There are some who question there being multiple steps and conditions required for salvation. However, “the way of man is not in himself,” for “it is not in man who walks to direct his own steps” (Jer. 10:23). God is the author of salvation (Heb. 5:9), so we must respect and obey whatever conditions He specifies (and as many as He stipulates).
In order to be saved from his sins, man relies on God to do His part (which He has done and is doing), but man must fulfill the part that God has designed for him. As we have noted, that requires faith in Christ and repentance from sins (Acts 16:31; 17:30). Still, a sinner has not yet reached the promise of salvation from sin. The Bible also calls upon man to CONFESS HIS FAITH.
The New Testament does teach to “confess your sins to one another” (Jas. 5:16), but that instruction is given to Christians (after they have been saved), and there is no verse that requires alien sinners to confess their sins to anyone in order to be saved. But confession of faith is required.
There are numerous passages that place an emphasis on this confession. Paul wrote to Timothy of that occasion when the young man had “confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses” (1 Tim. 6:12). That “good confession” is the occasion when one would “confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus,” making the verbal expression of the heart that one believes “God has raised [Christ] from the dead” (Rom. 10:9; cf. Phil. 2:11). Peter confessed, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matt. 16:16; cf. Acts 8:37).
Such a confession of faith is tied directly to one’s salvation. As Timothy had “confessed…in the presence of many witnesses,” so Jesus said that the one who “confesses Me before men” (obviously, a public confession leading to conversion), “him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven” (Matt. 10:32). Paul emphasizes, “For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Rom. 10:10). There is no affirmation of the heart more precious than this!
Without a public confession of faith, one cannot be saved. Jesus acknowledged that fact in the verse following the promise of His own confession to His Father of those who confess Him. He warned, “But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven” (Matt. 10:33).
Every step in God’s plan has a purpose. One must be willing to publicly acknowledge his faith in Jesus Christ in order to be saved. Still, he is not saved yet. The Lord has yet one more step required of him, in order to have his sins forgiven.