Confession Unto Salvation
The phrase "Confession is made unto Salvation" is also used by faith groups in a way that isn't reflective of the Greek language.
The word confession is sometimes used with acknowledging a covenant continually. Also confession here does not exclude baptism and other acts, baptism was one event that did not have to be repeated if done according to scripture, confession though was a life-long requirement. Paul was teaching the need for ongoing confession of the word of Christ for the rest of one's life.
Rom 10:8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
Rom 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
Rom 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Rom 10:11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
Rom 10:12 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.
Rom 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
The person of Jesus was a broad subject that covered an entire 30 plus year history. Which part of that 30 year testimony are we allowed to leave out? This isn't just the confession that Jesus is Lord, but the confession of any part of his life reflecting who he was. It is the open confession of the word the Apostles delivered.
The word is nigh thee
It is speaking of the word, the Gospel, that the apostles delivered about Jesus. It includes his birth, his life, his sayings, his mercy, his death, his judgment, his spoken doctrines, his commands. They are all a part of the Gospel preached. They are a part of Jesus himself. We must confess and be in agreement with their teaching.
On going confession does not exclude one time events that were past such as baptism, the Romans were already baptized according to Romans 6, but they needed on going perpetual praise of Christ. The word confess also means praise.
Confessing the Lord Jesus is acknowledgement of the message delivered. It is confessing the Gospel because the Gospel is the mode of delivery that explains the person of Jesus.
You have to ask, is this the word about Jesus or the word from Jesus, or both? The apostles delivered both. Karl Ketcherside always framed his unity arguments around believing only the part about Jesus being Lord, and not the word delivered from Jesus. Confess the Lord Jesus is much broader than one point in history.
Yet preaching Jesus included his death as well as his command to baptize.
Act 8:32 The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth:
Act 8:33 In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.
Act 8:34 And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?
Act 8:35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.
Act 8:36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?
Act 8:37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
Act 8:38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.
from this we see four facets of preaching Jesus very clearly, all can be part of confessing the Lord Jesus.
1. Jesus death.
2. Jesus identity as the Son of God.
3. Water Baptism based upon believing.
4. Faith came by reading and hearing the scriptures explained in context.
the word of faith, which we preach;
Confessing with the mouth the Lord Jesus is to verbally recognize his sovereignty in all areas, it is to accept who he was and what he was about and what he commanded.
Confess the Lord Jesus as preached unto him Jesus is broader than a small snippet in his life.
My belief is those who no longer confess baptism wouldn't meet the requirement of confessing Jesus, for he gave it.
Those refusing to confess his doctrines don't meet this condition. If you refuse to confess baptism as he gave it you don't meet this qualification. If you refuse to confess his sovereignty in any area.
Luk 6:45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.
Luk 6:46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?
Many will confess Jesus as Lord, but because their heart isn't sincere they speak against his teachings.
Confessing with the mouth means to make a covenant with who he is and what he did by publicly confessing his word. Whatever it may be. The heart must believe it as well.
All the faith only teachers who reject baptism, the Lord's Supper and whatever Jesus has delivered are speaking from the evil treasure of their hearts.
Gal 1:6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
Gal 1:7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
Gal 1:8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
Speaking another Gospel is to remove yourself from Christ.
2Co 11:4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.