Many people desiring to be ‘born again’, are instructed to say a prayer asking Jesus into their heart. Invariably well meaning teachers, preachers, etc. will quote scriptures (like Ro. 10:10) out of context not realizing that these scriptures spoken in their proper context were designed to create faith thus enabling a person to become a disciple and “by faith in the working of God” (Col.2:12), get baptized “into Christ” (Gal.3:26-27), and thus “be born of water and the Spirit” (Jn.3:5).
By reading the before and after text a person may acquire the context and thus; faith created by hearing the inspired word of God (Ro.10:17). This word given by inspiration of the Spirit of God (2Tim.3:16) instructs a person toward the corresponding action of baptism into Christ that is, into a covenant relationship with Christ. We are buried with Christ (Only the spiritually dead are buried into the death of Christ.) by water baptism and made spiritually alive in Christ, and raised up from the watery grave with Christ to walk in newness of life (Ro.6:1-9). We have become a new creation in Christ (2Cor.5:17).
Jesus said, ”He who believes and is baptized will be saved, but he who does not believe will be condemned.” (Mk.16:16).
This scripture summarized by Mark is the same ‘great commission’ command spoken by Jesus and recorded by Matthew however Matthew’s account gives more detail. Listen to the whole counsel of God through Christ, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you . . .” (Matt.28:18-20).
The faith that gives birth to a new creation in Christ, is and must be faith in the inspired word of Jesus Christ rather than the word of uninspired men who are sometimes mistaken not knowing the scriptures nor the power of God (Matt.22:29).
Jay Massingill