ABC'S of Salvation are impractical. Romans 10:9-10 is taken out of context.

Dr. Andy Woods explains that in the ABC method of Salvation, the A (Admit) and C (Confess) are often seen as impractical, with only the B (Believe) being essential. The passages in Romans 10:9-10 and Matthew 10:32-33 regarding confessing Christ before others are often misinterpreted. This, is the works based tenancy in us because we're works based by nature instead of relying on the 200 clear passages to share the gospel.

Instead of focusing on confession, the emphasis should be on belief. Confessing Christ before man is not a condition for justification, but rather an expression of faith. The Holy Spirit convicts people of sin, and our role is to share the gospel with them and invite them to trust in Christ. It is not necessary for someone to verbally confess Jesus in order to be saved.

For example, someone who cannot speak or is in a situation where they cannot openly profess their faith can still come to believe in Christ and be saved. There are many cases of this, like in a hotel room, and they reach into the drawer to find a revolver, and they find a Bible there, and they open up to a John 3:16, and they get saved! You know, but it's like 3 o'clock in the morning, there's no one really to confess to. I mean, I guess you could order room service or something like that! The idea of confessing Christ before man does not always work out practically and may not be possible in certain circumstances, such as in Islamic countries where openly professing faith in Christ can lead to persecution, they could be killed or tortured or maybe even worse their family, their children, their parents, could be tortured, burned to death.. Some people may believe in Christ but choose to keep their faith private due to fear of consequences.

There are examples in the Bible of people who believed in Jesus but did not openly confess Him, such as Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea. In John 12:42, it is mentioned that many believed in Jesus but did not confess Him out of fear of being ostracized from the synagogue. Despite their silence, they were still considered believers. John 20:30-31 emphasizes the importance of belief in Jesus for receiving the gift of eternal life, without the requirement of confessing Him publicly.

Ultimately, belief in Christ is the key to salvation, rather than outwardly confessing Him before others. The focus should be on trusting in Christ for salvation, rather than on performing specific actions, such as confessing Him publicly. God looks at the heart and the sincere belief of an individual, rather than their outward actions. The examples of believers in the Bible who kept their faith private show that salvation is based on faith in Christ alone, not on external expressions of faith.

The mention of confessing in Romans 10:9-10 is often taken out of context, as the book of Romans discusses more than just that. In Romans 8, Paul highlights the unbreakable bond between believers and Christ, emphasizing that nothing can separate us from his love. The question arises about God's faithfulness to Israel and how it relates to his promises to Gentiles. Paul addresses this by explaining God's plan for Israel's redemption in Romans 9-11, showing that Israel is still significant despite their current state of unbelief.

Moving beyond confession, Romans 10:13 reveals a prophecy about Israel’s future acknowledgment of Jesus, linking back to Joel 2:32 which discusses the events of the tribulation. This prophecy indicates that at the end of the Great Tribulation, Israel will call on Jesus for salvation, leading to his return in the Second Advent. Thus, Romans 10:9-10 should be understood in the broader context of God's faithfulness to Israel, not just as a formula for salvation. Romans 9: 10-11 is in the context of vindicating the faithfulness of God!

Romans 9: 10-11 is all about the Nation of Israel. Israel in the Past: Elected. (Rom. 9). Israel in the Present: Rejected. (Rom. 10). Because they stumbled over Christ. Israel in the Future: Accepted. (Rom. 11). Read Romans 10:9-10 again about Confess. Now, don't stop reading there. Keep on moving and go down to verse 13. These evangelistic tracts, never quote verse 13. Verse 13 is a prophecy of the acknowledgment that Israel is going to make one day and you'll notice that he's quoting there, Joel 2:32 which says in verse 13, whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved. Now study Joel 2:32, what you'll discover is that whole section is dealing with the events of the tribulation and beyond. so Joel 2:32 is the nation of Israel, calling/confessing, calling on Christ to save them at the end of the great tribulation period. The return of Jesus to the earth at the end of the seven year Tribulation Period, in an event we call the Second Advent, is triggered by Israel's public acknowledgment of Jesus, or confession to him. That's what Joel 2:32 is talking about.

That's what Paul is quoting here in Romans 10:13 and that's what he is espousing there in Romans 10: 9-10! It’s Not about ABC’s (Confesss with your mouth) to receive Salvation!