I understand that salvation is through faith; why then does Romans 10:9 say If thou shalt confess with thy mouth? What part does confession play in salvation?

Leah

Hello Leah,

Thanks for your question. Many have wondered this.

The issue is faith. Most salvation passages just mention believing in or on Jesus with no mention of confessing with the mouth. This alone is highly indicative. In context, Romans 10 quotes from Deuteronomy 30 where there is a call to believe.

Take note of these key phrases (in italics) in Romans 10:8-10:

“The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 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. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

The passage demonstrates that one’s mouth confession is an expression of heart faith, and the word of faith initiates in the heart according to verse eight. Romans 10:14 confirms this conclusion by asking, “How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed?” The calling or prayer is simply the expression of faith in the heart.

The condition of salvation cannot be contingent on what one says with the mouth, otherwise the deaf and others unable to speak would be excluded. The crux of the matter is faith, real faith that is a matter of the will and not just mental assent. Yet there is a principle that mouth confession of belief certainly strengthens genuine heart faith.

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