Auxano Ministry
By the grace of God I am what I am:
1 Cor. 15:10a
Confession
Have you ever been sitting around a living room on a relaxing evening with a group of friends, having a conversation on a multitude of subjects, all at the same time, but feel like no one was listening to what you were saying? Have you ever felt like your words, your thoughts were falling upon deaf ears?
You know you’re not an orator like Aristotle, or as eloquent as John. F. Kennedy, or a communicator in the style of Ronald Regan but you’re sure you have your moments. You feel your thoughts, and opinions, and ideas have never had an audience locked into what you were saying.
But the truth is you have always had a captive audience that hangs on your every thought and word. Someone who is totally and completely hanging on your every syllable. To this person your every thought and nuance is of the utmost importance.
How do I know this person when I’ve never even met you?
I know this person because it is you!
Your nous not only hears every word and concept and thought and idea you speak, your nous also listens to and hears every quiet thing you say to yourself within your own head. Your nous hangs on every syllable that internal voice has to say. Whether you are screaming, crying, laughing, lecturing or having a discussion with yourself, you have the undivided attention of your nous.
Luke 12:45
But and if that servant say [eipon – to speak, to utter words] in [en – in, with the idea of continuance] his heart, my lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken;
Notice this conversation with himself is going on in his heart, the home of all believing, the place that is home to all your issues of life.
Psalm 14:1
The fool hath said [amar – to speak, to utter words] in his heart [again, in the heart], There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.
I put lines through some words because they are not in the text. But when you look at the grammar of the verse these words are a good addition in English to give the sense of what is said. So, here is a person, a fool, that in his conversation with his own heart is confessing that there is no God. Each time he has this conversation he is making this sumballo stronger. It’s in the heart so he’s building believing, negative believing.
No one can speak to this person about God for he will reject it automatically. Almost his entire nous, the logizomai, the kardia, the phronema, the thumos, the sumballo, the attitude is all in alignment to reject anything pertaining to the existence of God. The kosmos has won this heart.
When the kosmos introduces phronema to you it is different from the phronema you introduce to yourself. When you are the one introducing the phronema you are speaking within your heart; if the conversation is along negative lines then you are building and re-enforcing the negative sumballo already present in your heart.
This is confession and it’s to a captive audience.
It’s to an audience that believes your every word.
If you are confessing what God says about you in His Word then you are in great shape, amazing shape! But if you are confessing your identification in Adam, your identification with the world, then you are in trouble!
John 9:1-2
And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?
Allow me a short tangent that has confused mankind for eons.
Man has long connected sickness with sin and rightfully so. Yet the connection we make is generally off the mark. There was no sickness or death in the Garden of Eden prior to Adam’s sin.
Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
What sin pays, the wages, is death; spiritually and physically. Sickness is death in part. What I mean by that is that sickness is part of the body shutting down, not functioning the way or in the manner to which God designed it. While death is the complete shutdown of the body God designed to have only life. Therefore, sickness is death in part.
On a grand scale there are two avenues by which man receives the wages of sin in part, meaning sickness. First, there is the inherited corruption passed on in Adam’s bloodline, from his sin, THE original sin, you have probably heard of it.
This means God formed, made, and created Adam in perfection. If Adam had children prior to sin, Adam would have passed on perfection to his children. However, Adam did not have children until after he sinned. Therefore, what he passed on was corruption which is sickness that ultimately ends in death. Through the centuries that corruption has only been magnified and increased with each successive generation. This is inherited sickness through the sin of Adam.
The other avenue for sickness to enter a person’s life is through personal sin. Many of the things we do in life are contrary to the laws or principles God has given for a full and healthy life. These lifestyles, or habits if you will, bring us personal or individual sickness.
Example of inherited sickness would be someone born with sickness, as in this man of John 9 who was born blind, or the man we saw in another teaching that was lame from his birth. An example of personal sickness would be cigarettes. Our lungs were designed to move oxygen, not smoke. I know this is very simplified, but I believe it makes the point.
When the disciples ask Jesus in John 9 who did sin, the Biblical answer is Adam, but Jesus doesn’t say that because that is not the choices presented to him and that is not the subject he is about to teach them.
John 9:3
Jesus answered, neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.
The King James Version almost leaves you with the impression that God made this man blind so that when Jesus came along God would have Jesus heal him. The problem is two-fold. First, we read a verse like this and fail to incorporate the context of all that God says concerning sin and all that God says concerning His own character. Second, it’s simply a poor translation.
Jesus answers their question, neither sinned to cause this sickness. Their spiritual insight, at this time, would not have allowed comprehension concerning Adam or inherited sin and sickness. Then Jesus goes on to teach his disciples about the character and nature of God.
John 14:9
Jesus saith to him, `So long time am I with you, and thou hast not known me, Philip? he who hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how dost thou say, Shew to us the Father?
Not only the Gentiles but also Israel, had a completely wrong mind set, mind picture, of who and what God is. The kosmos has taught mankind, through many different avenues, a distorted and inaccurate and contorted picture of God.
A major storm that destroys property and kills many is called an “Act of God.” A terrorist attack is called punishment from God. Major sickness in the life of a godly person is called a trial from God. Scientific knowledge is said to have removed the need for the superstition we identify as God.
When we succeed, in anything, we did it!
When we fail it is laid at God’s feet!
These things, and many others, are things we confess publicly and privately every day, and many times within a day.
Consider your confession considering Jesus saying, “he who has seen me has seen the Father.” Does your confession match his confession? Not only in the verse mentioned but in all verses.
What did Jesus confess?
John 5:30
I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.
The knowledge Jesus provided, the wisdom with which he spoke, the understanding he gave, all was light to a world in darkness. This is the heart of God; to give knowledge, wisdom, and understanding; to provide light to those in darkness.
Matthew 8:2-3
And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
Healing that is available right now, according to their believing. It is the will of God to heal.
John 10:10b
…I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
Fulness of life, a more than abundant life right now. God’s desire is for all of mankind to have life that is more than abundant.
John 3:16-17
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
Eternal life! God said, “I have set before you, by my words, life and death, therefore, chose life!”1
John 11:35
Jesus wept.
God weeps over our spiritual ignorance and separation from the source of Life. Do you walk and speak with the compassion of God?
Colossian 1:15a
Who is the image of the invisible God,…
Jesus told Philip, “he who has seen me has seen the Father.” He meant what he said.
How do you see God?
What is your daily confession pertaining to God?
Does your confession match the confession of Jesus Christ?
Our confession has the undivided attention of our nous. What is your confession teaching your nous?
This man who was born blind was questioned a few times about what happened. His confession was simple but true and accurate.
John 9:11
He answered and said, A man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, go to the pool of Siloam, and wash: and I went and washed, and I received sight.
John 9:15
Then again, the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. He said unto them, He put clay upon mine eyes, and I washed, and do see.
The Pharisees and Sadducees had already declared Jesus to be a sinner, that was their confession. Does their confession allow them to see God in the actions of Jesus? Their confession re-enforces a negative sumballo. Their confession, which stands in contrast to God’s written Word, adds bricks to the fortress wall that exalts itself against the knowledge of God.2
John 5:39
Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
The written Word enabled them to see, to recognize, to identify the Living Word. But the religious leaders just couldn’t see the Living Word standing in front of them because the written Word was not as important to them as their interpretation of that Word. (You may want to consider this for a few minutes before moving on with this teaching.)
The religious leaders then ask the man’s parents about their son.
John 9:19
And they asked them, saying, is this your son, who ye say was born blind? how then doth he now see?
The great hope of the Pharisees at this point is to prove this man wasn’t born blind. They are seeking to deny this miracle and thus to belittle Jesus and his ministry.
John 9: 20-23
His parents answered them and said, We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind: But by what means he now seeth, we know not; or who hath opened his eyes, we know not: he is of age; ask him: he shall speak for himself. These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess [homologeo] that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue. Therefore, said his parents, He is of age; ask him.
Sadly, the man’s parents throw him under the bus!
Yes, he is our son.
Yes, he was born blind.
How it happened we don’t know. He’s an adult now, ask him.
Why couldn’t they just be happy and thrilled that their blind son now had sight? Because they were afraid, they would be put out of the Temple and their local synagogue. This, being put out of the Temple and synagogue, was the predetermined penalty the religious leaders declared for anyone who would confess that Jesus is the Messiah.
John 12:42
Nevertheless, among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess [homologeo] him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue:
Even leadership that believed Jesus was the Messiah were afraid to confess the same for fear of the leaders with the controlling power.
John 16:2-3
They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.
Darkness always covers their moves, their actions by calling their evil, good and your good as evil.
Being put out of the synagogue or Temple is like what is called excommunication in today’s terms. But in those days, it carried a much greater weight. Today you just go to the Church across the street, no big deal. But in the days of this blind man, it meant you could no longer buy or sell among other Jews. You could no longer offer sacrifice or carry out the aspects of the Mosaic Law that involved the Temple.
So, the blind man’s parents, like the religious leaders that believed, for fear refused to confess Jesus as the Christ.
After questioning the parents the Pharisees accepted that this was indeed a man who was born blind but they were still looking for a way to deny this miracle because Jesus healed the man on the Sabbath and that was against their oral tradition. So, they question the blind man again.
John 9:26
Then said they to him again, what did he to thee? how opened he thine eyes?
Threats, intimidation, and their self-righteous indignation hadn’t swung the situation in their favor up to this point. Could they change the blind man’s confession with a little more pushing?
John 9:27
He answered them, I have told you already, and ye did not hear: wherefore would ye hear it again? will ye also be his disciples?
What a response! This man isn’t budging. His confession remains true.
Look at how this account builds and grows. How could anyone not find God’s Word exciting and thrilling? Put yourself in the place of this man or this family. What would you do? Would your confession change? Would you give in to the pressure of these religious leaders?
This man had no idea who Jesus was! He hasn’t confessed Jesus as the Christ. But he knows a guy named Jesus healed him and he refuses to say otherwise. Later that same day Jesus seeks the man out, after the Pharisees have put him out of the Temple.
John 9:34-38
They answered and said unto him, thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out. Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God? He answered and said, who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him? And Jesus said unto him, thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee. And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.
The Greek word translated confess in both John 9 and John 12 is homologeo. Homologeo is a combination of two Greek words: homo meaning the same, and a verb form of logos meaning word or saying. Therefore, homologeo means to say the same thing. We are to say the same thing that God has declared in His Word.
Romans 10:9-10
That if thou shalt confess [homologeo] with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession [homologeo] is made unto salvation.
This confession of the same thing brought a person salvation in our administration. These two verses speak of confessing that Jesus is Lord. They never mention confessing sin. Too many become concerned about remembering long forgotten sins to be able to confess them. Perhaps the greater concern should be, what exactly does it mean to confess Jesus as LORD?
There is a Greek word for confessing out loud to others, it is exomologeomai. It is homologeo with the preposition ek as a prefix. It means to say the same thing outwardly.
Philippians 2:10-11
That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess [exomologeomai] that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.3
You can confess Jesus as Lord now, and if it is coupled with believing that God raised him from the dead, receive salvation. Or you can confess he is Lord later, when it is too late to receive salvation.
After receiving salvation, a child of God needs to move ahead with God by renewing the mind. Confessing Jesus as Lord gets you through the door. Now you are in God’s living room, what comes next? Now, it is time to begin to know and manifest God’s heart.
Putting God’s Word in your heart, renewed mind, enables you to paristemi, stand alongside of your Heavenly Father. Part of renewing the mind is your confession. What you are saying to your nous every single day?
Jesus could say to Philip, he who has seen me has seen the Father. You want to be able to say the same thing; make the same outward confession.
Romans 3:24
Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
What does it mean to be freely justified by God’s grace?
Like the Pharisees questioning the man born blind about whether he ever was blind, you can rest assured the adversary will question whether you were really justified.
2 Corinthians 5:21
For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Now, consider this verse replacing the pronouns with names.
2 Corinthians 5:21
For God has made Jesus to be a sin offering for [place your name here], Jesus never sinned, so that [place your name here] might be made as righteous as God.
Religious leaders of his day called Jesus a sinner, read John 9 again. Yet God says here in Corinthians that Jesus knew no or committed no sin. Will others label you as they labeled Jesus? Will you question yourself the first time you make a mistake?
What will you confess to your nous?
The kosmos will fight using all its tricks to deceive you and con you into confessing your identification in the world. Change what you are feeding your nous and the kosmos can never beguile you again.
1 Corinthians 2:16
For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? but we have the mind of Christ.
With God’s gift of holy spirit created within us, as we put on God’s Word, we can walk forth with the mind of Christ.
___________________________________
1. Deuteronomy 30:19-20
2. 2 Corinthians 10:1-5
3. A more in-depth study of confession of sin belongs in a different teaching. Look for it in the archives.
© Auxano Ministry 2020
All verses in this teaching are from the King James Version of the Bible unless otherwise noted.
Mechanics of the Mind
