Romans 10:9-10

– that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation

Believe – What does it mean when we say we believe.  Is belief enough?  James 2:19 tells us that “You believe that there is one God.  You do well.  Even the demons believe—and tremble!”  When Jesus was on earth, the demons often acknowledged him as Lord.  See Matthew 8:28-29; Mark 1:23-26; Luke 4:40-41.

So what does the Scripture mean when it says if we believe in our heart and confess with our mouth the Lord Jesus, we will be saved?

The Greek word used here for believe is pisteuo (pist-yoo-oh).  It is the verb form of the Greek word pistis which means “faith.”  It means to trust in, have faith in, be fully convinced of, acknowledge, rely on.  It is more than belief in church doctrine or some systematized form of religion.  It is more than just an intellectual agreement that Jesus is the Messiah.

It expresses reliance upon and a personal trust that leads to obedience.  It includes submission to and a positive confession of the lordship of Jesus Christ. 

I may look at a chair and say “I believe that chair will hold me up if I sit in it.” But true belief will be when I actually sit in the chair.

True belief in Jesus Christ will lead us to true obedience.