If You Believe Jesus Died and Rose Again

Today’s English-translated versions of Paul’s Greek-written letters gives Satan his best fodder to concoct false doctrines in order to deceive the world about how salvation (obtaining eternal life) is achieved.  If you’re a churchgoer, no doubt you’ve heard the following verse a hundred times: “If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved” (Romans 10:9).  Cherry pick this verse out of the Bible, twist its meaning, and what do you get … A false salvation doctrine touting ALL a person has to DO to go to heaven is “believe Jesus died & rose again” and say “Jesus is Lord” with their mouth.  Ludicrous!!!  Allow me to clarify the meaning of Paul’s words.

First, you should understand Paul’s audience and mission.  Paul traveled around the known world speaking mostly to Jews, Greeks & Romans who had never heard the story of the man Jesus and what he had just done.  He encountered numerous people who believed in the dozens of gods of Roman mythology and Greek mythology.  But Paul desired for them to believe in the teachings of the Bible (what we know today as the Old Testament).  So how would Paul go about trying to get them to believe?  He’d tell them the story of the man Jesus (what he just taught and did) and then he’d show them where in the Jewish scrolls (Old Testament) it was all prophesied that he’d do these things!  That’s right … “fulfilled prophecy” was Paul’s tool to get people to believe in the God of the Bible!

So, Paul would teach things like: “I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep (those who have died), that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him” (I Thessalonians 4:13-14).  Say what?  Did Paul just say … a person’s “belief in Jesus’ death & resurrection” IS THE REASON God will bring the righteous back to Earth one day?  Of course not!!!  Paul was just making a comparison truth, meaning … folks, if you now believe in the story I’ve just told you of the death and resurrection of the man Jesus, YOU SHOULD ALSO NOW HAVE REASON TO BELIEVE the righteous will live with God forevermore, because the same man Jesus taught these things!  Nothing more or less was meant by Paul’s words.

So, likewise, in the Roman’s verse, Paul meant … If you now believe in the story of this man Jesus’ death & resurrection, YOU SHOULD ALSO BELIEVE that you can be saved (obtain eternal life) through him if you choose to make him Lord of your life.  Then Paul would teach them Jesus’ teachings, for to make Jesus their Lord would mean they would have to “follow him”.  If someone is your Lord and Master, you DO what they SAY!!!  And Jesus taught people to “obey God’s 10 love commandments (10LC)”.  It’s really that simple!  Thus, Paul would also, harmoniously, teach: “For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the DOERS of the LAW (10LC) shall be justified” (Romans 2:13).  Amen.







Enjoy the Sabbath!

Gabriel

Approximately 772 Weeks (Sabbaths) Remaining Till Christ's Return!