Romans 10:10

Romans 10:10

For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

a. NLT: For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved.

b. NIV: For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.

c. YLT: for with the heart doth one believe to righteousness, and with the mouth is confession made to salvation;

d. Amplified Bible Classic: For with the heart a person believes (adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Christ) and so is justified (declared righteous, acceptable to God), and with the mouth he confesses (declares openly and speaks out freely his faith) andconfirms [his] salvation.

e. Worrell Translation: for with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

1. “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness…”

a. for [1063 * gar] [Strong: a primary particle; properly, assigning a reason (used in argument, explanation or intensification; often with other particles):--and, as, because (that), but, even, for, indeed, no doubt, seeing, then, therefore, verily, what, why, yet.]

b. the heart [2588 * kardia] [Strong: prolonged from a primary kar (Latin cor, "heart"); the heart, i.e. (figuratively) the thoughts or feelings (mind); also (by analogy) the middle:--(+ broken-)heart(-ed).]

c. believeth [4100 * pisteuo] [Thayer: to think to be true, to be persuaded of, to credit, place confidence in.] [Strong: from 4102; to have faith (in, upon, or with respect to, a person or thing), i.e. credit; by implication, to entrust (especially one's spiritual well-being to Christ):--believe(-r), commit (to trust), put in trust with.]

d. unto [1519 * eis] [Strong: a primary preposition; to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases:--(abundant-)ly, against, among, as, at, (back-)ward, before, by, concerning, + continual, + far more exceeding, for (intent, purpose), fore, + forth, in (among, at, unto, -so much that, -to), to the intent that, + of one mind, + never, of, (up-)on, + perish, + set at one again, (so) that, therefore(-unto), throughout, til, to (be, the end, -ward), (here-)until(-to), ...ward, (where-)fore, with. Often used in composition with the same general import, but only with verbs (etc.) expressing motion (literally or figuratively).]

e. righteousness [1343 * dikaiosune] [Strong: from 1342; equity (of character or act); specially (Christian) justification:--righteousness.]

1). What we must understand about faith, about Biblically believing, is that it is generated by previous instruction. The previous instruction, of course, being the word of God spoken or imparted to us in some manner.

a). Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

2). Notice closely the following passage from Peter’s second epistle.

a). 2 Peter 2:2, 3 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,

2:3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

b). Notice that grace, peace and everything we need about life and godliness is given to us by the throne of God through the impartation of the knowledge of God. This “knowledge” is not mere knowledge though as the definition reveals.

c). knowledge [1922 *epignosis] [Zodhiates: It is more intensive that gnosis, knowledge, because it expresses a more thorough participation in acquiring of knowledge on the part of the learner. In the NT, it often refers to knowledge which very powerfully influences the form of religious life, a knowledge laying claim to personal involvement.]

d). Biblical faith is generated when the heart of man embraces the revelation of the word of God that the Holy Ghost gives. It produces a personal “knowing”, a realization in the spirit of man that “knows” whatever truth, whatever promise that particular Scripture relates to is mine, it has been given to me, and my spirit will echo over and over in agreement with the Scripture, yes, yes, yes!   

2. “…and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

a. and [1161 * de] [Strong: a primary particle (adversative or continuative); but, and, etc.:--also, and, but, moreover, now (often unexpressed in English).]

b. with the mouth [4750 * stoma] [Strong: probably strengthened from a presumed derivative of the base of 5114; the mouth (as if a gash in the face); by implication, language (and its relations); figuratively, an opening (in the earth); specially, the front or edge (of a weapon):--edge, face, mouth.]

c. confession is made [3670 * homologeo][Thayer: to say the same thing as another, i.e. to agree with, assent.]

1). Biblically speaking, the definition of confession here, is speaking of at least two agreements, with God and with man’s own heart, the spirit. Biblical faith demands that the mouth and the heart agree with what God declares.

a). 2 Corinthians 4:13 We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;

d. unto [1519 * eis] [Strong: a primary preposition; to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases:--(abundant-)ly, against, among, as, at, (back-)ward, before, by, concerning, + continual, + far more exceeding, for (intent, purpose), fore, + forth, in (among, at, unto, -so much that, -to), to the intent that, + of one mind, + never, of, (up-)on, + perish, + set at one again, (so) that, therefore(-unto), throughout, til, to (be, the end, -ward), (here-)until(-to), ...ward, (where-)fore, with. Often used in composition with the same general import, but only with verbs (etc.) expressing motion (literally or figuratively).]

e. salvation (4991 * soteria) Scofield Reference Bible: “The Hebrew and Greek words for salvation imply the ideas of deliverance, safety, preservation, healing and soundness. Salvation is the great inclusive word of the Gospel, gathering into itself all the redemptive acts and processes…”

1). The use of the word “salvation” here means the whole Covenant, everything included in our inheritance. A person would have to be blind not to see the connection of what Paul says here and what Jesus said in Mark’s gospel.

a). Mark 11:22-24 And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.

11:23 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.

11:24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

2). Believing and confessing what you believe is demanded by Biblical faith.

a). Mark 9:23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

3). A very convicting passage that I constantly catch myself on is what Jesus said in Matthew concerning all the words that come out of our mouth.

a). Matthew 12:33-37  Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit.

12:34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

12:35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.

12:36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

12:37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

4). WOC 10/2/12 The apostle Paul is saying with the heart you believe unto the reality of God’s Word. In other words, when you get a revelation of God’s Word in your heart, it becomes more real or alive to you. Then Paul is also saying with the mouth confession is made unto the manifestation, or experience, of God’s Word. In other words, when you believe the Word, it becomes real; when you say it, it manifests. If you say it without believing it, it isn’t real to you. If you believe it without saying it, it isn’t manifested for you. But when you believe and say the Word, it will produce for you. We like it when God’s Word becomes real in our spirits. But there’s something about having it actually manifest in our lives that makes it more enjoyable yet. When we’re actually walking in good health, it feels good to “feel good”. To experience the manifestation of God’s promises, you must continually speak God’s Word about your situation. That’s how faith is released. You can have a heart full of faith, but it won’t do you any good until you release it. It’s like having a bank account full of money. That money will sit in the vault and do no good unless it’s spent. In the same way, you spend or release faith by the words you speak. That’s how to put your faith to work.

5). This verse is speaking more than just receiving the righteousness of God which is an increment of the Covenant of salvation that God wrought for man through Christ Jesus. This verse is a Biblical principle about faith, about Biblical faith, what faith really means. As we shall see it is in agreement with what Jesus said about faith. A Christian’s faith will begin with the heart believing and will continue with the mouth speaking and declaring in agreement.  I like what one Pastor said, “If you say it without believing it, it isn’t real to you. If you believe it without saying it, it isn’t manifested for you. But when you believe and say the Word, it will produce for you.” I couldn’t agree more! If we really believe God’s word says about our salvation, our deliverance, safety, preservation, healing and soundness, then we will continually declare with our mouth what our heart believes about our salvation, regardless of our circumstances.