Created To BelieveSample

A new heart is a transformed heart. What makes the gospel so impactful is that it has the power to accomplish what nothing else can! It transforms people from the inside out. The power of the salvation message takes people from darkness to light, from satanic bondage to Spirit-empowered living, from being in the kingdom of tyranny to the kingdom of sonship. How does this invisible miracle happen? This glorious transaction occurs in the heart.

Paul tells us in Romans, “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved” (Rom. 10:9–10 ESV).

Confession of the mouth and belief in the heart are not two separate steps to salvation. They must be united together for the heart to transform. The order, however, is less important than their inseparability.

Saving faith requires inward belief and outward confession. These essentials of faith belong together. Salvation comes through acknowledging that Christ is the Lord God and believing in Him. Belief without confession is denial. Confession without belief is ritual. Both belief and confession must occur for Spirit-empowered transformation!

Heart faith is true confidence in the unseen and is based on God’s Word. It involves a total commitment of one’s self and interests to the demands of Christ’s truth. It is similar to the trust children have toward their father and mother. Young children take their word at face value—often with no questions asked. It is a simple yet unwavering acceptance of their parents’ word. Our response to Christ is similar. We make a conscious decision to participate in the Spirit-directed process of confession and belief based on the surety of His promises. Heart faith involves a voluntary state of mind, but it is essentially an act of the will. 

Paul puts it this way: “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Rom. 10:17, nkjv). The unshakable nature of the Word of Christ gives us the confidence we need to confess and believe. This idea is essential for transformation. 

God is able to transform our lives by replacing hesitation with bold confidence built off a maturing belief in the sure promises of God. To see transformation in our heart and lives, our faith must rest in the Word of God. 

 Think big—believe!