Another possible view of the word “saved” in Romans 10:9
The text:
8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): 9 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. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” 14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? (Romans 10:8-14)
Preface note
The typical Protestant interpretation teaches that the word “saved” in Romans 10:9 is referring to the salvation that occurs at conversion as depicted by Ephesians 2:8. (By grace you have been saved.)
The Bible sometimes uses the word “saved” (sozo) in the perfect tense. An example is Ephesians 2:8 which can be legitimately translated, “By grace you have been saved.” In this Ephesians passage, the word sozo (saved) is in the perfect tense, passive voice so this translation is acceptable. (τῇ γὰρ χάριτί ἐστε σεσῳσμένοι). The phrase, “By grace you have been saved” in English sounds like past tense. The perfect tense carries with it an element of an ongoing effect, not just something that happened in the past. But because it is in the perfect tense, the Greek word form itself is evidence that the author (Paul) is describing that process in which God regenerates a person and gives them faith. The emphasis in Ephesians 2:1-8 is on the regenerating work of God. We have been “saved” BECAUSE of God’s grace. While we were spiritually dead, God raised us to new life in Christ. (As a result of this regenerating work of God, we spontaneously begin believing and confessing our allegiance to Jesus.) For the sake of this discussion, let us call this aspect of salvation, “regeneration.”
Sometimes, the Bible uses the word “saved” (sozo) in the future tense to describe salvation in its fulfillment. (Being raised from the dead and saved from the wrath of God that is coming on the earth.) For example:
Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life” (Romans 5:9-10).
For the sake of this discussion, let us call this aspect of salvation, “salvation from God’s wrath.”
Consideration of sozo (saved) in Romans 10:9
In the Romans 10:9 text, the word saved is in the future tense, passive voice. (ὅτι ἐὰν ὁμολογήσῃς ἐν τῷ στόματί σου κύριον Ἰησοῦν καὶ πιστεύσῃς ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ σου ὅτι ὁ θεὸς αὐτὸν ἤγειρεν ἐκ νεκρῶν σωθήσῃ)
If we base our interpretation of sozo (saved) in Romans 10:9 solely upon the word form that Paul used, either way of interpretation is possible. Either the salvation that occurs at conversion or the future salvation from God’s wrath is a possibility because sozo (saved) is in the future tense. Again, either of these interpretations is valid if we base our consideration of sozo (saved) solely on the form of the Greek word as it is found in Romans 10:9.
To properly interpret this passage therefore, we must look beyond the form of the word sozo (saved) in Romans 10:9 and consider the immediate context. I wish to posit that based upon the context, the word sozo (saved) here seems to be better understood as referring to salvation from God’s wrath (when Jesus comes back). Please consider this possibility as I put forth my argument.
- The most common interpretation of sozo in 10:9 seems to put the cart before the horse.
In verse 10, Paul clearly adds words to explain what he said in verse 9. He differentiates between the results of believing (righteousness/justification) and the results of confessing (salvation/ “soteria”). If by “saved” (in verse 9), Paul had regeneration in mind, he could have simply said, “If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” and then moved on to verse 11.
Our theology:
Now we know that whenever a person is regenerated, they spontaneously begin to call upon the Lord (vs. 13 & 14) and they also begin to confess with their mouth Jesus as Lord. The calling and the confessing are both results of being regenerated. (Regeneration unto confession).
But in Romans 10:10, Paul says, “with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Therefore, the type of salvation that Paul has in mind cannot be regeneration. It does not harmonize with our theology noted above. If in verse 9, Paul had regeneration in mind, wouldn’t the cause and effect relationship be reversed? Wouldn’t that view suggest that confession produces regeneration? To illustrate, let me rewrite verse 9 substituting the word “saved” with the word “regenerated.”
If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus….. you will be regenerated.
But if we adopt the view that Paul has salvation from God’s wrath in mind in verse 9, this conflict goes away and we find it in complete harmony with our Lord’s teaching concerning the confessing of our allegiance to Jesus. Namely, unless a person confesses Jesus before men, he will not be saved from the wrath of God when Jesus comes back.
“For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels” (Luke 9:26).
- The interpretation I suggest, (that Paul is referring to the salvation from God’s wrath) is in full harmony with Paul’s quote from Joel and his deductions supported by that quote.
There can be no question that Joel was referring to the salvation that takes place on judgment day when he said, “Whoever calls upon the Lord will be saved.” (See Joel 2:30-32 below[1] and you will agree.) And from a simple word study involving the phrase “call upon the Lord” in its various forms, we know also that calling upon the Lord is not a one time act but involves a way of living in dependence upon God through continual prayer and communion, etc. So, when Paul quotes Joel in Romans 10:13, it is clear that he is referring to being saved from the wrath of God on judgment day. Paul clearly believed that those who “call upon the Lord” as a way of life are the people who will be saved from the wrath of God on judgment day. He is definitely not teaching that in order to be regenerated, they must call upon the Lord as a way of life. On the contrary, calling upon the Lord as a way of life is the RESULT of being regenerated, not visa versa.
Who are the ones who call upon the Lord as a way of life? According to Paul, they are the people who “believe.” How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? (Romans 10:14). People must first believe. And all those who do believe call upon the Lord as a way of life from that point on.
Since Paul is clearly talking about salvation from God’s wrath in verses 13 and 14, why should we assume he is talking about the immediate results of regeneration in verse 9? He seems to be presenting parallel thoughts here. Just as calling upon the Lord accompanies believing, so also confessing Jesus as Lord accompanies believing. Both the calling and the confessing are THE RESULT of regeneration, not vise versa.
3. The rest of the book of Romans is not in conflict with my interpretation.
Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life” (Romans 5:9-10).
“And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed” (Romans 13:11).
Summary
As I see it, Paul seems to be purposely setting forth different events in Romans 10:9 and 10.
First, in verse 9, he says that in order to be saved from the wrath of God, a person must believe the gospel from his heart and that believing must be evidenced by confession that shows allegiance to Jesus. If he believes the gospel from the heart and confesses the Lord Jesus, he will be saved from the wrath of God that will be poured out at the judgment.
He then spells out the sequence in verse 10:
- When a person believes, he is justified. (This is in full harmony with his teaching in the earlier chapters of Romans.)
- Because he believes, he confesses with his mouth (in the threat of persecution) his allegiance to Jesus. This confession is evidence that he truly believes. Without such evidence, a person will not be saved from the wrath of God that will be poured out when Jesus comes back. But because a person confesses Jesus (and continues to so until he dies[2]), he will be saved from that wrath.
[1] “And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth: Blood and fire and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord. And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the Lord Shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be deliverance, As the Lord has said, Among the remnant whom the Lord calls (Joel 2:30-32)
[2] The Greek verb form for “confess” in verse 9 does not imply in itself the idea of confessing until the day you die. I added this idea in my parenthetical note on the basis of many other scriptures that allude to this idea. For example: “He that endures to the end will be saved” (Matthew 10:22).
Disclaimer about my referencing the Greek language in my articles:
I am attempting to learn the Greek language. But as of now, I do not know the Greek language.
When I reference the Greek language in my articles, I do so based upon observations I make using the many excellent tools available to English speaking people in computer programs.
The ONE THING I do not want to convey is that I have a special access to God’s truth due to superior knowledge of the original languages of the Bible!
Comparative value of language skills verses proper attitude as I see it:
The most important ingredient to gaining God’s truth is a humble, seeking heart!
One man might be a master in the Greek and Hebrew languages but not have a humble, seeking heart. Another man might have only a New International Version of the English Bible and limited English skills (and no computer)…but have a humble, seeking heart. It is the second man who is in a better position to lay hold of God’s truth.
So, whenever you notice me referencing the Greek language, please just consider it my feeble attempt to convey truth to the best of my limited ability.
Howdy & shalom in Jesus!
Thank God for His mighty revelation…He is more than enough…Yes,our salvation is based on Isaiah 30:15…In repentance & rest is our salvation…& in quiet trust is our strength to endure! Thanks for being opento Holy Spirit…have a great day in Jesus!!!
In Him, Pete
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