Rom 10: 9 Believe, pisteuo (pist-yoo-oh); Strong's #4100: The verb form of pistis, "faith." It means to trust in, have faith in, be fully convinced of, acknowledge, rely on. Pisteuo is more than credence in church doctrines or articles of faith. It expresses reliance upon and a personal trust that produces obedience. It includes submission and a positive confession of the lordship of Jesus.

Rom 10:9,10 Continuing in Faith as we have begun, POWER AND PROMISE OF GOD'S WORD. Here is the most fondational lesson in the importance and power of faith's confession found anywhere in the Bible. The principle is established at the very beginning of our life in Christ. Just as salvation (God's righteous working in our behalf) is appropriated by heart belief and spoken confession, so His continuing working in our lieves is advanced by the same means.

The word "confess" (Greek homologeo) has the connotation of "a binding public delcaration by which a leagal relation is contractually established" (Kittel). Thus, as our words "contract" from our side the salvation God has fully provided from His by Christ's saving work and power, so we have a principle for all of life. Beginning in this spirit of saving faith, let us grow in active faith-believing in God's mighty power for all our needs, speaking with our lips what our hearts receive and believe of the many promises in His Word. Let us accept God's "contracts" for all our need by endowing them with our confessed belief-just as when we were saved.