It is with your heart and mouth

Today’s Promise to Memorize* 

“If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Rom. 10:9)

You must believe in your heart

I have “believed” in Jesus all my life. That is, I believed that there was once a man named Jesus, who was born in a place called Bethlehem with parents called Joseph and Mary. In other words, I believed in the basic Christmas story. But I didn’t have a clue why that was important or what it meant personally. I didn’t understand that simply believing that Jesus existed isn’t enough to be saved. The demons believe that and tremble, yet they aren’t saved (James 2:19). The above passage says you must “believe in your heart” (that’s personally and deeply) two things: 1) that Jesus is Lord, and 2) that God raised Him from the dead. And there is listed one more step: You must declare it with your mouth! The next verse explains why that’s important. 

“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.” (Rom. 10:10 NIV)

How it happened to me

One day I found a little gospel booklet that explained my sin nature and told how Jesus had died on the cross and shed His blood to pay for my sins. It told how He had risen from the dead, is alive today, and that He is the only way to be saved from hell. The booklet included a little prayer to receive Christ: “O God, I am  a sinner. I’m sorry for my sins. I’m willing to turn from my sins. I receive Christ as Savior. I confess Him as Lord. From this moment on I want to follow Him and serve Him in the fellowship of His church. In Christ’s Name, Amen.” I prayed that prayer and immediately I was saved!I then began telling everyone about Jesus! 

Additional References 

“You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am.” (John 13:13 ESV)

“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,” (John 11:25 ESV)

“Jesus answered them, ‘This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.’” (John 6:29 ESV)

“Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.” (1 John 4:15 ESV)

A Reminder

*Over the next few days I am posting Bible promises every believer MUST know (and commit to memory) to be fully equipped no matter what they are faced with. Meditate on them and memorize them. 

Proven ways to help memorize:

1.     Hand write it on 3x5 card.

2.     Always include the Bible reference at the beginning and repeat it again at the end. 

3.     Read it through several times and think about what it means (mediate on it). 

4.     Say it out loud a few times.  

5.     Refer to it throughout the day and say it to yourself (a few words at a time if necessary) until you can say it correctly without looking.