**Rom 10:9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.**
Written to people already born again. As were all of the epistles. That’s the context.
“..the Son of God....by whom we have received grace and apostleship, for OBEDIENCE to the faith among all nations, for his name: Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ: To all that be at Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints.” Rom. 1:4-7
Paul reminds them:
“Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death...”. Rom. 6:3,4
Paul further reminds them:
“But God be thanked, that ye WERE the servants of sin, but ye have OBEYED from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being THEN made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.” Rom. 6:17,18
Let’s cut to the chase. None of that Campbellite nonsense(One of the legalistic shackles that held me for a short while).
Acts 16:30-31 King James Version (KJV)
30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
Much like Cornelious was instantly saved when the Holy Ghost fell on him BEFORE he was baptized.
ACTS 10
43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
So, was Cornelious’ sins forgiven when he heard the WORD, and was filled with the Holy Spirit, or when he got wet.