What Does the Bible Say Is Required for Salvation?

Thanks to those who continue to send in sermon questions. This week, I was sent this question: In Romans 10:9–13, it explains that salvation is received by confessing Jesus as Lord and believing in his resurrection. However, when reading the Gospel of Luke, there are several references to salvation that seem to be much more difficult to achieve. Is this disparity real?

Now, I want to take a quick moment to say, while we are open to all questions and you are welcome to submit a question anonymously, it is really nice when a person gives their name and contact information, because I was able to ask some clarifying questions and have a conversation with this person about their question. And it’s a great question. So thank you again for sending in this question.

After a follow-up conversation, this person gave me some passages as examples and said, there seems to be more to salvation than what Paul writes in Romans 10. Can you be saved if you only read Romans 10 and are not aware of passages like — they said — Luke 9:23–25, which says, if anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.

Or another example, Mark 10:17–27, where Jesus says to the rich young man who asks how he can be saved, and he also says that he’s followed the commandments since he was young. Jesus says, you lack one thing. Go and sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven, and come, follow me.

Then there’s Luke 19:1–10, Zacchaeus, the tax collector, who comes to Jesus and he says, behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor, and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold. And Jesus said to him, today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham, for the Son of Man came to seek and save the lost.

So is there disparity between Romans, which says, 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, and these other passages that seem to state you must give up everything or do more — give up everything, including your wealth and possessions, in order to be saved?

And no, I do not think there is disparity here. I think these passages actually support one another, not contradict each other.

First, let’s take a look at Romans 10 a little bit more. We’ll start in verse 9, but let’s go a little further and go through verse 13. Verse 9 starts with, because 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. For the Scripture says, everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame, for there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

Obviously, entire sermons or entire books could be done on this passage, but if we quickly summarize each verse here, we will see that in verse 10 — for with the heart one believes and is justified, with the mouth one confesses and is saved — you must believe in your heart.

Now, this is not just a head knowledge, but a deep, internal, passionate belief that Jesus is Lord. Remember, Scripture says that even the demons believe that God exists, and demons are not saved. So this belief must be a true belief, a belief in the saving work of Christ.

And then it says, with the mouth one confesses. So there must be an outward sign of that belief. Again, I want to be careful not to slip into works righteousness here. It is not by our works that we are saved, but the work of Jesus. We need to believe so completely that we don’t suppress and hide it. And that means believe in your heart and say it out loud, even if that means persecution or people will disagree with you.

If we continue on in verses 12 and 13, it says, for there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him, for everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

And here’s the aha moment. We’re getting to the meaning of this particular passage. It’s less about what you have to do to be saved, which is nothing outside of proper belief in the Savior. It’s more about who can be saved. Paul is writing about who is offered salvation, and that’s anyone, everyone who believes, no matter background, nationality, upbringing, or previous spiritual belief. Jew or Greek, whoever, no matter what tribe, nation, or tongue can confess that Jesus is Lord and then be saved.

If we look back at the other verses from Luke and Mark that seem to be implying more work needs to be done in order to be saved, we’ll see they actually support the Romans passage, not contradict it. Luke 9:23–25 says that we have to take up our cross daily, and it says, let him deny himself, and for whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.

Does that mean we cannot be saved until we die, until we sacrifice ourselves? And no. Again, let’s look at the context. The next verse, 26, says, for whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.

If we connect Jesus’ words in Luke 9 to Paul’s teaching in Romans — believe in your heart so strongly and say it out loud that Jesus is Lord — Paul is writing to people in the Roman Empire during a time of persecution. Saying you follow Jesus out loud may have very well gotten you killed. Professing your faith out loud would not have been as easy as it is for someone today in North America, say.

Did you have to literally give up your life before you could be saved? No, but the possibility of physical death was very real, so the belief in your heart had better be pretty genuine. And an outward profession of faith would have been pretty bold. Both of these passages together are saying, you can’t be a comfortable Christian in the quiet and private setting of your home. Jesus went to the cross and carried your burden of sin and died for you, and if you understand the power and weight of what he has done, you will shout it from the mountaintops, not hide it inside or under a bushel, so to speak.

All right, next passages: Mark 10, the rich young man, and Luke 19, Zacchaeus, the tax collector. Let’s take a look at this. Do you really have to give up everything before you can be saved? And to this, I will give a big no.

The rich young man in Mark 10 had been following the law. He had been trying to earn his own salvation through good works and following the commandments, while at the same time he was amassing his wealth. And when Jesus tells him to sell everything and give it to the poor, he is exposing where the rich young man’s heart really is. Who or what was he worshiping?

If it were Jesus he was worshiping, he would have said, no problem, I’ll give it all up today. But since his wealth had a higher place in his life than Jesus, he chose to go away sad instead of selling his possessions. I don’t see a contradiction between Mark 10 and Romans 10, because while the rich young man confessed with his mouth — he called Jesus Lord — he did not really believe in his heart that Jesus was the Savior of the world. He chose to worship his possessions and rely on his works according to the law, rather than trust in the literal Savior who was standing before him.

Zacchaeus, on the other hand, came to Jesus and said, I have been living a sinful life, stealing from my neighbors, but now I see that you are more important and I will do anything to make up for it. And Jesus says, salvation has come. What Zacchaeus has demonstrated is contrition and repentance. He has turned away from his evil ways and wants to follow Jesus instead. Was the giving away of his riches what saved him? No, but it was evidence that he trusted in Jesus more than anything else, including wealth.

The rich young man wants the benefits of following Jesus, but not enough to make any changes or sacrifices. These two different stories together remind me of the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector. The Pharisee and the rich young man both go away unjustified, or unsaved. What do they have in common? They’re telling God how great they are. They are trying to earn their way to salvation with their actions.

The tax collector and Zacchaeus, who was also a tax collector by the way, both confess their evil ways. They demonstrate a desire to turn their lives around, and Jesus says in both situations they are justified and saved. Notice in the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector, Jesus does not say the tax collector will be saved if he returns all the money and gives to the poor.

So what is the common link between Zacchaeus and the tax collector? It’s the contrition and the confession that they are not worthy, but Jesus is worthy. It’s not the requirement of giving away their goods; it’s the contrition, the confession, the repentance, the acknowledging that Jesus is worthy above all else.

But I know some of you know the Scriptures really well and you’re thinking, what about that next part of the rich ruler, the rich young man passage? When Jesus says, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God. That’s Mark 10:25, where that is.

It is, in fact, harder for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man — or any person, for that matter — to earn their way into heaven. For a person living according to the law, doing everything they can to get into heaven, even the richest of rich people still can’t do it. It is impossible. Just as, obviously, it is impossible for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle. It’s not possible to reach the level of supernatural perfection that would earn you a spot in heaven.

But the truth bomb comes two verses later in Mark 10:27. It says, with man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God. With all the money in the world, man cannot earn their way into heaven. But with God, if God, the word made flesh, were doing the work on your behalf, with Jesus as your advocate, redeemer, and rescuer, then it is possible.

So 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. Is that enough? Or do you still need to do something else, like sell all your property, give to the poor, pay back those you have wronged fourfold?

Jesus is enough. He went to the cross and paid the ultimate price. He rose from the grave, conquering death once and for all. Earthly riches will never compare or compete. We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: all you need for salvation is nothing, but most people don’t have it. Everything else should come as the fruit of salvation — not as payment, but as an outpouring of worship, because you know what has been done for you.

Romans 10:9 is all it takes for salvation. Confess with your mouth and believe in your heart. All the other passages that make it seem like there are steps or tasks or requirements are examples or demonstrations of the ways people don’t live up to the true belief that Jesus has done all that is necessary on our behalf.

Well, I feel like we’re just barely scratching the surface of four wonderful passages of Scripture here, but I hope it’s been helpful. I hope it leads to more conversation, and we’ll see you again next time.