Romans 10:5–11 (ESV) —
5 For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them. 6 But the righteousness based on faith says, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ down) 7 “or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); 9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 11 For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.”
NOTE: Paul is contrasting two ways to salvation. If you can keep the whole law, you could be saved by works. But Paul has already demonstrated that is impossible to keep the law. But salvation is available to those who confess and believe -- a free gift offered to all mankind, Jew and Gentile.
No heroic attempts to storm the citadel of heaven or the kingdom of the dead are needed. Christ the Saviour is here, incarnate and risen.”47
Mounce says "outward confession stems from a profound inward conviction." It is not enough to say the words or even to intellectually accept the truth. It is not considered works to confess sin and believe in your heart in Jesus. The world system and the enemy of our faith wants us to believe in religion, good works, or that no God exists. We must not be fooled by his schemes but believe in God's truth as given in his Word, the bible.
PONDER:
- Who do I listen to?
- What do I truly believe? All the answers are in the bible.
PRAYER: Father, thank you that nothing is required of me but to confess and believe. If more was required, I would have surely failed you.
47 Hunter, Romans, 95.
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