Doesn’t Romans 10:9-10 say that we only need to believe in Jesus and confess Jesus as Lord in order to be saved?

Context of Romans 9:30-10:1-5- Writing to people who are being falsely taught that unless they obey the Jewish law (for justification vs Messiah’s blood for Justification) they will not be right with God. They have already repented and have been baptized.

• • • Romans 10 is not dealing with people in need of salvation. If you read Romans 9:30 to Romans 10:1-5, you will see that Paul is writing to people who are being falsely taught that unless they obey the Jewish law they will not be right with God. They have already repented and have been baptized.
      • Romans 10:1-“Brothers” or “Brethren”- Already saved individuals who have been baptized into Christ (Romans 6:1-4)
      • Romans 1:13-“Brothers” or “Brethren”- same as above
      • Romans 8:29- “Brothers” or “Brethren”
    • Paul is convincing people who have already repented and have been baptized and saved (Romans 6:1-7) that they are still saved because they continue to believe and confess Jesus as Lord. He is not teaching them how to go from a state of being lost to a state of being saved.
    • If the only condition for salvation were heartfelt belief, then Paul would have been saved when he was knocked off his horse.
      
      

      Beginning of Conversion of Paul-knocked off his horse-blinded by the light of Christ, on his way to kill Christians

    • Romans 10:9-10
      1. Notice that nothing in this passage mentions praying for salvation or a Sinner’s Prayer.
      2. What it does say is one must confess Jesus as the Lord and believe from one’s heart that God raised up Jesus from the dead.
      3. If one argues that this passage states the only things necessary for one to be saved, he would have a problem.
      4. There is no mention of recognizing one is a sinner.
      5. There is no mention of repentance or turning from sin. Jesus said, “I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.” (Lk. 13:3).
      6. And there is no mention of baptism for removing sin. Jesus also said, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.” (Mk. 16:16)
      7. Belief and confession are unto salvation or lead to salvation, but salvation is not complete until one truly repents of his sins and is baptized into Christ for the remission of his sins.

      Romans 10:13
      1. This text is not instructing prayer for salvation.
      2. Paul is quoting a promise of the Old Testament about the availability of salvation with the coming of Christ.
      3. The action of “calling on the name of the Lord” does not refer to prayer but belief and obedience to the commands of the Lord.
      4. Calling on the name of the Lord includes AND is coupled WITH:
      a. Belief (Rom. 10:9)
      b. Confession (Rom. 10:9)
      c. Repentance (Acts 2:21, 37-38)
      d. And baptism (Acts 22:16).

    • Additionally… the Jews in Acts 2 would have been saved when they were cut to the heart by Peter’s speech( acts 2:37). However, when we read those passages we see that in both cases their faith had to be coupled with repentance and baptism in order for them to be forgiven.

    • Was Saul/Paul saved on the road to Damascus? If He Was…
      • The Lord didnt’ know it (Acts 9:6)
      • Saul didn’t know it (Acts 9:9)
      • Ananias didn’t know it (Acts 22:16)
    • What was Paul’s Record regarding baptism?
      • Lydia heard Paul and was baptized (Acts 16:14,15)
      • Paul taught the philippian jailor, then he was baptized (Acts 16:33)
      • The Corinthians were baptized (Acts 18:8)
      • Paul baptized Crispus and Gaius (1 Corinthians 1:14)
      • Paul baptized the household of Stephanas (1 Corinthians 1:16)
      • Paul taught that all are baptized into one body, the church (1 Corinthians 12:13)
      • Paul taught that we are all buried in baptism and raised through our faith (Romans 6:1-4)

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