Fruit of Repentance

One of the discussions among believers today “is confession necessary for salvation” is based primarily on misunderstanding. The people that do not like confession stand on the fact that repentance is all they need. If we go to the scriptures, we find that these two subjects do not challenge one other. Confession is a vital part of repentance. This is like saying that wheels are not the engine of our car. They may not be but they support each other when we want to go somewhere. Repentance is a change in our belief. But if we refuse to profess our belief (confession) then no one will know what we believe. In other words, we are all professing our beliefs whether we live a righteous life or a worldly life. For example, a tattoo is a confession that we do not believe God’s word. Do not …put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the LORD. Lev 19:28

John the Baptist tied repentance and confession of sins together during his ministry. John came, baptizing in the desert region and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. Mark 1:4,5 We see clearly that confessing sins is a part of the repentance process. Confession is also important to our health. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. James 5:16a Confession and repentance are part of our salvation development. People have a need to confess all kinds of things. Somehow, this helps humans with their guilt. A profession of our beliefs can be either right or wrong. However, confession is how we let the world know who we are and where we stand.

Look how important our confession is in this passage spoken by Jesus. “Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit.  You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.  The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.  But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken.  For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.” Matt 12:33-37 Our mouth confesses what is in our heart and then we are judged by our own words. Maybe we should confess the righteousness of Jesus more often.

Another interesting verse is about our continuing to confess. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.  If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives. 1 John 1:9,10 We are to use our confession of sin properly. Praying to God under the direction of the Spirit is the best way. The Spirit can also direct us to confess to other people. All types of confession are part of who we are and what we believe. As we walk this life we must confess our sins and confess the righteousness of Jesus. It is all part of our salvation. Paul wrote, For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. Rom 10:10

May the fruit of your repentance be as the Spirit directs.