Demons don't believe in their heart that Jesus can save them. Talk about rewording scripture you're quite good at it.
Romans 10:10 in the New Testament is a verse that speaks about the process of salvation through belief and confession. The verse in the NIV reads:
"For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved."
Syntactic Force, Morphology, and Grammar Breakdown
Greek Text:
Ἐν γὰρ καρδίᾳ πιστεύεται εἰς δικαιοσύνην, στόματι δὲ ὁμολογεῖται εἰς σωτηρίαν.
English Transliteration:
En gar kardia pisteuetai eis dikaiosynēn, stomati de homologeitai eis sōtērian.
Phrase-by-Phrase Analysis:
Ἐν γὰρ καρδίᾳ (En gar kardia)
Ἐν (en): Preposition meaning "with" or "in."
γὰρ (gar): Conjunction meaning "for," used to provide a reason or explanation.
καρδίᾳ (kardia): Noun in the dative singular, meaning "heart."
Translation: "For with the heart"
πιστεύεται (pisteuetai)
πιστεύεται (pisteuetai): Verb in the present passive indicative, third person singular of πιστεύω (pisteuō), meaning "to believe" or "is believed."
Translation: "one believes" or "it is believed"
εἰς δικαιοσύνην (eis dikaiosynēn)
εἰς (eis): Preposition meaning "unto" or "into," indicating purpose or result.
δικαιοσύνην (dikaiosynēn): Noun in the accusative singular, meaning "righteousness" or "justification."
Translation: "unto righteousness" or "resulting in righteousness"
στόματι δὲ (stomati de)
στόματι (stomati): Noun in the dative singular, meaning "mouth."
δὲ (de): Conjunction meaning "but" or "and," used to contrast or connect clauses.
Translation: "and with the mouth"
ὁμολογεῖται (homologeitai)
ὁμολογεῖται (homologeitai): Verb in the present passive indicative, third person singular of ὁμολογέω (homologeō), meaning "to confess" or "is confessed."
Translation: "one confesses" or "it is confessed"
εἰς σωτηρίαν (eis sōtērian)
εἰς (eis): Preposition meaning "unto" or "into," indicating purpose or result.
σωτηρίαν (sōtērian): Noun in the accusative singular, meaning "salvation."
Translation: "unto salvation" or "resulting in salvation"
Full Translation and Commentary:
For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.
Syntactic Force: The verse uses parallel structure to emphasize the dual aspects of salvation: internal belief and external confession. The prepositions "with" (ἐν) and "unto" (εἰς) highlight the means and the result of these actions.
Morphology: Key verbs (πιστεύεται, ὁμολογεῖται) are in the present passive indicative, indicating ongoing actions that result in a state of being. Nouns (καρδίᾳ, στόματι) are in the dative case, indicating the instrument or means by which actions are performed, while (δικαιοσύνην, σωτηρίαν) are in the accusative case, indicating the goal or result.
Grammar: The use of the conjunction (γὰρ) explains the relationship between belief and righteousness, and confession and salvation. The structure of the sentence creates a balanced and rhythmic flow, reinforcing the theological point.
Romans 10:10 is situated within the broader context of Paul's discussion on the righteousness that comes from faith, specifically in Romans 9-11. Here's an overview of the context:
Immediate Context (Romans 10:5-13):
Romans 10:5-8:
Paul contrasts the righteousness based on the law with the righteousness based on faith. He quotes Moses, stating that the law's righteousness requires living by the commandments. He then cites Deuteronomy 30:12-14 to show that the righteousness of faith speaks of belief in the heart and confession with the mouth, emphasizing that the message of faith is accessible.
Romans 10:9-10:
Paul articulates the principle of salvation through faith:
Romans 10:9: "If you declare with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."
Romans 10:10: "For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved."
Romans 10:11-13:
Paul reinforces his argument by quoting Isaiah 28:16 and Joel 2:32, affirming that everyone who believes in Jesus will not be put to shame and that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
Broader Context (Romans 9-11):
Romans 9:
Paul begins by expressing sorrow for Israel's unbelief and explains that not all descendants of Israel are true Israel. He discusses God's sovereign choice in election, using examples like Isaac, Jacob, and Esau.
Romans 10:
Paul focuses on Israel's failure to attain righteousness because they sought it through the law rather than through faith. He emphasizes that Christ is the culmination of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.
Verses 1-4: Paul expresses his desire for Israel to be saved and explains their zeal for God is not based on knowledge. They did not submit to God's righteousness but sought to establish their own.
Verses 5-21: He contrasts righteousness based on the law with righteousness based on faith, explaining that salvation is available to all who believe and confess Jesus as Lord.
Romans 11:
Paul addresses the question of whether God has rejected His people. He asserts that there is still a remnant chosen by grace and explains that Israel's unbelief has led to the inclusion of the Gentiles, with the ultimate hope of Israel's restoration.
Theological Themes:
Righteousness by Faith: Paul contrasts the futile pursuit of righteousness through the law with the righteousness that comes through faith in Christ.
Accessibility of Salvation: The message of salvation through faith is near and accessible to all, regardless of ethnic background.
Universal Offer of Salvation: Salvation is available to everyone who believes in Jesus and confesses Him as Lord.
Conclusion:
Romans 10:10 serves as a key verse within Paul's larger argument about the nature of salvation and righteousness. It underscores that justification (being declared righteous) and salvation (being delivered from sin) are achieved through a combination of internal belief and external confession. This message is a pivotal part of Paul's theological exposition in Romans, emphasizing the central Christian doctrine of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.