16 The Two Essentials

The Two Essentials

"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." Romans 10:9 The essentials of religion are few and simple; the weakest may understand them, and the poorest may possess them.

There must be FAITH, for without faith it is impossible to please God. By faith, is not meant the cold assent of the understanding — but the warm confidence of the heart. It must be the faith of the heart, or a cordial believing, approving, and confiding in the gospel. There must be belief in the resurrection of Christ, which proves that His claim was just, that His work is finished and accepted, and that His authority is now universal. If the resurrection of Christ is believed — then the truth of His doctrines must be admitted, and His right to claim, rule, and use us for His glory be allowed.

"With the heart man believes unto righteousness." Faith is not in the place of righteousness — but the gospel presents the righteousness of Jesus as God’s free gift; and faith leads the heart to embrace it as presented; and thus the believer becomes righteous, is justified before God, and is treated as such. The faith of the heart, is confidence in God’s Word, dependence on Christ’s work, leading to an affectionate reliance on the faithfulness of Jehovah.

He who believes must CONFESS. He must confess that Jesus Christ, who was crucified, is raised from the dead; and that being raised from the dead, "He is Lord of all." That He alone is the Savior. That His blood made atonement, and procured peace with God. That He is all He said, did all He undertook, and will perform all that is written in His Word. This confession must be with the mouth, in words; and with the life, in deeds. It must be open, without fear, sincere, without disguise; cordial, without regret; at any expense or hazard to which it may expose us.

Without confession, there is no salvation; for, "the fearful," who are afraid or ashamed to confess Christ, "shall have their part in the lake which burns with brimstone and fire, which is the second death."

Faith secures an interest in the justifying righteousness of Jesus; and confession secures an interest in, and the fulfillment of, the promise of Christ, "Whoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in Heaven. But whoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father who is in Heaven." (Matthew 10:32-33; also Luke 12:8-9.)

Confession with the mouth, when connected with the faith of the heart — is also an evidence that God is with us, and dwells in us, as it is written, "Whoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwells in him, and he in God." (1 John 4:15.) If we profess, without possessing — it is hypocrisy and deceit; and if we possess without professing — it is no less. How can we be honest, if we believe in Christ — and do not confess it? Does not faith regard His precepts — as well as His doctrines and promises, and does He not require us to confess Him? Is not the believer afraid to live in willful disobedience? And is it not disobedience to refuse to profess Christ? Ought we not to endeavor to put our salvation out of doubt? But how can we, if we do not confess Him before men? Is it right to receive His benefits — and refuse to confess who is our benefactor, especially when He requires it at our hands? The demands of the gospel are simple and clear: "Believe, confess, be saved." Accept of what God gives, and acknowledge it to His praise. Receive what He presents, and be honest enough to own it. A public profession of Christ is indispensable; there is no private way to Heaven. You must not only secretly believe and privately pray — but you must openly acknowledge and profess faith in your Savior. You must avow . . .
that you take Him for your example,
that you listen to Him as your Prophet,
that you trust in Him as your Priest, and
that you bow to and own Him as your King.

Those who are afraid to confess Christ, cannot expect to be saved by Him:
their faith is dead,
their dependence is vain,
and their hopes are delusive.

But, "if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead — you shall be saved; for with the heart man believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." "It is a faithful saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us; if we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself." (2 Timothy 2:11-14.)