Romans 10:1-11 "Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to GOD for Israel is, that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of GOD, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of GOD's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of GOD. For CHRIST is the end of the Law for righteousness to every one that believeth. For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the Law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.
But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into Heaven ? (that is, to bring CHRIST down from above:) Or, Who shall descend into the deep ? (that is, to bring up CHRIST again from the dead.) But what saith it ? The WORD is nigh thee, even in thy 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."
"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the LORD JEUS, and shalt believe in thine heart that GOD hath raised HIM from the dead, thou shalt be saved" (v.9). Confessing CHRIST with one's mouth is not something that a person does in order to be saved; it is something a saved person does. Those who are saved are to be ashamed of their sin and proud of their SAVIOR ! Just as it is natural for a newborn baby to open his mouth and cry, so it is only natural for a sinner saved by grace to open his mouth and acknowledge CHRIST as their personal SAVIOR. "Let the redeemed of the LORD say so" (Psalm 107:2) ! Romans 10:10, pictured above, gives the chronological order: First comes belief and then confession follows. Believing is inward; confession is outward. Confessing CHRIST is making our faith audible ! When we open our mouth and share what JESUS has done for us and what HE means to us, then we are expressing our faith and making it clear to others. How can one know whether another person is saved unless he says so ?
Before a person can ever genuinely confess CHRIST with his mouth, he must already have believed on JESUS in his heart. Believing is the root; confession is the fruit. Faith should be expressed outwardly and publicly, and all who believe should confess CHRIST. However, not everyone who does profess CHRIST is a true believer (Matthew 7:21-23 pictured above; Titus 1:16; 2nd.Timothy 2:19). Merely claiming to be a Christian does not make a person saved.
GOD's army is no place for "secret believers." May we never be ashamed of our COMMANDER in CHIEF (2nd.Timothy 2:3-4) ! Just as a label on a can declares its contents, so by confessing JESUS CHRIST we proclaim WHO lives within (Colossians 1:27 pictured above; 2nd.Corinthians 13:5). GWZ
Your servant in CHRIST,
Julie
Copyright, FEATURE: A Daily Bible Study Guide.
Used with permission. www.featoday.org
https://www.fivestarchristianministries.com/salvation
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