Belief can be a confusing word. The doubt in our minds and hearts keeps us from truly believing that something is true. If my children tell me that they’ve cleaned their room, I always have the doubt, so I have to go look for myself, and I have the expectation that I will either have to tell them again to clean it or I’ll need to clean it myself. Now, if I tell my children that I’ve cleaned their room for them, they believe me. They accept it as truth, and they won’t question what I’ve said.
Roman’s 10:9 is often used as a declaration or a commandment when really it is an if/then situation that requires the believer to question and then confirm his or her belief.
“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.”
Romans 10:9 CSB
Paul is frustrated with the mess because they’re still trying to clean their own rooms after Jesus already said that He did it for them. They keep pulling out their toys and then putting them away, not realizing that they’re overlooking the dirt in the carpet and the crayon markings on the wall.
Christ has cleaned your heart of all sin, and it is made perfect and acceptable to God’s specifications. He proved it by fulfilling prophecy, dying on the cross, and then being resurrected. Stop trying to get the stains out yourself and put away the magic eraser—delight in the fact that your Father is pleased with what His Son did for you.