bored has left a new comment on your post "NNIV Traducers - Bored Asks a Question":
Thank you Dr. Jackson: very enlightening. I think that the idea of 'utterance' is very helpful in understanding the gravitas of words coming from the mouth of Jesus, and how when we hear True Preaching the Word is going out with the same gravitas.
When Paul writes "with the mouth confession is made unto salvation" in verse 10 of the same chapter is he talking about the same thing?
Why is Confession of the faith specifically linked to salvation? Because the power of the Word in a true confession? Luther says about verse 10 "Faith which leads to righteousness does not attain to the goal of righteousness, namely salvation, unless it culminates in confession" (Commentary on Romans)
Previously I thought Paul was reiterating the same thought in the two halves of verse 10, but now, after reading Luther I'm little unsure.
I guess I never heard the bit about Confession before. Why is salvation dependent on my confessing of the faith? Am I missing something here?
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GJ - People say they believe in such and such, but that is not their confession of faith. For example, a Mormon will say, "We believe in the Trinity." That sounds good. So I ask him, "Do you believe the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are separate gods?" A Mormon missionary will say, "Yes." That is his confession of faith.
Paul and Luther are saying - one's true faith, not just a mirage put up to fit in with the crowd of the moment.
Another example is justification by faith and the Means of Grace. All the UOJ Enthusiasts will say they believe in justification by faith, but when pressed, they begin with justification without faith. Next they say there is only one justification. Quoting Mischke or another illiterate, Jay Webber says, "They are two sides of the same coin.'" So justification is a coin with an obverse side.
The same is true of the Means of Grace. Pastors tack that term onto a discussion, but they really focus on universal absolution, which obviates justification by faith. So they say "Means of Grace" but do not really mean it.
The text on not making the act of confession the cause of salvation, which seems to be your concern.
The Apostle is making faith, forgiveness, and salvation quite clear. Becoming a Christian is quite simple. Abiding in Christ (John 15:1-15) is quite a task, because of so many attacks against the Gospel, against the believer, and against our weak and sinful flesh.
