📖 Biblical Definition
The Confession of Christ is the public acknowledgment that Jesus is Lord. Romans 10:9 makes it part of salvation: 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. Matthew 10:32: whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. The confession costs in some times and places — martyrdom for some, social ostracism for others — and is required of all who name Christ.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
Public acknowledgment that Jesus is Lord; required for salvation; costs in some times and places.
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Three primary biblical confessions: Peter at Caesarea Philippi (Mt 16:16, thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God), Thomas after the resurrection (Jn 20:28, my Lord and my God), every saint at salvation (Rom 10:9).
The early creeds (Apostles', Nicene) formalize the confession. The church's public Sunday-by-Sunday recitation is the household's rehearsal of confession.
📖 Key Scripture
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."
Matthew 10:32 — "Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven."
1 Timothy 6:12 — "Hast professed a good profession before many witnesses."
1 John 4:15 — "Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Modern Christianity often treats confession as private; Scripture insists it be public, costly when needed, and constant.
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Christ's phrasing in Mt 10:32-33 is exact: confession in front of men corresponds to confession in front of the Father. The opposite holds: denial brings denial. The household's public confession is not optional decoration.
Recovery: confess Christ openly, weekly in the gathered church, daily in conversation, costly when persecution comes. The Apostle's Creed memorized and recited gives the household a confession-shape ready when needed.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Greek homologia; same-word, agreement.
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Greek homologia — profession, confession; same-word agreement.
Greek homologeô — the verb; to confess, agree, acknowledge.
Usage
"Public, costly when needed, constant."
"Confession in front of men corresponds to confession in front of the Father."
"Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him."