A blog series on finding Salvation in Christ Alone
"Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” Matthew 7:13-14
THE ROAD TO CONFESSION AND BELIEF
"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." Romans 10:9-10
I look back over the past forty-one years of my life and realize there have been many milestones that I have had the privilege of celebrating. Many birthdays, a couple of graduations, births of two of my children, the adoption of my third, and many many more amazing moments. And just as these moments were life-changing, there was one day almost two decades ago that not only changed my life and changed my course but also changed my last name.
One of the greatest days of my life was the one when I stood up in front of my family and closest friends and said “I Do” to my best friend. We did not just happen to end up at the same place with a Pastor there and decide on a whim that it would be a great day to get married. Over a period of getting to know one another and dating, we fell in love and decided that we wanted to spend the rest of our lives together as husband and wife. With this commitment came a promise that we made to one another. When we both repeated those two words to each other that day we vowed to commit our lives to one another –to love one another –cherish one another –until the end of our lives on earth. This decision meant that our lives from here on out would change. We would be married and no longer single, therefore the old life –the single life would be gone. We would not behave as if we were single, because we were not. We would still be two separate individuals, but we would now be united as one from that day forward.
Over the past several weeks of this blog series, we have discussed what Salvation in Christ is, the recognition that we are all sinners and in need of a savior, the consequence of that sin, and the gift of grace from God. Today we are going to discuss confession and belief in Jesus Christ.
Those two words spoken on our wedding day may seem simple, but they are immensely powerful. However, the power does not come solely from the words –the words are made significant because of the love and commitment that is in our hearts. But had we left our Wedding Ceremony and gone back to the life we were living prior to that day; the objective of our Wedding would be in serious question as would our commitment to one another. And as much as I hesitate to compare the union of two human beings to that of our relationship with a Holy God, I would say it is applicable because the marriage between a man and a woman was God’s idea.
If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, you will be saved –for with the mouth one confesses and is saved. (Part of Romans 10:9-10)
Confession with your mouth for the purpose of Salvation in Christ means that we confess or agree that God is who He said He is from the beginning of time. And that we trust that He sent His son Jesus to die on the Cross to take away our sins so that we could be reunited into a right relationship with a Holy God. This statement of confession is acknowledging the belief that lies in your heart. Therefore, these words are not just words. When they are spoken as a result of your belief about the true living God they are powerful. With the power of this prayer, our lives are impacted in the most amazing ways for here and for all of eternity.
Believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, and you will be saved. For with the heart, one believes and is justified. (Part of Romans 10:9-10)
If your confession is solely for the hope of assuring that you do not go to hell when you die –friend, you have missed the boat. These words of confession should result in belief which should then lead us to action and a changed life. If your mouth confesses but your heart does not believe in the greatness of God, you have missed the joy of abiding in Christ as your Lord and Savior.
The Bible tells us that when we understand our needs for a Savior, recognize the sin in our lives, repent from those sins, and confess with our mouths that Jesus is Lord; the posture of our heart changes because of our belief and trust in Him as our Savior. With this Salvation, we are now changed into a new creation. The old you is no longer, and the new you is alive in Christ. We are now committed to living a life that honors that commitment.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17
Over these last two decades, I am no more married than I was on the day that I said, “I Do”. The marriage certificate is still the same and so is my last name. But the relationship between myself and my husband is different in the best possible ways. The years spent together in the good and bad matured us and opened our eyes to the gift of this union. The same is true of our relationship with the Lord. We can never be any more saved than the day that we turn away from our old life, turn towards a new life in Christ and accept His free gift of Salvation. But resting and abiding in and with Him grows us, renews us, and continually transforms us more into the image of Jesus Christ.
If you have never trusted in God and invited Him to be the Lord over your life, I pray that you would start right here today. Recognize that your confession of who God is should be a result of the belief that is in your heart and a desire to give your life to Him.
If you have never found your hope and Salvation in the ONE TRUE GOD, my prayer is that you would seek him today and find your hope in Him. If you are ready to surrender your life to God here is a sample prayer that you can pray.
Dear God, Today I recognize my need for you in my life and proclaim the truth that “apart from you, I can do nothing.” I humble myself before you and confess to you that I am a sinner and in need of your grace. I believe that you are the One True God and that you sent your one and only son to die on the cross to save me from my sins. I believe that because of this I can have eternal life within you. I ask you now that you would cleanse me from these sins and create in me a clean heart. From this day forward I want to live my life solely for you as my Lord. Thank you for hearing my prayers and making me a new creation.
If you have questions or would like someone to pray with you or for you, please click the contact button below.
Our Bible Reading plan this week will cover confession and belief in God
Questions?
If you have questions or things that you don't understand, please email them to me and I will add them to the Q&A section. I can't promise you that I will have all of the answers, but I can promise I will do my best to find them if I don't have them.
Growing in God
Would you like a tool to encourage your growth in God? Check out my newly released 12-month spiritual disciplines book/journal. This journal will give you a brief understanding of 8 tangible spiritual disciplines as well as give you a space to implement these disciplines into your daily walk with God.