The Sacrifice of Praise

1. Confession is Rooted in God's Unchanging Covenant of Grace

The covenant of grace lies immovably firm and fast in God’s eternal mercies.

Divine initiative. Unlike the covenant of works, which depended on human obedience, the covenant of grace originates entirely from God's sovereign mercy. It is an eternal, unchangeable disposition, a gift in Christ, ensuring salvation is solely God's work from beginning to end. This foundation excludes all human boasting, giving all glory to God as the Creator and re-creator.

Abundant blessings. This covenant bestows a fullness of spiritual and temporal blessings, primarily forgiveness, regeneration, faith, conversion, sanctification, and perseverance through union with Christ. These spiritual gifts are accompanied by earthly provisions, as God, who provides for all needs, knows what his children require. The ultimate promise is that God will be our God and the God of our offspring.

Baptism's significance. Our children enter this covenant not by merit or dedication, but by God's promise and grace, being born into it. Baptism serves as the visible sign and seal of this unspeakable gift, signifying adoption as God's children and heirs. It guarantees the Triune God's commitment to provide, defend, wash from sin, and sanctify us through Christ and the Holy Spirit.

2. Nurturing Confession: A Collaborative Journey of Family, Church, and School

On the foundation of the adoption to God’s side, parents must bring their children to a conscious and voluntary confession of faith.

Parental responsibility. While children are members of the covenant from birth, parents bear the primary responsibility for their spiritual upbringing. This involves teaching them the faith, nurturing them in the fear and admonition of the Lord, and guiding them toward a conscious and voluntary confession. This mirrors God's preservation of natural life through indirect means like nourishment and care.

School's role. In modern society, schools assist parents in this weighty task, extending Christian education to meet societal demands. They aim to form children into godly individuals, thoroughly equipped for all good works, ensuring that secular learning is integrated with spiritual formation. This collaboration ensures a holistic development aligned with Christian values.

Church's unique task. The church provides catechetical instruction, specifically designed to lead baptized children to participate boldly in the Holy Supper. Its purpose is to mature covenant children into conscious, confessing members of Christ's church, bridging the gap between baptism and communion. Family, school, and church, though distinct, labor together in the reformation of humanity to God's image.

3. The Word of God: The Indispensable Rule and Nourishment for Confession

Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light to my path.

Life-giving power. The Holy Scriptures are the foundation, principle, and rule of all confession, feeding the spiritual life. God's word is not a dead letter but "living and active," always exerting its power unto salvation, whether softening hearts or hardening them. It is the very atmosphere in which believers breathe, guiding, comforting, and convicting.

Divine sustenance. God's word is the food and drink of the spiritual life, a means of grace that precedes and stands above the sacraments. It is constantly accompanied by the Holy Spirit, who animates it and applies it to the heart. Just as physical food nourishes the body when eaten, God's word strengthens the soul when accepted with childlike faith and humility.

Heartfelt reception. The spiritual life naturally yearns for this divine nourishment, never outgrowing it. A true mark of spiritual vitality is a longing for God's word, which strengthens faith and deepens communion with God. Parents are called to feed their children with this word from an early age, ensuring that education is intertwined with training, impacting both mind and heart.

4. True Confession: A Lifelong Embodiment of Heartfelt Faith

For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

Beyond lip service. True confession is not mere external repetition or a one-time event, but a deep, firm conviction of the heart that manifests in public witness. Without heartfelt faith, confession becomes hypocritical lip service, which Jesus condemned. Believing with the heart and confessing with the mouth are inseparably linked, each reinforcing the other.

A continuous journey. Public confession for admission to the Lord's Supper is a solemn landmark, but it is preceded by daily confession from childhood and followed by lifelong confession until death. This continuous act reveals itself in piety, uprightness, and a yearning for God, making one's entire life a "living, holy offering" pleasing to God.

Connecting sacraments. Confession bridges baptism and the Lord's Supper, accepting one's baptism and preparing for communion. The Lord's Supper, while emphasizing God's grace, also serves as a confession of faith, requiring self-examination and a commitment to thankfulness. It signifies communion with Christ, a communion enjoyed daily through the word and faith.

5. Confession's Dual Core: Acknowledging Sin and Proclaiming Christ

And Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he replied, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”

Confession of sin. All true confession begins with a humble acknowledgment of guilt and sin before God. This is not mere despair, like Cain or Judas, but a heartfelt grief over displeasing God, born from a contrite spirit and saving faith. It is a turning to God, the gracious and merciful Father reconciled in Christ.

Confession of Christ. This acknowledgment of sin is inseparable from proclaiming Jesus as "the Christ, the Son of the living God." This is the brief, central content of Christian faith, the heart of revelation, and the essence of Christianity. It encompasses Christ's person, names, natures, offices, and states, and the entire order of salvation.

Expanding truth. This core confession, initially simple, developed over time into the baptismal confession of the Triune God and the twelve articles of the Apostles' Creed. These confessions, like branches from a root, clarify and explain the truth, distinguishing the church and guiding believers into deeper insight into salvation's mysteries.

6. Embracing Diversity, Anticipating Unity in Confession

We hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.

Division's paradox. The historical divisions in Christianity are a grievous disappointment and a sin, often stemming from human darkness and uncharitableness. Yet, God's providence works through history, even through human error, to achieve His wise purposes. These divisions, while lamentable, have also led to a clearer, richer understanding of truth.

Grace renews nature. Just as natural life exhibits endless diversity, grace does not erase but restores and renews this diversity, expanding it through spiritual gifts. God delights in unity within diversity, reflecting His infinitely rich essence in creation and re-creation. This diversity, even through human fault, ultimately serves to reveal God's grace and glory.

The core question. The ongoing diversity in confession often reflects differing views on the relationship between grace and nature. Whether grace is a supplement, a remedy, or a transformative power for all of life, these perspectives shape confessional differences. Despite these variations, a profound unity exists among believers, a "Christianity in the divisions of faith," which will ultimately lead to a full understanding of Christ's love.

7. Christianity's Universal Claim: Redeeming All of Creation

For all things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, and you are Christ’s and Christ is God’s.

Absolute religion. Christianity is the absolute, essential, and only true religion, destined for all people, statuses, and times. Its universality stems from the unity of God, the singularity of Christ as the only Mediator and Savior of the world, and the one Holy Spirit. It claims not to be merely the best religion, but the sole, complete truth.

Beyond the spiritual. While Christ's primary work is salvation from sin, his redemption extends to all of creation. He did not come to condemn the world but to save it, reconciling all things in heaven and on earth to God. This challenges the narrow view that limits Christianity's influence to only religious-moral life, neglecting its value for family, society, state, science, and art.

Resurrection's scope. Christ's bodily resurrection is the decisive proof that Christianity is not opposed to anything human or natural, but aims to perfectly redeem all creation. Disciples, though called to self-denial, receive back everything, reborn and sanctified. Godliness is beneficial for all things, promising blessings for both present and future life, as all things belong to those who are Christ's.

8. Confession: A Divine Obligation and a Glorious Privilege

For you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

More than words. While some dismiss verbal confession as superfluous, Scripture emphasizes its profound significance. Speaking is an essential attribute of God, who creates and sustains through His Word. Man, created in God's image, is likewise called to speak and testify, declaring God's great works.

A necessary act. Silence in the face of Christ is a denial. The tongue, a powerful instrument, must be freed by God to praise Him, for "out of the mouth of babes and infants he establishes the strength." God demands the whole person—mind, heart, mouth, and tongue—to love and glorify Him.

Privilege and duty. Confessing the Lord's name is not a burdensome command but a blessed privilege and high honor. It reveals the depth of one's faith and love for God, returning to Him the grace He has produced in the heart. This duty rests on every believer and the church as a whole, which, throughout history, has been and must remain a confessing church.

9. Overcoming Opposition: The Battle Against False Shame

For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man’s gospel.

Inherent hostility. The gospel, though a joyful message of grace, inherently provokes opposition from flesh, world, and Satan because it is not "from man." This enmity, though varying in intensity, always requires self-denial and cross-bearing, as the greatest enemy often resides within our own hearts.

The snare of shame. Even after faith is present, a "false sense of shame" often silences confession. This shame stems from embarrassment about aligning with Christ, fearing scorn, loss of honor, or being perceived as weak. It's a delusion rooted in a darkened understanding of human dignity, which prioritizes worldly estimation over God's truth.

Christ's example. We are called to deny this delusion, recognizing our spiritual poverty and accepting God's judgment. Christ, though innocent and glorious, endured shame and death for us, becoming our example. By losing our perceived honor for His sake, we gain true life and dignity, as Christ's love for us, despite our sin, is incomparably great.

10. The Holy Spirit: The Almighty Source of Confession's Strength

Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit.

Spirit's testimony. All genuine confession stems from the Holy Spirit's work, who guides believers into all truth and testifies of Christ. Against a world that opposes and condemns Christ, the Spirit glorifies Him, breaking hard hearts and compelling confession. No one can truly say "Jesus is Lord" apart from the Holy Spirit.

Empowering faith. Even after faith is implanted, the Spirit's continuous work is essential to sustain confession amidst temptations. He grants both the power of faith and the boldness to speak, as seen in the prayers of David and the apostles. This boldness is founded in the assurance of guilt removed and the privilege of approaching God's throne.

Cloud of witnesses. Believers are never alone in their confession. They are encouraged by Christ's faithful example, the countless angels, the "great cloud of witnesses" (the triumphant church), and the militant church on earth. This communion of saints strengthens individuals, reminding them they are part of a vast, divinely gathered body, destined to overcome.

11. The Promise of Reward: Christ's Acknowledgment in Heaven

“So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven.”

Grace, not merit. Holy Scripture promises a great reward for faithful confession, yet it strongly rejects any notion of earning salvation through works. This reward is not an obligatory payment but a free gift of grace, a rich crowning by God for those who walk in His ways. Faith itself, though a gift, is the means through which these benefits are received.

Active Christianity. Believers are chosen and possess eternal life by faith, yet they are exhorted to actively pursue good works, sanctification, and perseverance. This paradox means continually becoming what they already are in Christ, acquiring what they have inherited. The reward, therefore, is both the undeserved gift of salvation and varying degrees of glory according to faithfulness.

Christ's confession. Our eternal destiny hinges on Christ's public acknowledgment of us before the Father. He, who was not ashamed to call us brothers in His humiliation, will not be ashamed of us in His glory. In full view of all creation, He will publicly stand for His faithful confessors, guaranteeing their eternal salvation and glory, a judgment that all creation will eternally submit to.

12. The Ultimate Triumph: Every Tongue Confessing Jesus as Lord

Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Hope's foundation. Humanity universally longs for a triumph of truth and good, but this hope lacks ground without God and Christ. Unbelievers' ideals are human inventions, unable to truly rule. Salvation must come from above, from Christ, who is the light, life, and salvation of the world, gathering and protecting His church.

Christ's consummation. Christ's work was not finished with His first coming; His second coming is a necessary culmination. He will return to reveal Himself as the perfect Savior, glorified in His saints, and admired by all who believe. He will take vengeance on the disobedient and be recognized by all creation as the only true Lord.

Universal acknowledgment. The ultimate purpose of world history is the unity of confession: "Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Though currently contradicted, this truth will be undeniably revealed at Christ's glorious return. Then, every knee—angels, devils, righteous, and ungodly—will bow, and every tongue will confess His Lordship, a triumph that will stand eternally.