Confession: Most Protestants are inclined to say that confession is Catholic and stop there. Or we hear it said, “Confession is good for the soul.” Even then, we are likely to hear it like Roman Catholics^[1], to suppose it means that we are to recount our sins. We don’t need confession in our church! Or do we?

Paul gives us a model for confession of the faith in the Book of Romans. Recall that this book is a letter of introduction to the church in Rome. How does he make his introduction? With a confession of faith!

It is important to note here that Paul does not confess his sins in our lesson today. He begins by referring to the Word of faith (v.8b). Salvation, he says, comes as we confess that Jesus is Lord and believe that God raised him from the dead (v.9). One who believes is said to…