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HAT 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. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. (Romans 10:9-11)
Salvation is not simply a matter of verbalizing a formulary expressing belief with no basis in faith. Such a profession is simply empty rhetoric. Even high-sounding professions of faith that have no basis in the heart are without meaning. There are many today who have made a profession of faith in Jesus Christ but who have not even the simplest idea who our Lord Jesus Christ is, or what He has done to redeem us from our sins.
Well meaning evangelists who compass hill and dale in preaching often extract professions of faith from their charges that have little credible evidence to support the faith required. Simply pronouncing the phrase, “I believe in the Lord Jesus Christ!” means nothing without a fundamental faith and understanding of the great Personage in whom the professor is basing that claim of belief. True conversion is based on a fundamental faith in. and at least a fundamental knowledge of, the One in whom faith is being expressed. “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.” (above)
While it is true salvation is an act of God through grace, there must be the endowment of faith in the heart of the convert. This is in the role and office of the Holy Ghost to plant that seed of faith as an instrument to draw the sinner to the Throne of grace. 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things?” (Romans 10:13-15)
Calling upon the name of the Lord entails a knowledge of that name and Being. How can any believe in Christ who know little or nothing of Him as Redeemer, Savior, Atoning Lord, and King? It is possible to make such a profession without even realizing that one is a sinner – the first requirement in coming to Christ!
The church today has wandered far afield of Hoy Scripture. Easy-believism is the rule today and not the exception. “Merely stand up and make a profession and the goal is assured” the sinner is told in many churches, without any nurturing in the faith ti insure that the convert is fully aware of the depth of his profession. Have we preached the depth of God’s love? the sacrifice made? the necessity of conversion from sinner to saint? The evidences of a converted life?
Paul lists a few essentials of conversion:
1. The believer must call upon the name of the Lord in believing faith (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.)
2. Without faith, calling upon the name of the Lord is empty words. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed?
3. Calling upon the name of the Lord in faith requires a fundamental knowledge of who and what the Lord is. (how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard?)
4. Faith must be based upon the Word of God, and such knowledge comes by means of preaching. (“how shall they hear without a preacher?)
5. It is the responsibility of the Church to propagate the Gospel to the four corners of the earth, and this is accomplished by sending preachers to every part just as was done in the early apostolic church. (“how shall they preach, except they be sent?”)
When men and women are told conversion is simply an act of intention on the part of the sinner without understanding, repentance or a turning away from the old sins and turning to righteous living, no salvation has occurred. Even so, salvation is an act of the Sovereign God and not of man. He imparts the faith and understanding through the agency of His Holy Spirit.
