True Confession
“Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.” I John 4.2, 3
Sometimes when translating from one language to another nuances of meaning are difficult to duplicate. Such is the case with the word “confession.” In our English language, for example, the word which translates the noun “confession” or the verb “confess” may be confess, acknowledge, profess or promise. (Each occurring in the KJV.)
In criminal investigations, a sure-fire way to help gain an indictment is to obtain a written and signed confession from a suspect. That confession is a statement by the suspect saying that they admit to having committed a crime; however, it does not carry the same weight as a biblical confession.
The Greek words in question are the noun “homologia” and the verb “homologeo.” They are compound words made up of “homo” meaning “the same” and “logia” (“to think or consider in thought”) or “logeo” (“to admit or to speak”). Putting this altogether, the word “confess,” whether verb or noun, requires someone to both think and admit to a position posed by someone else.
Biblical confession, then, is to agree with God on both the fact of what sin is and the reality that we are guilty before God. Unless there is biblical confession, no one will have access to salvation, forgiveness, restoration, or fellowship with God.
Jamison (JFB) suggests that I John 4.2 tells us that “The truth is taken for granted as established. Man is required to confess it, that is, in his teaching to profess it openly.”
There are at least four benefits from coming before God in a true attitude of confession:
- Confession is necessary to be considered for having a saving relationship with God through faith in Christ. (Romans 10.9, 10; Proverbs 28.13)
- Confession is necessary for forgiveness of sins to be actuated in one’s life. (I John 1.9; 4.15)
- Confession is necessary for the wayward child to be restored into a proper relationship within the family of God. (Matthew 10.32; I John 2.23)
- Confession is necessary for the family fellowship to be reinstated. (I John 2.23; Hebrews 13.15)
If you are apart from God and wandering in the world, you can find true restoration into the sweet fellowship and communion with God and His family through genuine, biblical confession. It is more than being sorry, for, we know that worldly sorrow works death. (II Corinthians 7.10)
In order to have restoration, we must come to God admitting that we have done wrong and agreeing with God’s Word that our only hope is in God’s provision through His Son, Jesus Christ.
“To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.” Hebrews 4.7ff Copyright © 2025 Dr. John H. Hill, All rights reserved.
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