DAILY BIBLE READING:2 Chronicles 17:1–18:34
Romans 9:25–10:13
Psalm 20:1-9
Proverbs 20:2-3
BIBLE VERSE(S) FOR TODAY:
Romans 10:9-10 (CSB) "If you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation."
REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):
So many people misunderstand the truth found in our Verses for Today.
Let's dig into the text and see what we discover.
When we read it, we realize that it is telling us how to be saved - how to receive the gift of eternal life.
How do we get saved?
"If you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."
Believing that God raised him from the dead includes a lot of other beliefs. It includes the fact that He was who He said He was - the Son of God - completely God and completely man. It includes the fact that he was crucified on the cross for our sins. It includes the fact that His dead body was placed in a tomb and was there for 3 days. It includes the fact that anyone who trusts in Him (and not themselves) to make them right in God's eyes will be saved.
So, we understand to a great extent the "belief" requirement. It goes along with what we read throughout the New Testament.
But, what about the part where it says, "If you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,'..."?
Some contemporary American Christians may be tempted to think that they simply need to say, "Jesus is Lord," out loud. They think there is something magical in that phrase.
But this flawed understanding misses the point entirely.
All we need to do is reflect on who the book of Romans was written to. It was written to ... Romans. It was written to Christians who were living in Rome.
Ok. We've got that down. Now, what governmental power oversaw their growing world domination? Rome! Rome was essentially in control of the world.
And who was at the top of the food chain in the Roman government? Caesar! And where did Caesar rule from? Rome!
So, the Christians that the Apostle Paul was writing to were residing in the city where the government powerfully and jealously ruled the world.
If you were walking through Rome and proclaimed that someone other than Caesar was your king/lord, you would either be incredibly brave or incredibly stupid. Those words would be considered an act of insurrection - treason!
Pay very close attention to this point: Paul was telling the Roman Christians in our Verses for Today to say those treasonous words in the city where Caesar would most certainly hear them!
Let's momentarily step back a little further in time to Jesus' trial before His crucifixion. Just listen to the following words. The Jewish religious leaders fully understood that they could only have one king at a time - Jesus or the ruling power:
John 19:15
"They shouted, 'Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!'
Pilate said to them, 'Should I crucify your king?'
'We have no king but Caesar!' the chief priests answered."
Pilate said to them, 'Should I crucify your king?'
'We have no king but Caesar!' the chief priests answered."
The religious leaders clearly understood that they could only have one King (Lord). For them, it was Caesar.
So, let's go back to our Verses for Today. When it says that part of being saved is confessing with your mouth (out loud for everyone to hear) that Jesus is your Lord, it means that you are unashamedly and without reservation aligning yourself with Jesus regardless of what negative things may happen to you as a result even if it means you will be guilty of treason.
Confessing with our mouth that Jesus is Lord is not to simply say mindless, empty words. No! It's so much more than that! They are powerful words that make it clear that we answer to King Jesus. That's what it means to be saved.
2 comments:
I'm glad you wrote this--I was just thinking about it today. What would count as a confession? Confessing to a priest (only)? Or to your friend or member of your family? Is this where baptism becomes important, since it is a public confession of faith? Or must one confess continually to anyone who will hear it? I have felt guilty in the past for not confessing my belief in Jesus to acquaintances in brief encounters. People who know me know what I believe, and some friends who are unbelievers may feel like I "hammer on it" at times, but do I need to always confess to strangers?
June,
You've got a fantastic question! You have asked more than one question but they all focus on one thing - how the relevance of this principle plays out in contemporary Christianity.
First, we don't confess to a priest. The Roman Catholic church has carried on an institution that is not biblical or relevant. We now have a High Priest (Hebrews 2:17; 4:14) and His name is Jesus. Further, every single follower-of-Jesus is a priest (1 Peter 2:5-9) and we have the ability to enjoy unbroken access to and fellowship with God. There is no longer the human office of "priest" who acts as a mediator between us and God.
Second, our confession does not need to be proclaimed constantly to everyone. We don't see this example in Scripture and it would seem to guarantee the persecution, incarceration, and possible death of Christians in persecuted countries. They often meet in hiding.
Third, the opposite of confessing Jesus as Lord (which would be denying Him publicly) is a serious offense with eternal consequences (Matthew 10:33). Yet, after Peter denied Jesus three times, Jesus graciously forgave Peter and helped him to forgive himself (see John 21:15-19).
So, even when the principle of failing to confess Jesus publicly or, worse yet, denying Him publicly takes place, there is the potential to receive grace from God. That is the beauty of Christianity. We cannot measure up to the standard God has set for us but there is grace. Always grace! Romans 5:20 "Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound."
But, we still haven't answered the qeustion: What is this public confession all about? Who do we confess Jesus to and how often do we do it?
To answer that question, simply read the book of Acts. Watch the saints and how they interacted in a culture that was often hostile to Christianity. They boldly proclaimed Jesus (see Acts 2 when Peter preached to the lost Jews on the day of Pentecost). And while they did not look for trouble by recklessly throwing around the name of Jesus and their allegiance to Him, they also did not back down when asked about Him. In fact, they "loved not their lives even unto death" (Revelation 12:11).
So, confessing Jesus as our Lord should be something that is always on the tip of our tongue. Others should know of our allegiance to Him not only in our words but also our actions. We should also be ready at any moment to tell others about how Jesus gives us the blessed hope that we can enjoy Him in this life and look forward to Heaven (1 Peter 3:15). And in situations where the culture is hostile to Christianity, God's people may go into hiding but they won't deny Christ when asked about Him. But, if they do, our God is gracious and can forgive.
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