In Matthew 7, this was mere "lip service" confession when calling Jesus Lord. Jesus never knew these many people in Matthew 7:22-23 which means they were never saved. There is divine influence or direct operation of the Holy Spirit in the heart of a person when confessing Jesus as Lord. (1 Corinthians 12:3) This confession is not just a simple acknowledgment that Jesus is the Lord (even the demons believe that), but is a deep, personal conviction from the heart that Jesus is that person's Lord and Savior.
Simply believing in our head (and not in our heart) that God raised Him from the dead does not result in righteousness and simply giving "lip service" to the words "Jesus is Lord" not by the Holy Spirit is not unto salvation.
You remain confused over "faith only" as if James was teaching that we are saved by faith
and works. In James 2:24, James is not using the word "justified" here to mean "accounted as righteous" but is
shown to be righteous. James is discussing the
evidence of faith (
says-claims to have faith but has no works/I will show you my faith by my works - James 2:14-18) and
not the initial act of being accounted as righteous with God. (Romans 4:2-3) How about a little context.
In James 2:14, we read of one who
SAYS/CLAIMS he has faith but has
no works (to
evidence his claim). That is not genuine faith, but a
bare profession of faith. So, when James asks, "Can
that faith save him?" he is saying nothing against genuine faith, but only against an
empty profession of faith/dead faith. So, James does not teach that we are saved "by" works. His concern is to
show the reality of the faith
professed by the individual (James 2:18) and
demonstrate that the faith
claimed (James 2:14) by the individual is
genuine. Simple!
I've heard certain folks (especially those who attend the church of Christ) misinterpret Romans 10:9-10 in such a way that means we can believe unto righteousness today, but are still lost until we confess Christ, which may be next week and then we are finally saved next week, but that is not what Paul is talking about here. Confession is not a work for salvation that comes after we believe unto righteousness. (see Romans 4:5-6) Also, someone who is moot (unable to speak) would remain lost according to that erroneous interpretation of Romans 10:9,10 for failing to
"verbally confess with their
mouth."
Confessing with our mouth that Jesus is Lord and believing in our heart that God raised Him from the dead are
not two separate steps to salvation but are chronologically together. Romans 10:8 - But what does it say? "THE WORD IS NEAR YOU,
in your mouth and in your heart" (TOGETHER) that is, the word of faith which we are preaching,
(notice the reverse order from verse 9-10) - that if you
confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Confess/believe; believe/confess.
So simply believing in our head (and not in our heart) that God raised Him from the dead does not result in righteousness and simply giving "lip service" to the words "Jesus is Lord" (reciting those words) not by the Holy Spirit is not unto salvation.
I already covered 1 Peter 3:21 and Mark 16:16 with you in post #177 from the linke below:
James 2:14-26, A verse by verse study - Christian Chat Rooms & Forums
It certainly is not hard. John 6:40 - For
my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and
believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. This is not hard to understand. It's just hard for you to ACCEPT.
The sinner's prayer may be used to call on the name of the Lord but is useless if we are simply reciting a set of words as if they are a magic formula for being saved apart from repentance and faith.