Romans 10:9-10; Acts 2:36-41

Introduction:

1. With hearts ready for conversion, the next logical step is to learn what one must do.

2. The newly believing Jews on Pentecost asked Peter and the others what they must do.

3. The answer to humanity’s most important question is plain and enduring.

Discussion:

I. Confession

A. The majority view treats confession as simply verbalizing that Jesus is Lord (Romans 10:9-10), making it the final link in the chain of salvation.

B. The biblical usage of the term denies this concept.

1. This word is “to speak the same thing as another, agree with another” (Thayer).

2. Mere verbalization is insufficient (James 2:19; Mark 5:1-7; Matthew 7:21-23; Acts 9:1-9).

3. Confessing Christ as Lord is pledging allegiance to King Jesus (1 Timothy 6:12-16).

II. Repentance

A. Many faulty explanations of repentance exist in the religious world.

1. One entry on dictionary.com is “regret for any past action.”

2. One of Webster’s entries is “to feel regret or contrition.”

B. Regret and contrition certainly play a role in repentance, but they are not the same.

1. These Jews were already contrite, but they still had to repent.

2. Paul said godly sorrow produces repentance (2 Corinthians 7:9-11).

C. The biblical concept of repentance is a change of mind bringing a change of ways.

III. Baptism

A. It is argued that salvation summaries omitting baptism prove it is unnecessary.

1. Romans 10:9-10 above only names belief and confession.

2. Several passages single out faith (John 3:16, Romans 3:28; Acts 16:31; Ephesians 2:8-9).

B. A closer look at the full picture proves these assumptions miss their mark.

1. Other salvation summaries exclude the elements named above.

2. Mark 16:15-16 enjoins belief and baptism without repentance or confession.

3. Acts 2:38 couples repentance and baptism without faith or confession.

4. 1 Peter 3:21 singles out baptism making no mention of the other three.

C. If we contextualize the passages above, we find that none operates in a vacuum apart from the rest, but biblical faith, repentance, confession, and baptism work in harness.

Conclusion:

1. Rather than pitting Scripture against Scripture, faith harmonizes all the above.

2. The question for the sinner seeking to be a saint is, do you truly believe what He said?

Further Food for Thought

1. How do we challenge religious neighbors to rethink long-held beliefs in these areas?

2. How might Paul’s warning about dueling gospels assist in this realm? (Galatians 1:6-9)