Confession Unto Salvation

Romans 10:8-10 is a staple of Baptist and Faith only doctrine. Yet, it seems to say they aren't saved. They do not meet the requirements of the passage. In English it reads different than Greek, because the Greek has a definite article before the word faith. "The faith" The English says the word "of Faith", which isn't quite accurate. Also it is common to hear baptists say you just have to believe in Jesus, but this passage is equally about believing in the one who raised Jesus, his Father.

The chapter is a statement against self imposed law. Romans 10:3, go about to establish their own righteousness.

Romans 10 also has some mistranslation within the verses. There are definite articles added and some left out, which changes the context. It is common for faith only groups to say believe "Jesus is Lord and you are saved", but the text doesn't contain the command as a one time act, the Romans have already believed so it is requiring an ongoing belief. It isn't a one time command but something ongoing.  Early in Romans 10 Paul explains the law requires continuous action. One must follow law continuously to maintain ones righteousness. One moment of not acting correctly and you lose your righteousness. The Jews then made it worse by adding their own commands, thus trying to establish their own righteousness. The Jews saw the Law of Moses as a shell to build around. Moses' law did not lead to personal righteousness and when you added extra laws it became worse. If you add laws and require continuous compliance it is failure.

Romans 10 does not dismiss baptism because it isn't self imposed like Jewish law and is established by Christ. Jewish law was self-imposed in many areas by their leaders.  Baptism was also not continuous, you did not have to do it daily, weekly, or yearly. It was a one time act and all that was needed was continuous faith in its purpose and viability. Baptism confessed the raising and lordship of Christ. Those using Romans 10 to overturn baptism are just missing the point.

The word translated believe in Romans 10 has a meaning that is more like to be entrusted with. It is the idea of a stewardship. In some cases the word believe has the idea of giving oneself over to something. Look at Deuteronomy 32:37 where some translate believe in idols and others translate given over to idols. It includes the worship involved as they trust in the idol. It isn't the idea of mental belief only but belief lived out in actions like a steward of a religion.

The confession required is the acknowledgement of the "saying" of the word preached. In Greek it means that you must have a continued confession of Christian doctrine. This is after original salvation through the plan of salvation, including baptism. One must continue to believe in baptism and other doctrines such as the Lordship of Christ and the resurrection. Baptism would have no real meaning without the continued belief in the burial and resurrection. So he is stressing continued belief and confession lived out until salvation is realized at the judgment. Also, it requires we believe in Christ as Lord presently. Most baptists and pentecostals see Christ's reign as future. Such theology is completely in contradiction to Romans 10. You must believe in the Lord Jesus presently. Sorry premillinialists, but you don't meet the requirement Paul lays down.

The Baptists believe we must bring Christ down from heaven to rule 1000 years on earth, but Paul disqualifies this theory in Romans 10:6

"Who will ascend into heaven that is to bring Christ down"

This disqualifies the idea of a rapture where the dead or living are raptured and then ascend back to earth with Jesus. No one can get him and then bring him back down. He is appointed to rule from heaven, but rules all creation. They use Revelation 20 to say Christ's earthly reign is future, but Revelation 20 is speaking of the martyrs reigning with him, so he has to reign at the time the martyrs were killed, not at some distant future event. Christ reigns today. Martyrs no longer live on earth so it isn't Christ reigning on earth.

This also effects Catholic theology who build an idol or statue or trinket and then call Christ or a spirit to live in it as they pray to it. We can't call the spirit of Christ from heaven. Nor can we appoint a vicar to rule in his place. Christ rules from heaven but his realm includes earth. He is in no need of a vicar.

Romans 10:8

but what says it, near you the word is in the mouth of you and in the heart of you that is the word the faith which we proclaim...

Notice the Scrivner Textus Receptus of 1894 contains a definite article not in English.

Romans 10:9

that if you confess the saying (could equally be word vs saying) with the mouth of you  thou Lord Jesus and believe (Equally commit or trust) in the heart of you that the God from the dead raised Jesus.

The word "raised" signifies more than the resurrection but points to Christ raised to sit on his throne. This is evident from Acts 2:30 and other verses where raised signifies rule.

We know that this is not being used to say all you have to believe is God raised Christ, since it doesn't mention the cross. It is not saying faith in the resurrection only but is juxtaposing continued belief in the faith vs continued practice of Jewish law.

see Colossians 1:23

if you continue in the faith grounded and settle

The Romans had developed theories that violated the teaching of God the Father raising Christ to rule, so Paul tells them salvation is conditional upon continued faith in this basic truth. We are to give ourselves over continuously to the lordship of Christ.