1. The Way of Salvation Hear: learning the truth (Rom. 1:16)
Believe: accepting the truth
Jn. 1:42-43 Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.
Confess: acknowledging the truth
Bridge between belief and baptism: Acts 8:36-37

2. Acts 8:36-37
36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?
37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
Belief must be Confessed before Baptism

3. The Way of Salvation Hear: learning the truth
Believe: accepting the truth
Repent: turning to the truth
Confess: acknowledging the truth
Baptism: entering the truth
Continue in the truth

4. Confession
Confess- to acknowledge, to admit,… to declare faith, to declare faults…
Challenge for some married couples
“You were absolutely right, You’ve been right all along, You are absolutely right, and I was wrong.”
Two confessions (one is to God, one is of God)
“I am a sinner” (Admit to God and to self as we come to repentance) Jn. 1:8-10
“Jesus is the Christ” (Confession of God before men when ready for baptism) Rom. 10:9-10

5. Romans 10:9-10
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. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
This is the initial confession (not once and done)
The confessing continues Matt. 10:32-33
Not verbal alone Matt. 7:21

6. Confession “Confession is good for the soul” (makes you feel better)
Many will resist the truth to their own hurt
They fabricate an image: Cor. 13:5
They fear discovery: Gen. 3:11-12
They fear consequence: Rev. 21:8
This fear is what empowers blackmailers
Feels better to face the truth: Jms. 5:16
“Confession is required for the soul” (makes you better)

7. Confession
Achan sinned, concealed the evidence, feared discovery and consequences (filtered down)
Josh 7:19 And Joshua said unto Achan, My son, give, I pray thee, glory to the LORD God of Israel, and make confession unto him; and tell me now what thou hast done; hide it not from me.
Phil 2:11 …every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Ps 51:4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.

8. Confess Ultimately
Rom 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.
There will be no atheists on judgment day
Phil. 2:9-11 everyone will acknowledge Christ
Too late to benefit many
Heb 11:13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

9. Hebrews 11:14-16
For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.