Thoughts on Psalm 119:13

13 With my lips I have declared

All the judgments of Your mouth.

This verse perfectly defines the word “confession.” 

Confession has often been associated with “confessing one’s sins.” That is - acknowledging to God that I have sinned and asking for forgiveness. And while there is a place for that, it is not the fundamental meaning of the word “confess”.

The greek word for “confess” is homologeo, which simply means “to say the same as another.” (homo = same, logos = word)

In our case, confession it is to “say the same as the word of God.” Exactly as the psalmist here says, “with my lips I have declared all the judgments of Your mouth.” 

This is a very simple concept, but when applied to spiritual truths has a profound eternal impact. Revisiting our recent example, God’s word says “you were a sinner, but now you are a new creation, you are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus” - if you say, “I am a sinner” then you are not confessing - you are not saying the same as God’s word.

This is an example of  true confession:

“I was crucified with Christ. I am dead to sin, so how shall I live any longer in it? I am born of God, and His seed remains in me, therefore I cannot sin. I am in Christ; I am a new creation. Old things have passed away, all things have become new. Jesus became sin with my sinfulness so that I could become the righteousness of God in Him.”

Gal 2:20, Rom 6:1-2, 1 John 3:9, 2 Cor 5:17,21

Recall the Parable of the Sower - one of the ground types that did not bear any fruit failed because it “lacked moisture.” Luke 8:6.  Confession - saying the same as God’s word - is one key way of watering the seed that has been planted in your heart.

When God speaks to us, He redefines what we thought to be true and gives us a whole new paradigm. The truth will set us free. But our current situation doesn’t look anything like what He speaks to us. Often the exact opposite of what He said happens (e.g.: Joseph dreams his brothers bow down to him, then he finds himself in a pit looking up at that them! Gen 37:7,24)

But the seed has only been planted. It needs to take root and be watered. 

Therefore let us water the seeds that have been planted by confessing - saying the same as God’s Word - until that seed grows and bears fruit - some 30, some 60, and some 100 times what was sown.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.