I have been reading a thread that is generating some passionate discussion on Romans 10:9-10. Most Christians know these two verses because they are part of the "Romans Road" presentation of the gospel. Romans 10:9-10 reads:
"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; 10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation."
These two verses are not meant to stand by themselves. They are not intended to be a formula that a person follows in order to become a Christian, although belief and confession are an important part of conversion (more on that later). It is necessary to look at the larger context in which these two verses fit.
1. Paul is writing about the Jews. In Romans 10:1 Paul writes, "Brethren, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation." The "them" in 10:1 can be traced back to Romans 9:31-33, "31 but Israel, pursuing a law of righteousness, did not arrive at that law. 32 Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as though it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone, 33 just as it is written, “BEHOLD, I LAY IN ZION A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE, AND HE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.”
2. The Jews were trapped in a works-based righteousness system, trusting in adherence to the Mosaic Law rather than Christ (Romans 9:31-33; 10:1-5).
3. Paul references a passage from Deuteronomy to make the point that the Law itself testified of Christ; that Christ was so near to them but their blindness obscured their vision. In context the passage reads:
Deuteronomy 30:11-14 11 “For this commandment which I command you today is not too difficult for you, nor is it out of reach. 12 It is not in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will go up to heaven for us to get it for us and make us hear it, that we may observe it?’ 13 Nor is it beyond the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will cross the sea for us to get it for us and make us hear it, that we may observe it?’ 14 But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may observe it."
4. This brings us to the correct interpretation of Romans 10:9-10. Romans 10:9-10 is not reduced to just audibly confessing one's belief that "Jesus is Lord". It actually is a refutation of any works-based system of righteousness. In the Jews of Paul's time, it was trusting in the Mosaic Law. Today, it could just as easily be trusting in Christian religious tradition such as baptism or observing sacraments.
So, what about belief and confession? What exactly are they? Belief is the same thing as faith. It is impossible to become a Christian without saving faith. We are justified by faith. Faith is God-given. In fact, the emphasis on Romans 10:1-13 is on faith (belief):
Romans 10:11 For the Scripture says, “WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.”
Confession is simply the articulation of this internalized truth. To put it another way, confessing one's genuine faith in Christ is outward evidence that a person has been born again. Baptism is one of the first steps of obedience for a new believer. It is one of the "loudest" confessions a new believer can make regarding his faith. As a believer matures in his faith his life should be an endless series of confessions of that faith. In this way, Romans 10:9-10 is not to be placed in a glass case with a sign that reads, "Break only when needed for witnessing." We should always be ready to give an account for the hope that is within us (c.f. 1 Peter 3:15).
"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; 10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation."
These two verses are not meant to stand by themselves. They are not intended to be a formula that a person follows in order to become a Christian, although belief and confession are an important part of conversion (more on that later). It is necessary to look at the larger context in which these two verses fit.
1. Paul is writing about the Jews. In Romans 10:1 Paul writes, "Brethren, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation." The "them" in 10:1 can be traced back to Romans 9:31-33, "31 but Israel, pursuing a law of righteousness, did not arrive at that law. 32 Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as though it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone, 33 just as it is written, “BEHOLD, I LAY IN ZION A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE, AND HE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.”
2. The Jews were trapped in a works-based righteousness system, trusting in adherence to the Mosaic Law rather than Christ (Romans 9:31-33; 10:1-5).
3. Paul references a passage from Deuteronomy to make the point that the Law itself testified of Christ; that Christ was so near to them but their blindness obscured their vision. In context the passage reads:
Deuteronomy 30:11-14 11 “For this commandment which I command you today is not too difficult for you, nor is it out of reach. 12 It is not in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will go up to heaven for us to get it for us and make us hear it, that we may observe it?’ 13 Nor is it beyond the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will cross the sea for us to get it for us and make us hear it, that we may observe it?’ 14 But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may observe it."
4. This brings us to the correct interpretation of Romans 10:9-10. Romans 10:9-10 is not reduced to just audibly confessing one's belief that "Jesus is Lord". It actually is a refutation of any works-based system of righteousness. In the Jews of Paul's time, it was trusting in the Mosaic Law. Today, it could just as easily be trusting in Christian religious tradition such as baptism or observing sacraments.
So, what about belief and confession? What exactly are they? Belief is the same thing as faith. It is impossible to become a Christian without saving faith. We are justified by faith. Faith is God-given. In fact, the emphasis on Romans 10:1-13 is on faith (belief):
Romans 10:11 For the Scripture says, “WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.”
Confession is simply the articulation of this internalized truth. To put it another way, confessing one's genuine faith in Christ is outward evidence that a person has been born again. Baptism is one of the first steps of obedience for a new believer. It is one of the "loudest" confessions a new believer can make regarding his faith. As a believer matures in his faith his life should be an endless series of confessions of that faith. In this way, Romans 10:9-10 is not to be placed in a glass case with a sign that reads, "Break only when needed for witnessing." We should always be ready to give an account for the hope that is within us (c.f. 1 Peter 3:15).
