Problem: Romans 10:9-10
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.
Solution: Confessing Christ with one’s mouth is not something that a person does to be saved; it is something a saved person does. Those who are saved are ashamed of their sin and proud of their Saviour! Just as it is natural for a newborn baby to open its mouth and cry, so it is only natural for a sinner saved by grace to open his mouth and give full credit to Christ. “Let the redeemed of the Lord say so!” (Psalm 107:2). “Saying so” is not something that a person does to be redeemed; it is something a redeemed person does!”
The key verse is Romans 10:10
This verse explains verse 9 (“for“) and gives the proper order or sequence of events: first comes belief and then confession should follow. “With the heart man believes unto righteousness“–compare Romans 4:3,5 (a person believes God and it is counted unto him for righteousness). Believing is inward; confession is outward (just as the heart and the mouth—the heart is inward and not visible; the mouth is outward and visible).
CONFESSION IS FAITH MADE AUDIBLE! Faith takes place in the heart and no one can see your faith. When we open our mouth and share with others what Christ has done for us and what a wonderful Saviour He is, then we are making our faith audible and clear to others. [Confession is faith made audible just as good works are faith made visible–see James 2:14-26.] How can I know whether you really are saved unless you confess and tell me so? Before a person ever confesses Christ with his lips he has already believed on Christ in his heart. Confessing Christ goes hand in hand with saving faith. If we are really saved, should we not say so? If we are really redeemed, should we not say so (Psalm 107:2)? How can a true believer be ashamed of what Christ has done for him? Should I not speak out and be proud of the One who died for me?
“Confession is made unto salvation.” This does not mean that confession is a condition of salvation, but rather that confession is a natural result or evidence of salvation. A person does not confess Christ in order to be saved; he confess Christ because he is saved. Confession is not something that a person does to be saved; confession is something that a saved person does! Faith must be expressed outwardly and publicly. Believing is the root; confession is the fruit. Everyone who truly believes should confess Christ (Matthew 10:32; Rom.10:9 and compare Rev. 3:5). However not everyone who confesses Christ is a true believer (see Matthew 7:23; Titus1:16 and 2 Timothy 2:19). In God’s army there is no place for “secret believers.” May we never be ashamed of our Commander-in-Chief (2 Timothy 2:3-4)!
Just as a label on a can proclaims its contents, so it is that by confession the believer proclaims who lives within (2 Cor.13:5 “….Jesus Christ is in you”). See also Galatians 2:20.
