HOMOLOGEO (Confess)
WRITTEN BY DREW MATZ
What is the Word?
In Matthew 16, Jesus asks his disciples a question; “Who do you say that I am?” To this day, there is no question that is more relevant. The way we answer this question will determine the manner in which we live, the way we view the world, and what we hope for the future. Peter’s answer, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” is the answer we all give as Christians – it is a confession of faith and a public proclamation of our loyalty to him. The New Testament bids us to go into the world confessing the name of Jesus to all nations. The word used in the New Testament for confess is homologeó.
How does the Bible use this word?
The New Testament makes a big deal about confession of Christ before the world. In Greek, this is a compound verb which comes from the word “homoú,” which means together, and “légō,” which means “conclude.” Together, the idea is one of full agreement or endorsement of a certain proposition. It is a declaration of a shared truth before others.
Where in the Bible?
Paul teaches us that confessing Christ and placing our trust in him is necessary for salvation:
“… if you confess (ὁμολογήσῃς) with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses (ὁμολογεῖται) and is saved.”
For Paul, confession of Christ is the fruit which flows from the heart out of the mouth. Just as good works flow forth from our being given a new heart, confession of Jesus is a necessary consequence of being cleansed by the Gospel and risen to new life by his death and resurrection.
Moreover, Jesus pulls no punches when he speaks about our confession of faith:
“ So everyone who acknowledges (ὁμολογήσει) me before men, I also will acknowledge (ὁμολογήσει) before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.”
Jesus offers us a warning that he will acknowledge us insofar as we acknowledge him. Thus, we must pray to confess Christ boldly before the world – unashamed of the Gospel and rejoicing in the blood of the Lamb, who sets all people free.
Confess to all the World
“Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.”
We might think of confession of Christ in a fallen world as God’s instrument of grace. Through our proclamation, God is reaching the lost and bringing people unto himself. It also allows us to be a shining beacon in the darkness to draw others into his saving embrace – where there is healing, new life, and friendship with our creator.