Something to talk about
Twice now, I've heard speakers say that salvation depends on accepting and believing in Christ, and then confessing it "with your mouth."Read this from Romans 10:9-10:
9That 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. 10For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.I believe that any understanding of a passage has to be seen in the light of the message of the rest of the scripture. Does a simple understanding of this passage -- that we must discuss our new found belief with others for it to have the power to save us -- make sense in the light of grace? Doesn't the idea of speaking about God as a condition of salvation sound like there is something that we have to do to earn grace?
Consider this -- there is a discussion in Christianity Today about the faith of Hilary Clinton and how it differs from that of her husband. The following paragraph is from the Methodist Reporter web site:
One key comparison with Mrs. Clinton is [that while] she talks about being raised Methodist and being a Methodist all her life, she was taught not to put religion on her sleeve. That's such a Methodist way of putting it: to talk about faith would be prideful and boastful about your faith. For Bill Clinton, it's not parading your piety; that's just who you are. He had a language to communicate his faith that she has had to develop."It's kind of a sad statement about Methodism, that we would consider it prideful to discuss our faith.
Could it be that speaking about our faith is not a condition for salvation but is instead the fruit of transformation? Could it be that once grace enters our life, once God begins to change us, that we will not be able to help but to share the Word?
I know that after my Emmaus walk, one of the changes I noticed in myself was that I was much more willing to talk about faith that I had been before. Could it be that confessing our faith is not so much a condition of salvation but is instead evidence of it?
posted by Kim at 9:37 PM
2 Comments:
A simplistic profession of faith in Christ is inadequate apart from a changed life. That having been said, Scripture is exceptionally clear on the matter of confessing faith in Christ. Never are silent saints praised. Regardless of what might be our own personal proclivities, our affirmation of Christ is to be clear and unequivocal. Such does not at all constitute a prideful parading of our faith.
DE COLORES!!! Don't forget the three legs of the tripod--piety, study and action. I think what you're describing falls under the action heading. I think action always produces positive results which is tied to the spiritual principle of sowing and reaping. Keep up the good work and enjoy every part of your 4th day!
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