A bible study by Adam Osborne, JR.

Confess
________________________________________
Greek expression: homologe
Pronunciation: haw maw law GEH oh
Strong’s Number: G3670

The word “confess” does have a negative connotation, but it also has a positive one. Confess means to declare affirmatively what one believes in. The Greek word homologe literally means saying the same thing ”that is, affirming one’s agreement with a particular spiritual reality. We confess that we are sinners, and we confess (affirm) that Jesus is the Savior. These two kinds of confession occur in the Bible. First, individuals confess that they have sinned and are therefore guilty before God. Second, they confess that Jesus is Lord. One confession often leads to the other.

In the first kind of confession, one agrees or acknowledges that he has broken God’s law and therefore deserves punishment.

• Romans 6:23 (NIV) For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Those who were baptized by John the Baptist publicly confessed their sins and repented.

• Mark 1:4-5 (NIV) And so John came, baptizing in the desert region and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 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.

All Christians, in fact, must agree with God that they are sinners.

• 1 John 1:8 (NIV) If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.

All Christians are encouraged to confess their sins to God.

• 1 John 1:9 (NIV) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

James said that when a Christian is sick, the elders are to visit that person and give him an opportunity to confess any sins. In the same passage, James urged Christians to confess their sins to one another.

• James 5:13-15 (NIV) Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. 14 Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven.

The second, more positive meaning of the word, occurs frequently in the New Testament with respect to affirming one’s faith in Christ. When Christians confess, they declare as a matter of conviction and allegiance that Jesus is the Christ and that they belong to Him.

• Matt 10:32 (NIV) “Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven.

Refusal to confess Christ is the same as denying Him.

• Matt 10:33 (NIV) But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven.
• Luke 12:8-9 (NIV) “I tell you, whoever acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man will also acknowledge him before the angels of God. 9 But he who disowns me before men will be disowned before the angels of God.
• 2 Tim 2:11-13 (NIV) Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him; 12 if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us; 13 if we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself.
• Rev 3:5 (NIV) 5 He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels.

The Christian life therefore begins with a confession of faith, a public declaration before witnesses.

• Romans 10:9-10 (NIV) That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

An additional dimension of the Christian’s confession is provided in 1 John 4:2.

• 1 John 4:2 (NIV) This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God.

One must confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh. A person must not only acknowledge that Jesus has come and confess belief in Jesus’ divinity and preexistence as the Son of God, but also that He has come in the flesh ”that is, confess belief in Jesus’ incarnation.

________________________________________

• 1 Tim 6:12 (NIV) 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

• 1 John 4:2 (NIV) This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God

Last updated 05.09.25

Contact Adam

A bible study by Adam Osborne, JR.

• Deuteronomy: “God, your God”. (The Message)
• Joshua 2:11 “God of the heavens above and the earth below.” (The Message)
• Judges 5:3 “The God of Israel.” (The Message)
• Ruth 1:20 “The Strong One.” (The Message)
• 1 Samuel
  • 15:29 “God of Glory.” (The Message)
  • 17:45 “God-of-the-Angel-Armies.” (The Message)
• 2 Samuel 7:19 “Master God.” (The Message)
• 1 Kings:
  • 8:60 “True God” (The Message)
  • 8:61 “Personal God” (The Message)
• 2 Kings 5:15 “God of Israel” (The Message)
• 1 Chronicles 16:31 “God Reigns!” (The Message)
• 2 Chronicles 33:16 “The God of Israel” (The Message)
• Ezra 7:27 “God of Our Fathers” (The Message)
• Nehemiah
  • 1:5 “God of Heaven, the great and awesome God” (The Message)
  • 8:6 “The Great God” (The Message)
• Job
  • 23:13 He is singular and sovereign (The Message)
  • 27:2 God Almighty (The Message)
  • 34:37 Almighty One (The Message)
  • 37:23 Mighty God (The Message)
• Psalm 5:2 “King God” (The Message)
• Isaiah ” the Strong One of Israel” (The Message)
• Acts 3:15 Author of Life

Contact Adam

Last edited 05.09.2025

• Exodus 14:13 (NIV) Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today.
• 2 Chronicles 20:17 (NIV) You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the LORD will be with you.'”
• Job 11:14-15 (NIV) if you put away the sin that is in your hand and allow no evil to dwell in your tent, then you will lift up your face without shame; you will stand firm and without fear.
• Psalms 20:8 (NIV) They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm.
• Psalms 33:11 (NIV) But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.
• Psalms 93:5 (NIV) Your statutes stand firm; holiness adorns your house for endless days, O LORD.
• Proverbs 10:25 (NIV) When the storm has swept by, the wicked are gone, but the righteous stand firm forever.
• 1 Corinthians 15:58 (NIV) Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
• 1 Corinthians 16:13 (NIV) Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong.
• 2 Corinthians 1:21 (NIV) Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us,
• Galatians 5:1 (NIV) It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
• Ephesians 6:14 (NIV) stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel
• Philippians 4:1 (NIV) Therefore, my brothers, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, that is how you should stand firm in the Lord, dear friends!
• Col 4:12 (NIV) Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured.
• 2 Thess 2:15 (NIV) So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.
• James 5:8 (NIV) You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near.

Contact Adam

A bible study by Adam Osborne, JR.

• Romans 15:7 (NIV) Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.
• Col 3:13 (NIV) Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
• Gal 5:13 (NIV) You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.
• James 5:16 (NIV) Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
• Zech 7:9 (NIV) “This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another.
• Mal 2:10 (NIV) Have we not all one Father? Did not one God create us? Why do we profane the covenant of our fathers by breaking faith with one another?
• John 13:34-35 (NIV) “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
• Romans 12:16 (NIV) Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
• Romans 13:8 (NIV) Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law.
• Romans 14:13 (NIV) Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother’s way.
• Romans 15:7 (NIV) Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.
• Romans 15:14 (NIV) I myself am convinced, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, complete in knowledge and competent to instruct one another.
• Romans 16:16 (NIV) Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ send greetings.
• Eph 4:2 (NIV) Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.
• Eph 4:32 (NIV) Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
• Eph 5:19 (NIV) Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord,
• Eph 5:21 (NIV) Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
• Col 3:16 (NIV) Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.
• 1 Thess 5:11 (NIV) Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
• Heb 3:13 (NIV) But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.
• Heb 10:24 (NIV) And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.
• Heb 10:25 (NIV) Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another–and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
• James 4:11 (NIV) Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it.
• 1 Peter 1:22 (NIV) Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart.
• 1 Peter 3:8 (NIV) Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.
• 1 Peter 4:9 (NIV) Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.
• 1 Peter 5:5 (NIV) Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
• 1 John 1:7 (NIV) But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
• 1 John 3:11 (NIV) This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another.
• 1 John 3:23 (NIV) 23 And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us.
• 1 John 3:23 (NIV) And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us.
• 1 John 4:11 (NIV) Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
• 2 John 1:5 (NIV) And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another.

Contact Adam

Last edited on 01 January 2022

 

A Bible Study by Adam Osborne, Jr.

Subtitle: God’s Promises to His children
19 August 2010

On 19 August 2010 I did a Google search for a term that we are all familiar with: “Why do bad things happen to good people”. Guess how many replies from Google I received? Google replied with 343,000 results in 0.31 seconds from the Google server.

Today, I’d like to for us to discuss “WHY DO GOOD THINGS HAPPEN TO BAD PEOPLE?”

• Romans 3:23 (NIV) for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
• Romans 5:12 (NIV) Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned.
• Gen 6:5 (NIV) The LORD saw how great man’s wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time.
• Psalms 14:3 (NIV) All have turned aside, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.

Are there any other scriptures that you can think of that discuss the fact that all men are sinful?

• Psalms 53:3 Everyone has turned away, all have become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.
• Psalms 130:3 If you, Lord, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand?
• Proverbs 20:9 Who can say, I have kept my heart pure; I am clean and without sin?
• Ecclesiastes 7:20 Indeed, there is no one on earth who is righteous, no one who does what is right and never sins.
• Isaiah 53:6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way;
  and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
• Isaiah 64:6 All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.
• Micah 7:2 The faithful have been swept from the land; not one upright person remains. Everyone lies in wait to shed blood; they hunt each other with nets.
• Galatians 3:22 But Scripture has locked up everything under the control of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe.
• 1 John 1:8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.
• 1 John 5:19 We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one.

But, for all of us our sin separates us from God. Is there a scripture that bridges the gap? Is there a scripture that tells us how and why a Holy God would still cause Good Things to Happen to Bad people?Â

Romans 8:1-4 (NIV) 1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, 4 in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.

Good things happen to bad people because God promises to:

• Give us Spiritual cleansing:
  • Psalms 65:3 (NIV) When we were overwhelmed by sins, you forgave our transgressions.
  • Isaiah 1:18 (NIV) “Come now, let us reason together,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.
• Comfort us:
  • Isaiah 12:1 (NIV) In that day you will say: “I will praise you, O LORD. Although you were angry with me, your anger has turned away and you have comforted me.
• Supply all of our bodily needs:
  • Psalms 37:3-6 (NIV)Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. 4 Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. 5 Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this:
    6 He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.
  • Malachi 3:10 (NIV) Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.
• To give us divine sonship:
  • John 1:12 (NIV) Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.
• Give us ETERNAL LIFE:
  • John 3:16 (NIV) “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
    John 11:26 (NIV) and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
• Give us Spiritual Fullness:
  • John 6:35 (NIV) Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.
• Supply us with unlimited blessings:
  • Mark 9:23 (NIV) “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for him who believes.”
• Heal us:
  • Exodus 23:25 (NIV) Worship the LORD your God, and his blessing will be on your food and water. I will take away sickness from among you,
• Answer our prayers:
  • Mark 11:24 (NIV) Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
• Remove life’s obstacles:
  • Luke 17: 6 He replied, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.
• Give us spiritual LIGHT:
  • John 12:46 (NIV) I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.
• Give us Power for His Service:
• John 14:12 (NIV) I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.
• Save us:
  • Romans 1:16 (NIV) I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.
• To be full of compassion and mercy:
  • James 5:11 (NIV) As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.
• Be our deliverer:
  • Psalms 116:8-9 (NIV) For you, O LORD, have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling, 9 that I may walk before the LORD in the land of the living.
• That we will not be given more than we can handle:
  • 1 Cor 10:13 (NIV) No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
• Give us HOPE:
  • 2 Cor 1:10 (NIV) He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us,
• Rescue us from evil:
  • 2 Tim 4:18 (NIV) The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
• Release us from the fear of death:
  • Heb 2:15 (NIV) and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.
• Forgive us for our sins:
  • Mark 3:28 (NIV) I tell you the truth, all the sins and blasphemies of men will be forgiven them.
• Open our eyes and turn us from darkness:
  • Acts 26:18 (NIV) to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.
• Be our REDEEMER:
  • Isaiah 44:22 (NIV) I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist. Return to me, for I have redeemed you.”
• Be our God of MERCY who freely pardons:
  • Isaiah 55:7 (NIV) Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.
• Give us perfect peace:
  • Isaiah 26:3 (NIV) 3 You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.
  • John 14:27 (NIV) Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
• Be the God of plenty:
  • Leviticus 26:5 (NIV) Your threshing will continue until grape harvest and the grape harvest will continue until planting, and you will eat all the food you want and live in safety in your land.
• Preserve the faithful:
  • Deuteronomy 6:24 (NIV) The LORD commanded us to obey all these decrees and to fear the LORD our God, so that we might always prosper and be kept alive, as is the case today.
• Give us spiritual progress:
  • 2 Cor 3:18 (NIV) And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
• Be the God of protection:
  • Psalms 41:2 (NIV) The LORD will protect him and preserve his life; he will bless him in the land and not surrender him to the desire of his foes.
  • Luke 21:18 (NIV) But not a hair of your head will perish.
• Be the God of security:
  • Job 11:18 (NIV) You will be secure, because there is hope; you will look about you and take your rest in safety.
• Bless us when others persecute us:
  • Matt 5:11-12 (NIV) “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
• Make us co-heirs with Christ that we may share in His glory:
  • Romans 8:17 (NIV) Now if we are children, then we are heirs–heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

DISCLAIMER: I did not come up with the title of this study. I actually heard Adrian Rogers say this quote during one of his sermons. Like so many of Adrian’s quick-quotes, this one got my mind turning. So, I went home, and put a study together. I did not use his theme or plagiarize his study.