#DailyDevotion In Order To Be Saved Or Because We’re Saved?

Romans 10:8b–13

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); 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.  For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.  For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.”  For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him.  For, “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Just what kind of conditions is Paul talking about here? Many people take what Paul is saying here as if you confess and believe these things, that causes your salvation. However, I think instead what he is saying is if you believe and confess these things that shows you are in the condition that you are saved. For no one would confess and believe these things if they were not saved. No one can say or believe these things if they are not already regenerate, born again and have the Holy Spirit.

There will be many who say, “Lord, Lord” on the day of judgment but who will be condemned but it will be because they trusted in their own works rather than the work of Christ Jesus. They did not believe Jesus is Lord. What do we mean Jesus is Lord? We mean we confess Jesus is the Lord  of the Old Testament. In the Old Testament when you see Lord with small capital letters as I wrote a second ago, the Hebrew word there is YHWH, the name God gave the Israelites to call him. Only someone who is saved can confess with their mouth Jesus is that Lord, the one who made and talked with Adam and Eve. Jesus is the Lord who covenanted with Abram. Jesus is the Lord who delivered the Israelites from the Egyptians and led them through the wilderness. Jesus is the Lord who spoke through the prophets. Now Jesus is the Lord who became man, offered himself as a sacrifice for our sin and rose from the dead on the third day. No one can say Jesus is this Lord without the Holy Spirit.

Only someone who has the Holy Spirit can confess that and believe God the Father raised Jesus from the dead never to die again. It is a major article of the Christian faith that Jesus actually died on the cross and rose from the dead, bodily, a body made of flesh and bone, never to die again. Other heretical faiths deny one or both of these things. They are not saved. They do not have the Holy Spirit.

So call upon Jesus who is Lord. You will not be ashamed. He will save you. He is the Lord who is Lord of all, for he created all and all stand before him in judgment. Those who confessed his name and believed on him will receive the riches of his kingdom. Those who didn’t and wouldn’t will get what they deserve.

Heavenly Father, always give to us your Holy Spirit and faith that we may confess Jesus is Lord and believe in our hearts you raised him from the dead so on the day we are raised from the dead we may enter your kingdom in your righteousness. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.