"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. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Rom. 10:8-10).

With these magnificent words the Apostle Paul sets forth God’s simple plan of salvation "by grace through faith" alone. These are serious God inspired words from Paul because in verse 8 he calls it, “The Word Of Faith, Which We Preach.”

Often babes in Christ are urged to make a public testimony on the basis of the words: “If thou shalt confess with thy mouth ... thou shalt be saved.” Thus new Christians are given to feel that a heart faith is not adequate to make them secure; not until they have risen in public testimony are they saved and safe.

What does the Apostle mean by the words ... "confess" and "mouth"?

Doesn't Paul plainly say, “If thou shalt confess... thou shalt be saved?” Yes, but here again, as with so many other passages, religions "traditional" meaning has been superimposed upon the actual words of Scripture. What does the English word “confess” mean? Strongs Concordance translates the Greek word "homologeo" to mean "to assent" which is nothing more than “to acknowledge,” or to “to admit” that "Jesus is The LORD."

Furthermore, Romans 10:9-10 says nothing about confessing before men.

Also, to "confess" is not always oral articulation. While verse 8 says we have "the word of faith is in our mouth" we can also "give assent" to something in our hearts and minds, without speaking it orally.

The trouble is that commonly the idea of "confession" has been changed to "profession" — even public profession. Many have incorrectly promoted this "tradition" of the fathers... nearly insisting on a public confession. Let's now examine "the word of God" to see what it actually says. Sadly, “the Word of faith” has been corrupted and added to what should be the simplicity of salvation "by grace through faith" ALONE. Salvation is a heart issue, not a mouth issue.

Some may say, wait, doesn't the Apostle clearly say “If thou shalt confess with thy mouth… thou shalt be saved?” Yes it does! And Paul adds, “and shalt believe in thine heart!” Now lets ask: Is it with that physical heart, the organ which pumps blood into our veins, that we believe on Christ as our Savior? No! You say that is merely a figure of speech; somehow the heart is associated with believing. Exactly! Why then would you would insist that it is with the physical mouth we must confess or give assent to the fact the Jesus is The LORD!

As if anticipating such misinterpretation of his words, the Spirit-inspired Apostle Paul added these words in the next verses that appear after Rom 8:8-10.

“For the Scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed… For whosoever shall call upon (Gk. epikaleo, appeal unto) the name of the Lord (Jesus LORD) shall be saved” (Vss 11, 13).

Can't mutes be saved without orally confessing? Can't we call upon the Lord in our heart and doesn't the Lord thereby hear us? Of Course He does, and such is the simple way of salvation.

Paul says this is “the Word of Faith, which we preach.” May we be those who do not use the word of craftily and distort the simplicity which is "the Gospel of Christ."