Jesus, while on the cross, confirmed Paul’s assertion in Romans 10:9…
Are you referring to Luke 23:43?
What does it really mean to believe in your heart?
The Good Thief seems to ask Jesus for salvation. “Lord, remember me…”, after he confesses his guilt, or tells the other thief they deserve crucifixion. 1 John 1:9 says if you confess your sin the Lord is faithful to forgive…" Would you say the story of the Good Thief on the cross confirms this scripture, that confession is necessary?
Jesus says, “You call me lord, but if you do not obey my commands, what good am I to you?”
Do you think this establishes that in order to be saved obedience to the Lord is necessary, in addition to what Paul states in Romans? Or does believing in your heart imply obedience?
Is it ok to take a verse of scripture related to salvation and ignore all the others related to salvation? If believing in your heart means doing all those other things then none of them are stand alone. They do not exclude one another. They are all harmonized.
Jesus tells His apostles to go into all the world and preach the gospel of repentance for forgiveness of sins. Based on this scripture is repentance necessary for salvation? Did Jesus on the cross contradict himself by promising the good thief paradise without repentance? Or, did the Good Thief repent?
Those who site Romans 10 say, this is ALL you need to do. First, they are saying it is something you need to do, a work. Are they preaching works salvation then? Second, Paul does not say this is ALL you need to do. If he did he would be contradicting scripture that says repentance, obedience, is necessary. It is a package deal. It all comes together.
Here is what we will agree on. Jesus knows our hearts. If our hearts are right we are saved. The Good Thief’s heart was right. Jesus knew it. The Good Thief did not know it. He did not know he would be saved. He asked of Jesus a humble request and Jesus promised Him paradise.
Let’s ask ourselves, what does it take to make our hearts right. Do we want to do all that Jesus asks of us, because we claim He is Lord, or do we want to skate by with the least possible? Are we looking for the easy pass, the minimalist approach, or do we want to surrender everything to His dominion and lordship? Do we need to?
Paul who said if you confess with your lips and believe in your heart, gave his entire life to the Lord. He was no minimalist. The Good Thief did not give his entire life to the Lord in one sense, but He gave himself entirely to the Lord in his last hour, harmonizing another scripture where Jesus says those who come in the last hour receive the same pay as those who come earlier.
The Thief acknowledged Jesus as Lord, but also acknowledged something about himself. “We deserve this just punishment”.
If our hearts are right we acknowledge more than who God is. We acknowledge who we are. I am a wretch. I am a fool. I am the prodigal who says I do not deserve to be called your creature. I have disgraced your name Father.
I do not have the power to make my heart right. Jesus does. If I did I would not need Him.
With the Good Thief I insist that I deserve just punishment. But I don’t decide what I get. Jesus does. Mercy would not be mercy if we deserved it.
Paul and the Good Thief are a great study. Juxtaposed, Paul served the Lord many years. The Thief came at the last hour. Both knew what they deserved.
Before we give a quick reply on whether we believe in our hearts that Jesus is Lord, we should really ask what that means, what it entails. How do we know if we have this heart faith? I confess with my mouth. That is easy. But do I believe in my heart?
Cor is Latin for heart. The heart was seen as the core of our being, our deepest inner self. Jesus says He will enter that place in us. What external evidence will we see of what we believe in our hearts?
We will forgive. We will confess. We will repent. We will love. We will show and know mercy. We will obey. All of these things come out of our hearts as evidence or signs or fruits of this belief in our hearts. If I examine myself and see these things I can say I believe in my heart.
If we see lies, ill will, lust, greed, vengance and envy we know our hearts are not right.
Which is it?