Confessing The Lord Jesus As Savior

Romans 10:8-13

As we read through Scriptures, we see that one needs to be saved in order to enter heaven when one dies.  Many people have mistakenly thought that one gets to heaven by living a “good” life and performing “good” deeds, but the Bible is clear that it is not good works that ensures heaven.  It is salvation through God’s only Son, Jesus Christ. How does one get saved? Paul, in our passage here from the Book of Romans, gives us a clear answer. Let’s take a close look, and my prayer is, if someone reading this has not taken this step, that they will do that today.

In verse 8, the “it” that Paul refers to is the Word of God, the Bible, and he quotes from the Old Testament Book of Deuteronomy 30:14. God has clearly revealed the way of salvation through His Word, Bible. God’s way of salvation is right in front of us. It is not something hidden from knowledge.  We need to respond to it, and accept His gift of salvation to us. And for those of us who are already saved, we need to be preaching the Word of God in our churches today. The lost do not need “feel good” messages, but old fashioned salvation through the Blood of Jesus.

Verse 9 tells us very clearly that salvation can only come through faith in Jesus Christ.  No amount of good works can ever be sufficient to earn God’s approval, nor following any other religion. Confessing the Lord Jesus is not simply acknowledging that Jesus is God. Even the demons acknowledge this (James 2:19).  It is having a deep, personal conviction, without any reservations, that Jesus is one’s own personal Savior. It includes repentance from sin, trusting Jesus for salvation, and submitting to Him as Lord.

Paul also states in verse 9 that one must believe in their heart that God raised Jesus from the dead.  Belief in the resurrection is necessary for salvation. The resurrection proved that Jesus was who He said He was.  It also showed that God the Father accepted Jesus’ sacrifice in place of the sinners. Without the resurrection, there is no salvation.

The “confession” in verse 10 means to be in agreement with someone.  If we confess Jesus is Lord, we are in agreement with God the Father.  This is a promise of God to us, but one that is a conditional promise. We have to do our part, which is to confess and believe.  Then God will do His part, which is to save us, and take us to heaven when we die. We can trust that God will keep His side of the agreement (vs. 11).  If we call upon Him for salvation, He will save us. He will never fail to provide forgiveness and salvation to all who ask.

Verse 11 gives us a reference from Isaiah 49:23.  Salvation by grace through faith alone has always been God’s plan.  No one, including Gentiles, was ever to be excluded (vs. 12).  The word “whoever” includes everyone. There is no distinction made by God to whoever comes to Him for salvation.  All are welcomed and accepted, whether Jew, Gentile, male, female, any race, any nationality.

Paul concludes this passage in verse 13 with a quote from the prophet Joel 2:32.  Salvation is available for everyone of all nations and races. To call on the Name of the Lord is calling to the one, true God as He has revealed Himself in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Salvation is as close as our own mouth and heart.  It is not a complicated process. If we believe, not just head knowledge, but with our heart, that Jesus is God’s Son and Savior, and believe that God raised Him from the dead, we will be saved.  Come to the Savior today! He has shown you the way.