Is The “Faith Alone” Doctrine Supported By Romans 10:9-10?
No.
Many denominations teach that faith alone is sufficient for salvation. They often cite Romans 10:9-10 to support their false doctrine. However, Romans 10:9-10 involves two acts of obedience, which simply means that faith plus confession leads unto salvation. Not only is such a position negated by Romans 10:9-10, but it also opens the door for other acts of obedience that lead unto salvation.
If faith alone is sufficient, then why did Paul add confession? Clearly, Paul means to show that the term “faith” is a synecdoche (a synecdoche is a figure of speech where a part stands for the whole – in this case, a “condition” that is used to show all the comprehensive acts of obedience that lead to salvation). To make this explanation even more clear – if faith only (that involves the “heart”) is the action God requires for one to be saved, then no other part of the body is required to be involved in one’s salvation. Yet, Romans 10:9-10 mentions two parts: (1) the heart AND (2) the mouth.
Furthermore, the Bible teaches that we are to hear the gospel with our ears (Romans 10:17). The “ears” are the part of the body where the message of God’s word enters in order to reach the heart which chooses whether to develop the faith that pleases God or not (Hebrews 11:6; Romans 10:17). This is how we come to have faith in the first place - by hearing what God said through His inspired word (2 Timothy 3:16). Now salvation involves the (1) heart, (2) mouth AND (3) ears.
The Bible teaches that we are commanded, as a command of the gospel, to have a repentance in our mind that leads to a change in the way we live with your feet, hands, eyes, ears, mouth, mind, and thoughts(Acts 17:30; 26:19-20). Now salvation involves the (1) heart, (2) mouth, (3) ears, AND (4) mind.
The Bible teaches that we are commanded, as a command of the gospel, to allow the physical body to be baptized (immersed) in water (Hebrews 10:22) for the remission of our sins. The immersion of our bodies in water is the culminating point of an obedient faith where our heart comes into contact with the saving grace of God through the blood of Jesus Christ that washes away our sins (Romans 6:3,4; Acts 22:16). Now salvation involves the (1) heart, (2) mouth, (3) ears, (4) mind AND (5) body.
Upon closer examination, Romans 10:9-10 teaches the opposite of faith only and opens the door for other acts of obedience required by God, not as a way to earn our salvation, but THE way to come in contact with the cleansing blood of Jesus through obedience to the gospel (2 Thessalonians 1:9-11; Revelation 1:5). We are not seeking to earn our salvation but to submit to Jesus’ will (Matthew 7:21; John 9:31; Hebrews 5:8-9).
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