Where does the Bible say this is needed for salvation?
Matthew 10:32,33 "Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven."
Romans 10:9,10 "That if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved."
What does this mean?
In order to be saved, you must communicate to someone that you believe that Jesus is who He said He is (the son of God and savior of mankind). This is sometimes called the "good confession."
To consider this "step" completed, you need to express your belief in Jesus' claims to others. Often, this is done just prior to baptism so that those gathered to witness your baptism can also witness your confession of faith in Christ Jesus.
Responses to Common Objections:
What if you're all alone on a desert island and there's no one to confess to?
Unless you are in such a situation, don't let this kind of thinking distract you. Find someone (anyone, really) and confess to them your belief in Jesus Christ as the son of God. In rare cases where there really is no one to hear your good confession, you could express your faith to God in prayer. And then when the opportunty arises when you can confess Jesus to someone, be sure to do so.
But My Preacher/Neighbor/Friend/Parents said (something else).
Beware of false teachers and false teachings. Satan uses them to confuse people and keep them from accepting the truth. Trust the Bible, which you must study for yourself.
Our honest goal is to teach Christ's message as recorded in the Bible. If that is the honest goal of your preacher, then there should be little disagreement. If there is disagreement, we encourage you to study the Bible yourself so that you may rightly learn what the Bible teaches on this or any other topic pertaining to your faith and salvation regardless of what we or anyone else may say.
The apostle Paul taught, "Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling." Keep in mind that on judgement day, you will be responsible for your own actions or inactions and your own faith and obedience to God's Word. It will not matter what anyone else told you.
