Romans 10:9 Salvation

Romans 10:9
That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you shall be saved.

That must be read in context. But amen! That means turning away from unrighteousness (2 Timothy 2:19, James 1:21) -- that's repentance, and becoming obedient to Jesus in all (James 1:22, Luke 6:46, Matthew 7:21) -- that's faith. 

Hebrews 5:9
And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him

Acts 20:20-21

And [you know] how I did not hold back from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you publicly and from house to house, 21 testifying both to Jews and to Greeks repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus.

Picture by FotoRieth from Pixabay.com.

The context of that verse (Romans 10:9) refers to Deuteronomy 30 that calls to obedience to God. But when this believing in Romans 10:9 is disconnected from the call to obey God, that is a deceptive use of the scriptures. That one verse is not the gospel when it is twisted that way and believing is just a mental agreement to those facts that Jesus is the Son of God who died for the sins of the world and was raised from the dead. A person can believe all those things but not actually regard Jesus' words as commandments to obey from the heart (Romans 10:10) and never hears about nor understands the call to repentance. There won't be salvation based on Romans 10:9 in that case.

Deuteronomy 30:11-14
1 For this commandment which I command you this day, it is not hidden from you, neither is it far off. 12 It is not in heaven, that you should say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it to us, that we may HEAR it, and DO it? 13 Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it to us, that we may HEAR it, and DO it? 14 But the word is very near to you, in your mouth, and in your heart, that you may DO it.

Here is Romans 10:5-9
5 For Moses writes about the righteousness of the law, "The one who DOES them [the works of the Law] will live by them." 6 But the righteousness which is of faith says this, "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, which we preach: 9 that if you shall confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and shall believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you shall be saved (you shall live by doing these things).

So, if someone believes that Jesus is Lord, then that person will hear and obey Him (not the works of the Law). And it's the obedience of that person from the heart that proves he/she truly believes that Jesus is Lord. So, anyone who is introduced to what Romans 10:9 says should also be reminded of these words of Jesus:

Luke 6:46-49
46 “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not DO the things which I say? 47 Everyone who comes to me, and HEARS my words, and DOES them, I will show you who he is like. 48 He is like a man building a house, who dug and went deep, and laid a foundation on the rock. When a flood arose, the stream broke against that house, and could not shake it, because it was founded on the rock. 49 But he who HEARS, and DOESN'T DO, is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream broke, and immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great.”

Matthew 7:21
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who DOES the will of My Father who is in heaven.

John 14:15
“If you love me, keep my commandments."

John 12:48
He who rejects me, and does not receive my words, has that which judges him—the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day.

We know that faith comes by hearing the word of God (Romans 10:17). And that hearing for those who have ears to hear then must be followed by their doing of that word (putting it into practice/obeying God's commandments). So, no one can be saved with Romans 10:9 without being a disciple of Jesus who receives his words and walks according to his words:

John 8:31-32
31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in my word, you are my disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

John 15:10
If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.

Knowing Romans 10:9 alone then saves no one. But if a person agrees with Jesus and receives his words, then his understanding and application of Romans 10:9 will without doubt bring him to salvation in Jesus Christ.

James 1:21-22
21 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But BE DOERS OF THE WORD, AND NOT HEARERS ONLY, DECEIVING YOUR OWN SELVES.
 
Faith Inplies Obedience (disobedience is unbelief).

This is the rest of Romans 10 that makes it amply clear that faith implies obedience:
Romans 10:8-21
8 But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth, and in your heart;" that is, the word of faith, which we preach: 9 that if you shall confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and shall believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you shall be saved. 10 For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the scripture says, Whosoever believes on him shall not be ashamed. 12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! 16 But THEY HAVE NOT ALL OBEYED THE GOSPEL. For Isaiah says, Lord, WHO HAS BELIEVED OUR REPORT? 17 So then FAITH comes by HEARING, and hearing by the WORD OF GOD. 18 But I say, HAVE THEY NOT HEARD? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world. 19 But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses says, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you. 20 But Isaiah is very bold, and says, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me. 21 But to Israel he says, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a DISOBEDIENT and gainsaying people.

Lastly, the following is also one way Jesus' apostles knew Him and presented Him to people they preached to: a prophet whose coming was announced since Moses' time. Those who knew the scriptures made no mistake on his identity. He was a prophet whose words should be heard and obeyed, lest the people perish in their sins!

Acts 3:22-26
22  For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall you hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. 23  AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS, THAT EVERY SOUL, WHICH WILL NOT HEAR THAT PROPHET, SHALL BE DESTROYED FROM AMONG THE PEOPLE. 24  Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days. 25  You are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in your seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed. 26  Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.

That is hardly how people regard Jesus when they are shown Romans 10:9 to get saved. Most who hear from preachers who use Romans 10:9 deceitfully and skip repentance altogether don't obey Jesus and turn from their iniquities. So, Jesus doesn't do for them what He came to do for them either because they are believing lies.

« Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity. » – 2 Timothy 2:19


See also:
Faith Implies Obedience

The Salvation of the Thief Who Was on the Cross

"Coming as you are" to God does imply a changed heart   

The Goal of Repentance - video

Faith in Jesus

Free doesn't mean easy

Complete Surrender - video

The work of the Gospel