...The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in
thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt
confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that
God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved (Romans 10:8-9).
I have heard people say to sinners who want to give
their hearts to Christ, "Confess all your sins, and pray to God to forgive
you, and then you’ll be saved." That’s not scriptural. Most people say
this, using 1 John 1:9 as a basis. That verse doesn't address the
non-Christian, but the Christian. It says, "If we confess our sins, he is
faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all
unrighteousness."
The Christian is the very offspring of God. He has
the life and nature of God; therefore, he always has the tendency to do right.
That’s the reason as a Christian, you’re pricked in your heart whenever you do
something wrong. It’s at that point that the Word says to repent and confess
your sins. To repent is to change your mind, change your way of thinking, and
turnaround from the wrong way. Only the Christian has the power to do that.
The natural man (the man who’s not born again), no
matter how morally upright or "religious" he may be, is still a
sinner. Therefore, what he needs is a rebirth; not repentance or a
"turnaround" from the wrong way of life; he needs a new life
altogether. A sinner isn't someone who has committed a sin, for sin is not just
an act; it’s a nature! Every one born into this world is born with that sin
nature.
However, the sin nature is completely supplanted by
the life and nature of God when you’re born again. The true altar call to the
sinner isn’t to forgiveness, but to a new life. It’s pointless to tell the
sinner to confess his sins in order to be saved; he’ll never be saved that way.
What he needs is to confess the Lordship of Jesus; that’s the confession that
saves: "…if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt
believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be
saved" (Romans 10:9). That pronouncement immediately severs him from
damnation. Jesus then becomes the Lord of his life and reigns in him. That way,
he can be sure of a great life with Christ, both now and all eternity.
Prayer
Dear Father, I thank you for your great love, which
you demonstrated by sending Jesus Christ to die for me, and impart eternal life
to my spirit. I've received grace to reign, and wisdom to live triumphantly
every day, for your glory, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
further study: John 1:12-13; Romans 10:8-10
AMP
1 Year Bible Reading : Acts 7:54-8:1-8 2 Chronicles 31-32
2 Year Bible Reading : 2 Corinthians 5:11-21 Isaiah 4
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