QUESTION: Romans 10:9-10, what does it mean? Why do some say this is all one has to do to be saved? How can one show that belief (mental assent) is not enough for salvation?
ANSWER: Some in the religious world today hold that all one must do to be saved is to believe (understand and accept) that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. They many times refer to this passage in support of their false doctrine. However, often they fail to comprehend that “belief” in Jesus Christ is more than just mental assent. As used in the Bible, e.g., John 3:16; Acts 16:30-31, the meaning of “believe” is “trust in Christ, conjoined with obedience to Him.” So it is in the verses in question! This particular passage says nothing of repentance. Are we to conclude that we are not required to repent for the remission of sins? Surely not, because in Acts 2:38 &17:30-31, we are commanded to repent! Similarly, this particular passage says nothing of baptism. Are we to conclude that we are not required to be baptized for the remission of sins? Surely not, because in Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; & 1 Peter 3:21, we see that baptism precedes and is necessary to salvation! When a man “with the heart believeth unto righteousness” (Romans 10:10), he is calling upon the name of the Lord (vs.13); he is faithfully obeying the gospel (vs.16); and he is hearing the word of God (vs.17). The phrases are synonymous! Each of these verses implicitly includes belief, repentance, confession and baptism as works of obedience (not works of righteousness) necessary and prior to salvation.
Extreme care must be taken in studying the Bible not to take a passage out of context in order to support a preconception (as do the proponents of “faith only”), nor to base a doctrine upon a particular verse without consideration to similarly related verses. This is a misuse of Holy Scripture! The doctrine of “faith only” is easily shown to be false in a reading of James 2:14-26.
Notice:
Vs.14: Faith without works cannot save!
Vs.17: Faith by itself is dead!
Vs.18: Faith is shown by works!
Vs.19: The devils have faith only!
Vs.20: Faith without works is dead!
Vs.21: Abraham was justified by his works!
Vs.22: Faith is made perfect by works!
Vs.23: Abraham was said to believe God when he became obedient!
Vs.24: A man is justified by works and not by “faith only!”
Vs.25: Likewise, Rahab was justified by works and not by “faith only!”
Vs.26: Faith without works is dead!