Confession and Repentance Go Hand in Hand

Can I admit to you I sometimes feel like a hypocrite? Why? Because I am a sinner who is calling out sin. I struggle. I have issues that the enemy likes to dig at me in his attempts to draw me away, and I am imperfect. Yet I am convicted on a daily basis that so many people who say they believe in Christ have a weak faith due to a lack of understanding of Christ in the Scriptures. Many follow a self-gratifying belief system that is a cleverly designed counterfeit of the True Church, and seek to gain from Christ's lost. It's not enough to say you believe, or merely to confess Jesus is Lord; the other half of that confession is repentance.

What do I mean? Consider how often in the Old Testament Israel's unfaithfulness is called "playing the harlot." They would worship God with festivals and sacrifices, but chase after other gods and violate God's commands. The New Testament authors, and Jesus Himself imply as much in their own words: From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 4:17) And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:38) "The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent,31 because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”-(Acts 17:30-31) Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? (Romans 2:4) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9) If you don't believe me after this cloud of witnesses, if you'll pardon the expression, you're looking for a god of your own design and not the God of Scripture. Faith is an action word. Confession requires repentance (To turn away from sin and back TO God). Faith is an action word that demands us to confess Jesus is Lord while turning back from our sin. We can't have it our own way and follow Jesus. It is His way or nothing at all. Anything less is counterfeit religion pretending to follow Jesus. Repentance and Confession go hand in hand. Acts 2:37-41 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.