Just say the magic words, “Jesus is Lord,” and confess that Jesus died and rose again and you will be saved. Right? Because it says right here:
“If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9).
The problem is that this verse is used outside of context and becomes a magic formula. The word are good and important to confess out loud and publically. Because it is a calling on the name of the Lord from the heart.
The issue is when it stops there. It is not a one time confession and nothing happens after that. It is the ongoing confession of a life where Jesus is Lord every day, and we trust in his death and resurrection at all times.
No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it” (Deuteronomy 30:14; cf Romans 10:8).
Paul adds it is “the word of faith we are proclaiming” because that faith comes from the heart and is expressed through the words of your mouth.
It is not simply a recitation of the mouth. It is a proclamation from the heart, that is declared by the mouth, that is supported by the life of faith.
“For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved” (Romans 10:10).
Western culture often associates belief of the heart as mere mental acknowledgement. But as we see from the context of Deuteronomy 30 where these Scriptures rooted, it is about a life that declares faith, in particular faith in Christ. It is not mental acknowledgement, but rather a life that is lived by faith.
We know that for sure because the following says with your mouth you “profess your faith.” It has all been about the life of faith.
So first and foremost the context, especially from Deuteronomy 30 where these verses are taken, it is about the life of faith. Not just magic words to be saved, but a life that continually confesses Christ as Lord, believing in his death and resurrection.
But there’s the context of Romans that is also overlooked. Once again, if this is taken just as magic words and the rest of Romans is left out, we miss key parts of salvation.
What else is included in the salvation process?
1) Repentance
Repentance has always been part of salvation. It is the first message that Jesus, John the Baptist, Peter and the apostles all preached. Salvation is not just magic words of “Jesus is Lord,” there’s more to it than that. There’s repentance.
“Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?” (Romans 2:4).
2) Baptism
Baptism was the way one united with Christ. It is how we join with him in his death in order that we may live a new life,
“Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life” (Romans 6:2-4).
Once again, magic words of “Jesus is Lord” is incomplete. There’s a bigger picture here. These themes are affirmed repeatedly throughout Scripture. So what is the gospel message?
1) God is perfect in righteousness and holiness – Romans 1:20
2) Man is sinful and completely separated from God. Our penalty is death and eternal separation – Romans 3
3) We cannot earn salvation through our good works. Our good deeds are never enough – Romans 3:20
4) Jesus came as God in flesh, dying on the cross, to reconcile us back to God. In doing so, those who put their faith in Him will receive God’s righteousness (Romans 4).
5) We must humble ourselves, turn from our sins (repent) – Romans 2:4, unite ourselves with him (be baptism) – Romans 6:2-4, and put our trust in Jesus Christ for our salvation (faith) – the whole book of Romans.
The fruit?
1) Jesus is Lord by the evidence of our lives – Romans 10:8
2) We speak about our faith and take it the nations – Romans 10:10-17
3) We love one another – Romans 13:8