Confession
The number one set of verses that describe how we obtain salvation, are Romans 10:9-10. What is interesting is that these verses do not even have the word Savior in them. These verses state that our confession of Jesus as Lord, results in our salvation–it is our making of Him as our Lord, that He becomes our Savior.

"that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved; [10] for with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation."
Romans 10:9-10

Confess is the Greek verb Homologeo, literally defined as-to speak the same thing (homos, same, lego, to speak). To declare openly by way of speaking out freely, such confession being the effect of deep conviction of facts. (Vines Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words). It is obvious that our confessing Jesus as Lord is not just speaking some words, but believing with deep conviction that Jesus is Lord of our life. Confess is a verb, which means there should be action with our confession.

Believe
Some will say "all you have to do is believe Jesus is Lord". Let's look at some verses with the word believe and then look at the definition of the word believe.

And they said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you shall be saved, you and your household."
Acts 16:31

"even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction;"
Romans 3:22

"and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might"
Ephes. 1:19

" For to you it has been granted for Christ's sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake"
Philip. 1:29 (Unless we are willing to suffer for His sake, we are not believing in Him)

The Greek word for believe is Pisteuo-to believe, also to be persuaded of, and hence, to place confidence in, to trust, signifies, in this sense of the word, reliance on, no mere credence. It is a verb (action), not a noun.

If we are placing confidence in, relying on, trusting in Jesus, not just giving Him credence, then we will make Him Lord of our life.

In all the verses listed below, there is no hint of the concept of Jesus becoming our Savior at first and then becomes our Lord at a later date.

Bible verses that include Lord and Savior in them:
"For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;"
Philip. 3:20

"Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus according to the commandment of God our Savior, and of Christ Jesus, who is our hope; to Timothy, my true child in the faith: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord."
1 Tim. 1:1-2

"Simon Peter, a bond-servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ: Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord;"
2 Peter 1:1-2

"for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you."
2 Peter 1:11

"For if after they have escaped the defilements of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and are overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first."
2 Peter 2:20

"that you should remember the words spoken beforehand by the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior spoken by your apostles."
2 Peter 3:2

"but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen."
2 Peter 3:18

"to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen."
Jude 1:25

"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven. "Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?'
Matthew 7:21-22

And a certain scribe came and said to Him, "Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go." [20] And Jesus said to him, "The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head." [21] And another of the disciples said to Him, "Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father." [22] But Jesus said to him, "Follow Me; and allow the dead to bury their own dead."
Matthew 8:19-22

"Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ-- this Jesus whom you crucified."
Acts 2:36

"But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts."
Romans 13:14

In the next nugget we will take a look at "Why do People Only Make Him Savior?"

Copyright Ó 2001 Richard D. Dover. All rights reserved.
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Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations used are from the New American Standard Version (NAS).