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In the name of our living, ever-present Savior, dear friends in Christ.
At the end of the movie Braveheart, there is a scene where the heroic character William Wallace utters a confession, on his deathbed. It is a moment that has come after years of seeing his people suffer, at the hands of the ruling class in England, a moment that has come after years of warfare, where he led armies of resistance, seeking to free themselves, and their people, from such injustice.
But, in the final scene, Wallace is now merely a captured rebel, with nowhere to run. The priest comes to him, right before his execution, and demands of him a “confession.”
What was that priest inviting him to do? He was suggesting that it would be good for Wallace to acknowledge the error of his ways, that had led to that sad moment, and good for Wallace’s people, that they might see how this path ends.
Well, Wallace does utter a confession. But it was a confession of freedom, a proclamation that liberty was worth fighting for, and yes, even worth dying for. His confession was that the slavery of injustice, faced by his people, would not last forever. With his last breath, he reminds all who would hear, that this freedom would, in the end, prevail.
Wow, what a compelling confession! But as compelling as that scene is, it pales in significance, when compared to the power of confessing, not just freedom in general—or political freedom, or even personal freedom – but confessing a freedom that has eternal significance. And that is the freedom that comes by the confession that Jesus Christ is your Savior, by grace alone, through faith alone!
That is the confession that we are celebrating tonight, as we are reminded that, at another crucial point in history, men of God took their stand, on the freedom that comes in and through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ alone. They were willing to die for it, because there was nothing more important in this life, than the proclamation of salvation by grace, through faith, in Jesus alone.
So tonight we celebrate the Presentation of the Augsburg Confession, on June 25, 1530, almost 500 years ago, when Martin Luther, Philip Melanchthon, and other German leaders of God’s Church on earth, put their earthly lives at risk, so that the Gospel of Jesus would be heard, loud and clear, once again. That message was too important for them to remain silent. It was too important to compromise. It was time to confess, to proclaim the truth of Jesus’ Good News, and let the chips fall where they may.
As Margrave George the Confessor, a signer of the Augsburg Confession, said to the Emperor, “Before I would deny my God, and His Gospel, I would rather kneel down before your Imperial Emperor, and let you cut off my head.”
What a moment that was … but better, what a freedom, the freedom that comes by faith in Jesus alone. In that moment, those who confessed the teachings of the Augsburg Confession were doing what the Church has always done, down through the ages—they were saying the same thing that Jesus Christ had spoken in His Word, because their eternal lives, and the eternal lives of all who believe, depended on it.
When you hear the word confess, many people only think of “confess your sins.” Now, that’s part of it, for sure. But the original word in the Greek Bible, homologeo, simply means to “say the same thing.” And in the context of the Bible, it means to say the same thing that Jesus says, that His Word says.
Why is that important? Because in Jesus is life. His words are living and active, and faith in the name of Jesus will save your very soul. So, to confess Christ means simply to say the same thing as Christ Jesus says. It’s good for your heart, for your soul, and for your life, now, and forever.
And so, now as then, believers in Jesus (His Church) have always been willing to go on record, and confess the truths of the Bible, no matter what. If the Bible said that God created the world, (and we believe that, don’t we?) then what would we, as believers, confess? “I believe in God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth.”
If the Bible teaches that Jesus Christ is God in the flesh, come to redeem and restore all people back to Himself, (and we believe that, don’t we?) then what would we, as believers, confess? “I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence He will come, to judge the living and the dead.”
And if the Bible said that the Holy Spirit calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian Church on earth, (and we believe that, don’t we?) then what would we, as believers, confess? “I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen!”
To confess Jesus, in faith, is to receive all that He has accomplished for us, before the Father. To confess Him, is to hear this beautiful promise: “Everyone who acknowledges Me before men, I also will acknowledge before My Father, who is in heaven,” (v. 32).
But Matthew chapter 10 reminds us that there are ramifications to such a confession. Jesus reminded His disciples that there would be challenges and obstacles to face in proclaiming His Good News in their own lives, and even greater obstacles to face, in sharing that Good News with others.
In ministry, how many times have we seen the Gospel transform a person’s life, but then create new challenges in family relationships, in personal relationships, even in the tension that comes when one seeks to live a different life, than the one lived before becoming a believer? And how many times, too, have we seen the community around us caricature the Church, speak maliciously about its teachings, and even its people, making efforts to share Christ even more difficult? There can be a lot of fear that comes with such changes, and such challenges.
In the event of the presentation of the Augsburg Confession, it wasn’t merely difficulties the Lutheran princes and theologians faced. There was real earthly danger. Especially for Luther, this was a life-threatening moment. And even though he was persuaded to not be physically present at the event, because to do so would have meant his capture, and probably his death, Luther was surely there, nonetheless, in the presentation of that confession! Indeed, he lived much of his life under the threat of earthly violence, just for proclaiming Christ’s Good News!
So, I think that it’s fair to ask: Why would these people risk their lives, for this public confession? And here’s the answer – the reason that Christians have publicly proclaimed this Jesus as their Savior, no matter the risk, is because, in Him alone, there is a freedom worth living, and even dying for. In Him alone, there is a salvation, that lasts. In Him alone, there is life, now and forever!
You see this every time you read through the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke … because, as each one of the writers shares the events and words of Jesus, they bring their readers to a question that Jesus asked His disciples then, and still asks all of us tonight: “Who do you say that I am?”
When Peter says, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God!” Jesus tells him, “flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father, who is in heaven,” (Matthew 16:15, 17, ESV). Elsewhere, Peter got it right again, when he said of Jesus, “Lord … You have the words of eternal life,” (John 6:68, ESV). You see, there’s nowhere else to go, for what really matters.
This is the Jesus who holds you, in His own dear hands. This is the Jesus who died on the cross, for your every sin and failure, and mine also. This is the Jesus whom we hold dear. This is the Jesus who is your very life and salvation. So this kind of confession is good for your soul!
Those men, that day in 1530, confessed this Jesus, despite the dangers. It was good for their souls. But they weren’t there just for themselves. They also knew and believed that others needed to hear this Good News, for their very lives also.
The whole context of this teaching in Matthew chapter 10 is Jesus sending out His disciples to proclaim His message of salvation, by grace, for the whole world. These disciples were unsure of themselves, even afraid of what might happen, as they did. But Jesus comforts them with the promise that, “everyone who acknowledges Me before men, I also will acknowledge before My Father,” (v. 32).
As He tells the disciples later, “I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20, ESV). The message you share will not only bless others, it will keep you, as well. Don’t be afraid!
So, confess Jesus, confess away! It’s good for your soul. It’s good for the souls of others also, so don’t be afraid of their initial reactions, or even if they ultimately reject you. That’s between them and God. As Jesus warned, “whoever denies Me before men, I also will deny before My Father, who is in heaven,” (v. 33).
But as you and I confess away, let’s be even more ready to rejoice in the responses of others, when they receive Jesus as their Lord, and Savior, just because you shared that Good News with them, and God’s Holy Spirit brought forth their confession.
So, confess away! Confess the freedom, life, and salvation that come from knowing Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, by grace, through faith, in Him alone. It’s good for your soul, it’s good for your life, and it’s good for others also.
Just think about it— we who are here tonight know Jesus as our Savior because, nearly 500 years ago, a few people were willing to stand on this message, risk their lives for it, and share it, with anyone who would listen. Thank God!
So, confess Christ. That’s a message worth dying for, and worth living for, because in Him is life and salvation, now and forever, to all who believe. It is good for your soul! Amen.