will be clothed in white, keep their names in the book of life and that he will confess (acknowledge) them before God and the angels.
That is every use of the word exomologeo in the N.T. I want you to realize that not one of these verses has anything to do with confession unto salvation. In every case, when the scriptures speak of the confession that leads to salvation the word is homologeo. Lets look at those verses.
Lets review the meaning of homologeo.
First and foremost it means to say the same thing as another, i.e. to agree with, assent. Additionally it can mean to concede, not to refuse, to promise, not to deny, to confess or declare. And lastly it can also be used to mean to profess, to declare openly, speak out freely, to profess one's self the worshipper of one, to praise, celebrate.
The word homologeo appears 26 times in 21 N.T. verses. For our analysis here we will only concern ourselves with verses relating to confession unto salvation.
Lets start with Math 10:32
Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.
The context in this instance implies the full meaning of word. Jesus says that anyone who shall confess, who shall speak the same as, who shall refuse to deny, who shall openly declare, shall profess one’s self a worshipper of, who shall openly praise and celebrate him before men, he shall do likewise before God the Father.
Jesus here is saying that one must fully embrace Him exactly as he is, completely and without reservation. Notice in verse 25 he has said “It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord.” We must be like Him, speak like he speaks, do the works that he does. That is the confession of which Jesus speaks.
The point we are making is this. The confession that leads to salvation is more than just an acknowledgment. It is more than just mental assent. It is not enough to walk the aisle at the big revival show and “confess” Jesus as your Lord. If that is all you’ve done, you’ve done nothing more than that which eventually will be required of every person who’s ever lived (Phl 2:11)
Rom 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.
This is the scripture upon which the modern watered down gospel hangs. People are told every day that if they will just say a simple prayer that includes the words “Jesus is Lord” they will be saved.
Let’s look at the context in which Paul was speaking.
Rom 10:1- 3
Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for
Paul begins by saying that the Jews have not submitted to the righteousness of God because they are attempting to establish their own righteousness. This is true of most religious groups today. Self righteousness is at the very core of the great apostasy sweeping the church today.
Rom 10:4
For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.
To believe means to trust in, rely on and adhere to. Again, it is more than mere acknowledgment. Paul is saying that the law ceases to be when we place our complete trust and reliance in Christ for our righteousness. This agrees with Galatians 3:24 & 25 in which we are told that the law was our schoolmaster or tutor to bring us to Christ. Once we’ve come to Christ we are no longer in need of the tutor.
Next, in verse 5, Paul quotes Moses in Leviticus 18:5 to explain that the righteousness which came by the law required a man to do all that is written in the law.
Rom 10:5
For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.
Romans 10:6-8
But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down [from above]:) Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.) But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
Paul quotes here from Deuteronomy 30:12-14. In this passage, God explains that the ability to keep the law comes from the heart, therefore righteousness was obtained by faith even under the old covenant. He is saying that all the blessings promised in chapter 28 come as a result of hearing and obeying the voice of God. Look at verse 10
Deut 30:10
If thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to keep his commandments and his statutes which are written in this book of the law, and if thou turn unto the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul.
If you will first listen to the voice of God, then do what he says to do, if you will turn unto God with all your heart and with all your soul…….
Deut 30:11
For this commandment which I command thee this day, it is not hidden from thee, neither is it far off.
Deut 30:14
But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it.
So, what is the word which God says is in our mouth and in our heart? What is this word that we must do in order to inherit the promised blessings? Paul explains it in Romans 8 & 9. It is “the word of faith which we preach”, meaning;
Rom 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.
When we come fully into agreement with the Lord Jesus, when we speak the same words as Jesus, when we openly celebrate, praise, and declare him before men and at the same time trust in, rely on, an adhere to his physical resurrection, we will be saved, set at safety, and qualified to inherit the promised blessings.
This is the confession that leads to salvation. It is Christ (the word) in us.
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Steve Lumbley 2005 www.apostasywatch.com
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