The Two Part Salvation

I love using Max Lucado's study books for the start of my devotion time. The questions he poses, along with the excerpts from books to give perspective to the scripture, help me get in the mindset for my person Bible reading. I read the devotion, then take part of it and do my own scripture reading and reflecting. And, when I have a cup of coffee to go with it, it makes it even more enjoyable.

Romans 10:9 says:
"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."

In Max Lucado's study book on Romans, he brings up this required two part response from us, to be saved. Not only do I have to say it out of my own mouth, I have to believe it in my heart too.

Doing one or the other is actually pretty easy. I can keep my salvation to myself and not cause any ripples, not, offend anyone....  all simply by believing in Jesus Christ. It seems pretty easy, but, there is a problem. Satan knows that God raised Jesus from the dead. He isn't saved.

Ok, so what about the other one? That one is actually pretty easy too. I can say it, even if I don't believe it, just to be on the safe side and make it to heaven... if heaven is actually real. Plus, I can still do the things I want to, I've already said Jesus is Lord, I'm good.

Sorry, nope. Not how it works. BOTH are required of us. The combination of the two are what makes it a little harder for some to really make the commitment to Christ. Without belief and relationship with Christ, we certainly can't do the things HE has called us to do. We can't be "good enough" for him. Our good works come from the relationship with him, not the other way around. The second part, being vocal about your salvation, is required so that others can experience what we have. Spreading the message of Christ isn't reserved for those with a title, like pastor, evangelist, or even teacher. It is for all who know him.

It doesn't mean you need to stand on a box in the middle of the street and preach with a megaphone. In fact in Matthew, when Jesus did the Sermon on the Mount, it says Jesus saw the crowds, went up on the mountainside and began to teach his disciples. Did others hear it and start listening? Yeah. They weren't forced to by him yelling at them, telling them that they were sinners going to hell. They chose to listen to Him teach his disciples.

I think there are a couple of important things to notice here.

1. Before he could teach his disciples, he had to have disciples. People had to notice something very different about this man, and it had to be something they wanted.We need to be different too, and different in a way that makes people want what we have. Salvation.
2.  He taught his disciples. He didn't tell them to just do what he says (that would be no different than following the Levitical Law). He didn't preach at them, yelling and screaming. Most importantly his message was different from the pharisees (the Law once again). They were about being clean on the outside, something that was near impossible but they took pride in. His message was about looking at the heart and the hope of a savior. Something beyond the law.

So how does this play into Romans 10:9? The two parts of salvation. Belief and the personal relationship with Him brings change to our lives.That change will be noticeable, people will see it. The confession with our mouth is the public part. Its how people know WHY our lives are the way they are. Its how we share the good news. Like Jesus, our lives should bring people to want to know more and it is our job (not your pastor's) to, like Jesus, teach them.