On the 13th Sunday after Pentecost we are looking at the three assigned readings of Job 38:4-18, Romans 10:5-17 and Matthew 14:22-33. Chosen to preach on at St John Lutheran Church in Baldwin, IL is Romans 10 verse 9, “…if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”

This is a typical example of how many hearers misunderstand the Bible. They interpret this text as a command for the benefit of unbelievers. That is, they suggest that the unbelieve is asking you what he needs to do in order to be saved. You tell him that all he has to do is confess with his mouth and believe in his heart. The problem is that no unbeliever can take such advice. The statement itself is NOT the Gospel and therefore has no power to convert any unbeliever.

Rather than interpret this as a command for unbelievers, it is instead a promise for believers. The believer asks, “How do I know that I am a believer?” You respond, “If you confess in your mouth and believe in your heart, you will be saved.” There is no imperative verb in the entire verse; instead, it is future indicative passive. That is the verb, “you will be saved” is a promise of how God regards provides salvation in light of the fact that you do confess and believe.

It is NOT the confession and belief that is the basis of salvation. Instead, they point to the object of such confession and faith which is none other than Jesus Christ, the Savior. It is His death; it is His resurrection that is the basis of your salvation. Faith simply grasps the benefits and confession simply declares what one believes. Both are works of the Holy Spirit within us.

If one wants to bring the Gospel to the unbeliever, then a far better passage would be Matthew 28 in which Jesus points to baptism and teaching of all that He has said and did as the means of salvation. Salvation does not come to the unbeliever by telling him what to do; salvation comes when he hears what Christ has done for him free of charge without any cost. Or as theology puts it: “Salvation is by grace, through faith on account of Jesus Christ.”