If you are a new convert to the Christ religion, you may not be familiar with, the word "confession" as used in theology. In theology confession is to acknowledge to God or man something. For example a man may confess to God the father, that he believes that Jesus Christ, the only begotten son of God the father, is his lord and saviour. Or a man may confess, to God the father, that he has sinned against God, or acknowledge his sin. That you may know how to confess your sins unto God, there is a confession recorded in the Holy Scriptures. King David, king of Israel, a man anointed of God, a man within whom the spirit of God dwelt. Confessed his sin after Nathan the prophet came unto him. Here is the confession recorded in the psalms. Psalms 51:1 Have mercy upon me, o God, according to thy loving kindness: according to the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin for I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightiest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest behold, I was shapen in iniquity: and in sin did my mother conceive me behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. 7.purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow make me to hear joy and gladness : that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, o God: and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence : and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation: and uphold me with thy free spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways : and sinner shall be converted unto thee. Beloved of God, I did not read all of David's confession, but I believe that I read enought that you should have an idea how to acknowledge your sin, should you sin a sin in ignorance. Did you notice, that I did not say much about David's sin, child of God, the reason I mention this, is because I would like to warn you, that when you speak about the prophets of God: be sure to bless them: for if you do you shall be blessed. But if you should speak evil of one of them, you may very well be in serious trouble. Let me read to you the blessing of Abraham so you can see what I mean. Genesis l2;l now the lord had said unto Abraham, get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: 2.and I will make thee a great nation, and I will bless thee. And make thy name great: and thou shalt be a blessing and I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. Remember this saints of God, when a person is cursed, they have been condemned to death : therefore when you speak of one of the prophets, bless them, and you will be blessed. The wages of sin is death, and pay day is coming, therefore beloved speak as if you are reading the oracles of God. And when you try to decide how to treat someone let this verse of scripture be your guide. St.Matthew 7:l2 therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this the law and the prophets. Children of God, as you hear men and women talk, you can tell the soldiers in the army of God, by what they confess. For example if a man confesses that Jesus Christ, the son of God, came in the flesh when he was born of the virgin Mary :he is one of God's children, a soldier in the army of the lord God. On the other hand, if he confesses that Jesus Christ came not in the flesh. He is the enemy of Christ: he is antichrist. 1 John 4:2 Hereby know ye the spirit of God: every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: 3.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 is in the world. Beloved, there is a man known as the antichrist, that will come into the world, and shall wage war against the saints.this time shall be known as the great tribulation. And so many of God's children shall be killed that a man could not number them all if he started numbering the people, and numbered them all the days of his life.but there is a system that is known as the antichrist, that is with us this day.everyone one that denies that Jesus Christ came in the flesh is part of that system.except a man believes in both God the father, and Jesus Christ the son, he also is part of the antichrist system. L john 2:22 who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ. He is antichrist, that denieth the father and the son. Whosoever denieth the son, the same hath not the father: but he that acknowledgeth the son hath the father also. For a person to be a father, they must produce a child: and for a person to be a son, they must have a father. Except a person confesses both the father, and the son they are antichrist. If a man, woman, or child confesses that Jesus Christ, is the son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. L john 4:l2 no man hath seen God at any time, if we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.l3.hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his spirit.l4.and we have seen and do testify that the father sent the son to be saviour of the world.l5.whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. Holy children, confession is part of salvation: what we believe and confess makes us righteous in word, thought, and deed, in the eyes of God. If a person truly believes that Jesus is the Christ, the son of God, and places his faith and trust in Jesus Christ for his salvation listen carefully, do not say even in your heart, who shall ascend into heaven, neither say in your heart who shall descend into the pit. Romans l0:l brethren, my hearts desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved for I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge for the being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God for Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth for Moses described the righteousness which is of the law, that the man which doeth those things shall live by them but the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, say not in thine heart, who shall ascend into heaven?( That is to bring Christ down from above.)7.or, who shall descend into the deep? (That is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.) 8.but what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart : that is, the word of faith, which we preach 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.l0.for with the heart man believeth unto righteousness : and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Brothers, and sisters in Christ, under the law of Moses, if a man committed a sin of ignorance, he could bring a she goat to the priest, and confess his sin to the priest, and the priest could offer up the goat as a sacrifice unto God, and the sin would be forgiven of God. But if a man committed a willful sin, a sin with malice aforethought, it could not be confessed and forgiven, the sin would remain. Numbers l5:27 and if any soul sin through ignorance, then he shall bring a she goat of the first year for a sin offering.and the priest shall make an atonement for the soul that sinneth ignorantly, when he sinneth by ignorance before the lord, to make an atonement for him: and it shall be forgiven him. 29.ye shall have one law for him that sinneth through ignorance, both for him that is born among the children of Israel, and for the stranger that sojourneth among them.but the soul that doeth ought presumptuously, whether he be born in the land, or a stranger, the same reproacheth the lord : and that soul shall be cut off from among his people.3l.because he hath despised the word of the lord, and hath broken his commandment, that soul shall utterly be cut off: his iniquity shall be upon him. Beloved, these laws have been brought over into the new testament, they may not read exactly as in the old testament, but very simular. When a person is baptized out of the world, and into the body of Christ, and receives the washing of regeneration, and the renewing of the holy ghost that person is a babe in Christ. L Corinthians 3:l ( the lord inspired the apostle Paula to write these words unto the new Christians in CORINTH ) and I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. Saints of God, as the babes in Christ began to hear the word of God preached, as they read and study the Holy Scriptures, they begin to grow in the grace and knowledge of our lord, and saviour Jesus the Christ. And as babes in Christ, if they commit a sin in ignorance, they can confess that sin and be forgiven of the sin. 1 John l:9 if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. But, children of God, when a person becomes a mature Christian, that has come into the knowledge of the truth. Then he has to be very careful of what he does, and what he says. For if we sin willfully, after that we come into the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more sacrifice for sin. If a person sins willfully after he comes into the knowledge of the truth he does three things : first he trodden under foot the son of God, secondly, he counts the blood of the covenant wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, thirdly, he does despite to the spirit of grace. Hebrews l0:26 for if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins.but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.he that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses.of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the son of God: and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the spirit of grace.for we know him that hath said, vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the lord, and again the lord shall judge his people.3l.it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Beloved of God, from time to time I hear men when asked if they are a Christian, deny that they are a Christian. And this is a very bad sin if a person has been baptized. For if a person denies that he is a Christian here and now, Christ will deny him before God the father. St.Matthew l0:32 ( in these verses of scripture Jesus is speaking to his disciples, and he says )whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my father which is in heaven. Beloved, as I stood on the upper portion of the coliseum and looked down into the arena I thought of all my brothers, and sisters in the lord Jesus Christ, that had lost their physical life there, for their confession of faith. Men, and women, and children that had rather be killed by lions, and tigers, than to deny that they were Christians but, I believe that our inheritance shall be worth it all. To receive eternal life, to live a billion years: and not be ready for the grave. A delightful life, in a city of gold, of impeccable beauty. Surrounded by people filled with love, and joy, and peace. To have a body, that is agile, strong, of great beauty, that does not grow old, but remains the same. Don't ever give up, always start the day forgetting the past press toward the prize. Philippians 3:l3 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Remember this saints of God, the lord is grooming his people, every born again child of God to spend eternity with him. Saints of God, Jesus Christ blessed the apostle peter and promised to build his church upon that rock, and he gave peter, the keys to the kingdom. That whatsoever he bound on earth, should be bound in heaven, and whatsoever he loosed on earth should be loosed in heaven. Now the church of saint peter in Rome, the largest church building in the world, is built over the grave of St.Peter. St.Matthew l6:l3 when Jesus came into the coast of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, whom do men say that I the son of man am?l4.and they said, some say that thou art john the baptist: some, elias: and others, jeremias, or one of the prophets.l5.he saith unto them, but whom say ye that I am? L6.and simon peter answered and said, thou art the Christ, the son of the living God.l7.and Jesus answered, and said unto him, blessed art thou, simon barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my father which is in heaven.l8.and I say also unto thee, that thou art peter, and upon this rock I will build my church: and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.l9.and I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven : and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Holy children, Catholics believe that by election of the cardinals they have kept a continuous lineage of popes, from the apostle peter, until this very day. Therefore they believe that the pope still has the keys, and whatsoever he binds on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatsoever he loose on earth, shall be loose in heaven. For this reason they have sat up confession booths, and have their priest listen to the saints confession, the church giving their priest the power to remit sin, and retain sin. After the death burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ, Christ came to his disciples, and breathed on them: and said unto them whosoever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them, and whosoever sins ye retained, they are retained. St.John 20:l9 then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, peace be unto you.and when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, receive ye the holy ghost: 23.whosoever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them: and whosoever sins ye retain, they are retained. There are two churches, the physical church, and the spiritual church which is the body of Christ. It was not until after that Christ Jesus came unto his disciples, and breathed on them, and said "receive ye the holy ghost" that he gave his disciples the power to remit, and retain sin. Therefore I must conclude that the power to remit sin, and retain sin comes from the receiving of the holy ghost. And the church which Jesus speaks of that he will build on the apostles is the spiritual church. Ephesians 2:l6 ( the apostle Paul speaking of Jesus recorded these and that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby : l7.and came and preached peace to you which were afar off and to them that were nigh.l8.for through him we both have access by one spirit unto the father. l9. now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God: 20.and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone: 2l.in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the lord: 22.in whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the spirit.