Although some, including some who would call themselves Christians, believe it is sufficient to believe or say they believe in Jesus Christ that he died for their sins and rose again from the dead to give them new life this is not what God's Word - the Holy Bible says. The Bible makes it clear that God expects those who trust in and follow Him through His Son Jesus Christ also make a verbal profession of faith in Jesus to be saved. The reason for this is that although God knows our hearts and perhaps some people who have not yet openly verbally confessed Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour have truly believed on Him as their Lord and Saviour other people can't see our hearts but can become aware of our beliefs if we confess them with our mouth. Although there could be some excuse for not confessing with one's mouth the Lord Jesus in some countries where there is serious penalty for doing this such as some Muslim countries like Saudi Arabia or perhaps Yemen or in Afghanistan before western countries overthrew the Taliban regime there is absolutely no excuse in most countries including all western countries for not publicly, verbally confessing Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour for those who believe in Him. Even in those Muslim countries with heavy persecution of Christians especially of those who are former Muslims or to some extent other countries such as China and Vietnam or Laos or some parts of India where there is also heavy persecution of Christians, many new believers are publicly professing Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour and God is blessing them individually and the Church in general for this with His power, presence and grace and joy that would probably be not so available or shown without the courage of these believers to publicly confess with their mouth the Lord Jesus Christ. This world is in general directed and particularly influenced by Satan or Lucifer the god of this world and is opposed and intolerant of true Christians or Christianity especially when it is openly professed but God wants believers to publicly show we as believers in His Son Jesus Christ have another Lord and authority in God's Son Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour as well as being loyal to God's Heavenly Kingdom. Professing Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour and the repurcussions of this which will probably include at least losing many of one's former worldly friends is part of the cost even in the west of following Jesus Christ in a genuine and real way. Besides some of these former worldly friends can and sometimes do become believers as well when we are bold enough to take a stand for Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour.
The author of this scripture, the apostle Paul as inspired by the Holy Spirit, says the word of faith (in the Lord Jesus Christ) is in the heart and mouth of the true believer in God and Jesus or in a true Christian. The apostle Paul then lists two things necessary for salvation for the unbeliever to become a new believer or disciple of Jesus Christ. These are to confess the Lord Jesus Christ or to confess Jesus Christ as Lord and to believe in one's heart that God has raised him from the dead. Of course this means that part of our profession should be that we believe that Jesus Christ rose from the dead as he couldn't be a fit Lord who could bring us salvation from sin and give the promise of eternal life if He Himself didn't overcome death and show by his resurrection that he had satisfied God the Father by Jesus' payment for our sins on the cross immediately prior to His resurrection. Belief in Jesus and His resurrection implied that we also believe that he died for our sins. I used to believe and was led to believe this verse was about believing that Jesus died for my sins. Although that might be implied the emphasis is clearly on believing he rose bodily from the dead. Also just saying and acting that confessing Jesus with our lives is sufficient to confess him as our Lord and Saviour and that we don't have to confess him with our mouth as well is contrary to the clear teachings of this and other scriptures and shows fearfulness of what unsaved people might thing, say or do. Some people who follow this path can and sometimes are wrongly assumed to follow other religions or no religion at all because it is not clear to others that they stand on faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. In verse 10 of this chapter it is made perfectly clear to all that it is with the mouth or by verbally professing Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour that we make profession of him unto salvation and that anything short of this is short of salvation. It is also significant that the Lord Jesus Christ said in another scripture out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks meaning what is foremost in our hearts should come out in our speech including our regard of Jesus Christ as Lord as well as Saviour. The passage goes on to say that whosoever calls on the name of the Lord shall not be ashamed which refers especially to praying audibly to God and then or other times to profess Jesus before other people. To call upon the Lord means to confess that we are sinners and can't save ourselves and want to receive the Jesus Christ as our Saviour who died in our place and yield our lives to Him as our Lord for the rest of our lives. The scripture reference in Romans 10 of the need to confess Jesus Christ with our mouth as Lord is as follows:
But what saith it? The word is nigh thee (you), even in thy (your) mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek (representing the Gentiles or non-Jews): for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that shall call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Romans 10:8-13
For more information, comments, questions or advice contact Doug at Contact Spirit and Truth Ministries
Spirit and Truth Ministries Homepage