Romans 10:5-10
For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them. But the righteousness based on faith says, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down) “or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 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.
COMMENT
I tend to hear the latter part of this section a lot. To me, it is the closest you can come to the "say a prayer and you're saved" thinking of some. All you have to do is confess Jesus, and only once! All you have to do is believe, if only for a moment! But what about the larger context?
In this section, Paul is apparently referencing Deut. 30:11-14. He is reminding the reader that God's commandments are not our of reach, and sharing the importance of the fact that a life of faith does not use the excuse that we cannot live a sinless life, so God does not expect that from us. Then Paul speaks of believing in our heart, not a one time belief or statement, but a belief that has changed us (repentance). Confession, likewise, is not a one time statement or action, but the result of our belief. This is for all, not just the Jew. Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. No, we will not attain perfection this side of eternity. If that were true, then there would have to be a point when our sanctification stopped, because we had achieved perfection. But we strive, we keep pressing on, we do not give up.
I tend to hear the latter part of this section a lot. To me, it is the closest you can come to the "say a prayer and you're saved" thinking of some. All you have to do is confess Jesus, and only once! All you have to do is believe, if only for a moment! But what about the larger context?
In this section, Paul is apparently referencing Deut. 30:11-14. He is reminding the reader that God's commandments are not our of reach, and sharing the importance of the fact that a life of faith does not use the excuse that we cannot live a sinless life, so God does not expect that from us. Then Paul speaks of believing in our heart, not a one time belief or statement, but a belief that has changed us (repentance). Confession, likewise, is not a one time statement or action, but the result of our belief. This is for all, not just the Jew. Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. No, we will not attain perfection this side of eternity. If that were true, then there would have to be a point when our sanctification stopped, because we had achieved perfection. But we strive, we keep pressing on, we do not give up.
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