Spiritual valor manifests itself at specific occasions. It reveals itself, in word and deed, in the manifestation of the grace which is within us, our faith in Christ, our love toward Him, and our hope in Him. The enemies cannot tolerate this light, and they therefore resist it and assault those who cause this light to shine forth. The valiant person does not yield to them, however; he presents himself publicly with that much more freedom by way of a steadfast confession. The word “confession” (or profession) means: to make known, to reveal, to admit, to declare publicly, to promise, and to thank. All of this applies, for a confession is a revelation of the disposition of our heart toward certain matters. Sometimes it is used in reference to the confession of sin—which one admits to have committed—either against God: “I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord” (Ps 32:5; Matt 3:6); or to each other: “Confess your faults one to another” (James 5:16).
However, we are here discussing a profession as it pertains to making a declaration 1) about God: “Every tongue shall confess to God” (Rom 14:11); 2) about Christ: “And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord” (Phil 2:11); 3) concerning true holiness and godliness: “… professing godliness” (1 Tim 2:10); and 4) concerning true doctrine (Titus 1:9).
Profession of the truth is the unwavering witness, in word and deed, of the truth of God as it is revealed, acknowledged, and believed—a truth which leads man unto salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ. This profession is to the glory of God and the salvation of our neighbor.
It is a witness. God neither wants His truth, nor the grace which He has bestowed upon someone, to remain hidden; rather He wills that light would shine forth out of darkness. Furthermore, He wills that those in whose hearts the light has shined and who are light in the Lord would let their light shine before men (Matt 5:16). Such are called witnesses for Christ. “Ye shall be witnesses unto Me” (Acts 1:8); “…Antipas was My faithful martyr (Rev 2:13); “The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through Him might believe” (John 1:7). The act of witnessing pertains to the revealed truth of God, or generally speaking to all that God communicates in His Word—and in particular the way whereby God leads the elect unto salvation. Occasionally, without any further modification, this is referred to as truth. “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32); “… even as thou walkest in the truth” (3 John 1:3). At times there is modification: “The way of truth” (2 Pet 2:2), “the word of truth” (James 1:18), “the truth of the gospel” (Gal 2:5), “the truth of Christ” (2 Cor 11:10). Believers rely upon this truth, and to this truth they bear witness, while rejecting all errors.
Christ is the marrow of this truth. The truth reveals Christ as to who He is in His Person; who He is in His divine and human natures and in His offices of Prophet, Priest, and King; and who He is in His states of humiliation (that is, His suffering and death and its efficacy unto reconciliation and the meriting of salvation for the elect) and exaltation: His resurrection, ascension, sitting at the right hand of God, and coming to judgment. This Jesus is the object of confession. “Whosoever therefore shall confess Me before men …” (Matt 10:32); “If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus …” (Rom 10:9). The Lord Jesus is the eternal way of salvation. “Neither is there salvation in any other” (Acts 4:12); “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me” (John 14:6). He is therefore called “the captain of their salvation” (Heb 2:10). A professor of the truth bears witness to Him as He is revealed in His Word, and declares that all men who are outside of Him perish and that all who believe in Him are led unto salvation by Him.
In order for someone to bear witness to this truth, he must both be acquainted with and believe it. Thus this profession is the witness of a truth which is both acknowledged and believed. To profess something with which we are not acquainted is nothing but foolishness. Such is the practice of the papists: “I believe what the church believes.” To profess that which we do not believe is nothing but hypocrisy. Scripture therefore speaks of “knowledge of the truth” (Rom 2:20), “the acknowledgment of the mystery of God” (Col 2:2), “the knowledge of God” (Col 1:10), “the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (2 Pet 3:18), and “knowledge of salvation” (Luke 1:77). He must not only know the truth but he must also believe it. Knowledge and faith are therefore conjoined. “And we believe and are sure that Thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God” (John 6:69); “… add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge” (2 Pet 1:5). Profession of the truth does not only require that we bear witness to the truth that Christ is the only way of salvation, but it is also a declaration of our faith in Him and of our hope upon Him. “King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets” (Acts 26:27). This profession is therefore called “the profession of our faith” (Heb 10:23). The apostle confirms this: “Be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear” (1 Pet 3:15).