Dr. Couch, What is going on in Romans 10:9-10? Some use these verses to support what is called Lordship Salvation.
ANSWER:
It would take more space to this column than I can spare to fully
explain this passage. But let me summarize: this is not about Lordship
Salvation. There is no such teaching in Scripture. It is an invention by
some to create a kind of “works” salvation, or “response” salvation
with ad addition to simply “salvation by grace through faith alone.”
Here are some helpful hints as to what is taking place in the passage:
1. These verses are part of the section of
chapters 9-11 in Romans where Paul is addressing issues about the nation
of Israel and the belief or rejection of the Jewish people. The context
is Jewish, and understanding context is most important.
2. Romans 10 is about the Jewish rejection
of Christ as their Savior. The chapter starts with the issue of
salvation and ends on the issue of salvation. The last verse: “But as
for Israel [God] says, ‘All the day long I have stretched out My hands
to a disobedient and obstinate people’” (v. 21). The Greek word
“obstinate” actually means an “anti-word” people.
3. Paul then quotes in 10:6-8 verses from
Deuteronomy 30:12-15 where Moses says one does not have to go up to
heaven or across the sea to find God’s words and His laws. They are in
the mouth and in the heart of a true believer. Moses’ point is that the
mouth and the heart work together.
4. Paul picks this up and says that the
word of faith (the word of trust) is actually in the mouth and the
heart. What is confessed out of the mouth is the same as what is in the
heart. Together what is said and believed equals salvation (v. 9).
Getting righteousness and salvation are parallel ideas that come from a
parallel action, confessing and believing!
While there is more to say about these
verses, and this issue, space does not allow a complete and total
exegesis. But I hope what I’ve said above is a starter for looking at
the passage correctly, and not putting into it what is not there!
Thanks for asking,
Dr. Mal Couch
