Romans 10:9,10,13
Salvation in these verses is deliverance from sin and deliverance to righteousness. There are three
stages to our salvation presented in Romans.
We have been saved is “past tense.” We are being saved is “present tense.”
We shall be saved is “future tense.”
Justification is past tense. Sanctification is present tense. Glorification is future tense.
Justification, the first stage, requires no work on our part. We simply believe that Christ is willing and
able to save because of His sinless death and resurrection. Faith alone in Christ alone is a Baptist
motto concerning justification.
The second stage in our salvation requires work on our part. The second stage of salvation is present
tense salvation. Paul says, “work out your salvation with fear and trembling.” Paul did not say work
for your salvation, but rather work out your salvation. This means to live out your salvation, and when
you do so, you will replace much sin with much righteousness and save yourself a lot of misery.
Paul gives us the key to working out our salvation. The first key is to “confess Jesus with the mouth.”
Confession with the mouth reinforces spiritual truths. Confession with the mouth helps
commit spiritual truths to memory and helps produce boldness to act on these truths. Singing
hymns and spiritual songs is the most common way we confess Jesus with our mouth. We can
also engage in privately reading Scripture out loud, privately praying out loud, and sharing
Christ with other people.
Paul says, “If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God raised
Him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9
Paul is describing two different stages of salvation. He explains this in verse 10. With the heart you
believe unto righteousness. This is stage one of salvation, believe and receive. You receive eternal
life, Holy Spirit indwelling, and spiritual connection with God and other believers.
With the mouth confession is made unto salvation. This is stage two salvation. You are being saved by
confessing with your mouth the Lord Jesus. Without confession you will never live out your salvation.
The second key for working out your salvation is learn to continually call upon the name of the Lord.
