So how
do we receive this salvation? There are
two elements that Paul points out that is important in obtaining salvation that
is found in verse 9: the mouth and the heart.
With the mouth we confess. With
the heart we believe. Let’s look at
verse 9
“That if
you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the
dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9)
There is no might, maybe, may.
Notice the phrase “will be saved.”
There is still a small requirement on our part. Remember, Jesus did the hardest part. He died.
So what is the requirement?
Confess. Believe. Let’s briefly look at these two words.
The word translated “confession” means “to assent, consent,
admit.” We are to confess the
Lord Jesus. The Word "confess" carries the idea of "saying the
same thing about". God wants the lost sinner to come to the place where he
can say the same thing about Jesus that God the Father has already said about
Him. We acknowledge that He is the only
way, truth, and life (John 14:6).
Confession is agreeing with something that others have said or maintained. So what are we confessing?
We confess that we are sinners.
We confess that we need a Savior.
We confess that Christ can save us.
We confess that He is Lord.
“Lord” is not a name that we call
Jesus. It is a position which we give to
Him in our life. To confess Jesus as
Lord is to say that He owns us.
Confessing Him as Lord is to say that He bought me with His life and
because of that I live for Him.
Remember, the only reason some people are never saved is not because God
cannot save them (or us), it is because we are not allowing Him to. Whether it is by our refusal to confess or
our refusal to believe.
In the heart we must believe. This word “belief” is a little deeper than
our understanding of belief. The word “belief”
here can also be translated “faith.”
Belief primarily remains in the head but faith affects the heart. Belief does not necessarily affect the way a
person lives but faith on the other hand affects how a person responds, reacts,
and lives. If we truly believe what God
has revealed about Himself, Christ, our sins, the consequences of sin (all
things Paul has talked about up to this point), and the result of forgiveness, then
faith will lead us to properly respond to it.
Notice that of all the miracles and
the revelation in the Gospels concerning Christ, Paul says that we must believe
the God raised Jesus from the dead. Why
this one. There are two likely reasons
that I think can help us understand why.
First, the life and the ministry of Jesus in this world culminated in
His resurrection. His resurrection
ensured the completion of His redemptive work.
His death paid the cost of sin.
His resurrection overcame the consequences of sin. Secondly, of all the miracles that Christ
did, His resurrection is the more difficult one to believe which leads us back
to confession. If we truly believe (have
faith) that Christ indeed was raised from the dead, then it will lead us to
respond that God’s Word is correct.
So how do we receive this gift of
salvation? Simply confess that you are a
sinner, that you need Christ in your life and that God is who He says He is and
that Jesus is what God has revealed about Him.
Ask God to forgive you of your sins and you will be saved. Need assurance? Read Romans 10:13:
for "WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE
SAVED."
(Romans 10:13)
Pray
this prayer with a genuine heart and you can receive the gift of salvation and
unlock God’s grace in your life.
God, I
know that I am a sinner. I know that I deserve the consequences of my sin.
However, I am trusting in Jesus Christ as my Savior. I believe that His death
and resurrection provided for my forgiveness. I trust in Jesus and Jesus alone
as my personal Lord and Savior. Thank you Lord, for saving me and forgiving me!
Amen!"
If
you have prayed this prayer and would like more information about what to do,
feel free to contact me and I will gladly assist you in any way in your
newfound journey with Christ at pastor.chris@hotmail.com.
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