\n8\u00a0<\/sup><\/em><\/strong>But what does it say? \u201cThe word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart\u201d (that is, the word of faith which we proclaim); 9\u00a0<\/sup><\/strong>because if you profess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10\u00a0<\/sup><\/strong>Why? Because covenant membership comes by believing with the heart, and salvation comes by professing with the mouth. <\/em><\/p>\n
\u201cWhat counts as the badges in the present of those who will be saved, who will \u2018not be ashamed\u2019, in the future? First, \u2018believing in him\u2019; second, \u2018calling upon the name of the Lord\u2019…This transformed heart, visible in the public declaration of allegiance to Jesus as Lord and the belief that God had raised him from the dead, was the sign that someone was now a member of that renewed covenant family.\u201d (Tom Wright, Romans For Everyone<\/em>)<\/p>\n Today let\u2019s respond again to the word that is near us, by professing with our mouths that Jesus is Lord and believing in our hearts that God raised him from the dead. May God\u2019s salvation come afresh and spur us on toward greater trust in Jesus\u2019 sovereignty and authority over our lives. Let\u2019s also pray for this faith and confession in our friends, students, and children\u2019s lives that they may be saved and belong to God\u2019s new covenant family.<\/p>\n Prayer: <\/strong>Jesus, you alone are my Lord and Savior. Thank you that as I confess and believe, I am saved. In Jesus\u2019 name, amen.<\/p>\n Let\u2019s sing \u201cWho Else\u201d by Gateway Worship (click here<\/a>).<\/p>\n![\"YouTube](\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/e9l2hLyzw_A\/maxresdefault.jpg\")