Tim Maas Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army

To confess Jesus Christ is, first, to personally have faith in Jesus as one's Savior from sin through His death and resurrection -- the only means by which one can receive forgiveness of sin from God and eternal life in God's presence, rather than being eternally separated from God.

This faith should then result in those who confess it seeking to progressively become more and more like Christ in obedience to God and His commandments, and in love and service to others, throughout their earthly lives -- even to the point (if necessary) of laying down their lives rather than denying their faith. This mindset and conduct are also a form of confession, in that they are the visible (even if often silent) evidence of the person's beliefs.

Finally, there is the verbal confessing of one's faith, and the active sharing of it with others, so that they also may be saved. Jesus told His followers to go and make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19). Peter advised Christians to always be ready to give an answer to anyone who might ask them the reason for the hope that they have (1 Peter 3:15) -- which would, in turn, have been prompted by the Christian's conduct and words being markedly different (in a positive and joyful way) from those who do not yet have faith in Christ.

July 11 2016 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

John Appelt

Romans 10:9-10 speaks about confessing the Lord Jesus and it is thought that it is a necessary link with heart belief in order to be completely saved from hell. 

The context of Romans 9-11 is about what God has in store for the nation Israel. In rejecting Jesus the Messiah, they had rejected God’s righteousness and were due God’s judgment and wrath, Romans 9. Romans 10 shows the solution had to be national. To be right with God, Israel had to first believe that Jesus was the Messiah and then make it known by communicating it. If they would do it, then God would pass by them in judgment. As it was, the nation did not turn to God, which led to the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple in AD 70. Yet, Romans 11 promises the nation Israel will eventually be restored.

However, individual Jews did respond. They realized they had crucified Jesus, who was both Lord and Christ, Acts 2:36 and they who believed in Jesus repented and were baptized as instructed by Peter, Acts 2:38. In the book of Acts, only Jews were to repent and be baptized, just as those in Israel did when both John the Baptist and Jesus preached to Israel the message of repentance. 

Romans 10:9-10 means the Jews, who believed in Jesus and then confessed Him, would be spared judgment. Usually it is assumed the word “saved” means from eternal damnation. What evangelicals term as “saved” is what Paul called “justified” in the chapters that deal with it, Romans 2-4. Those Jews that believed were saved. By confessing Him, that is, repenting and being baptized, they took the necessary steps to be right with God. (It is an error to impose the requirement of repenting and being baptized upon people to be saved today.) 

In John 12:42-43, many rulers had believed in the Lord which meant they were saved. But because of fear they had not confessed Him, fearing they would be excommunicated, John 9:22. There is no concept that these rulers were not saved because they did not confess Jesus. It merely shows they had not taken the step to identify with Jesus as being His followers. 

Elsewhere in Scripture, confessing is never a requirement to be saved. In fact, confessing the name of God or Christ is something a believer does, Acts 19:18, Romans 14:11 compared with Isaiah 45:23, 24. Confessing Christ is to publicly identify with Him having already believed on Him. It is not about eternal destiny, but it is about discipleship.

In Matthew 10:32, Luke 12:8 Jesus said He will honor those who confess or acknowledge Him before men. Then in the following verses, Matthew 10:33, Luke 12:9, He said he would deny those who denied Him. The person denying Jesus is not disowned by God or Jesus, or be in a position to lose his salvation, but instead he will lose rewards. Those who are faithful and, by implication, confess Him will be rewarded, Revelation 3:5.

November 05 2022 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report