There are several verses in the Bible which seem to teach that you need to make a public confession of Jesus in order to be saved. Many people interpret this to mean that if you do not let others know that you are a follower of Jesus, then you do not truly have eternal life and will therefore not spend eternity with God in heaven.
There are numerous passages from Scripture which seem to teach this idea of making a public confession about following Jesus, but none of them actually teach what many people think. This article will briefly consider several of these verses, with an emphasis on Romans 10:9-10.
The bottom line truth we will learn is that a public confession of Jesus is not required to receive (or prove that we have) eternal life. Not even Romans 10:9-10 teaches this idea.
To see this, it is important to first define the word “confess.”
The Meaning of the Word “Confess”
As discussed previously, the word “confess” simply means “to agree.” God teaches us many things in Scripture, and when we agree with what He has revealed, we are “confessing” or “agreeing” with the truth.
The word “confess” is defined in more detail in my online course, “The Gospel Dictionary.”
So when Scripture tells us to confess that Jesus is Lord, it is telling us to agree that Jesus is Lord.
Do you agree with what God has revealed in Scripture, that Jesus is Lord? That He is the Master, Ruler, Judge, and King of all things? If you do, then you confess that Jesus is Lord, and are invited by Scripture to live in light of this truth.
So is Confession Required for Eternal Life?
But is this confession of Jesus as Lord required to receive eternal life?
No, it is not. You do not need to confess that Jesus is Lord in order to receive eternal life.
The consistent truth of Scripture (and Jesus Himself) is that we receive eternal life simply and only by believing in Jesus for it (John 3:16; 5:24; 6:47). You do not receive eternal life by submitting your life to the Lordship of Jesus, confessing your sins, walking an isle, saying a prayer, asking Jesus into your heart, or any of the other popular messages some Christians teach today.
Jesus gives eternal life to those who believe in Him for it. Period. No action, effort, commitment, dedication, repentance, confession, or work is needed on your part.
Submitting to the Lordship of Jesus is very important for sanctification and becoming more like Jesus in this life, but we do not need to submit to Jesus on confess Jesus in order to receive eternal life.
But what about the verses that seem to teach that we must confess that Jesus is Lord in order to receive eternal life? Well, let’s look at few…
Matthew 10:32 (Luke 12:8)
Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is heaven (Matthew 10:32).
Nothing this this text refers to receiving eternal life. Instead, Jesus is teaching a discipleship truth. He is saying that if you want to figure out what your life is all about (Matt 10:39), what your purpose is, and how you can live a life of significance, then you must first align yourself with Jesus and be proud of your connection with the family of God.
You cannot follow Jesus wherever He leads in life if you don’t want to be associated with Him. When we are proud of our connection to Jesus, and let others know that we are part of God’s family, then Jesus will lead us where He wants us to go, and will also boast about us before God in heaven.
This might be a bit like how God boasted about Job to the angelic host in Job 1:8. Of course, in that context, God is boasting about Job to Satan, whereas here, it is Jesus boasting about us to God, but the idea is similar. God is proud of His children when they are proud of being part of His family.
Note that nothing is said about these people not actually being Christians or not being part of the family of God. Though Jesus does say in Matthew 10:33 that He will deny those who deny Him, this does not mean that they are denied eternal life and entrance into heaven.
All it means is that they will not receive recognition and praise from Jesus when He boasts about His faithful brethren to His Father. Instead, He might actually express some disappointment. But He will never take away their eternal life, for that would be tantamount to denying Himself, which He cannot do. A similar idea is expressed in 2 Timothy 2:12.
2 Timothy 2:12
If we endure, we shall also reign with Him.
If we deny Him, He will also deny us (2 Timothy 2:12).
The word confess is not mentioned in 2 Timothy 2:12, but the word deny is, which is the opposite of confess.
The immediate context of 2 Timothy 2:12 mentions salvation (2 Timothy 2:10), and the following contexts refers to being approved and unapproved by Jesus (2 Timothy 2:15), all of which is connected to naming the name of Christ and turning from sin (2 Tim 2:19).
So Paul is not referring to gaining or losing eternal life, but to submitting our lives to Jesus as Lord and Master so that we can deliverance from the destructive power of sin in our lives and gain honor and recognition from Jesus when we stand before Him at the Judgment Seat of Christ.
Gaining eternal life and remaining within God’s family is solely by God’s grace alone through faith alone in Jesus Christ alone. However, having a position of honor and prominence within the family, having God be proud of us and what we have done with Him in His Kingdom is quite another matter.
For God to be proud about us and to boast about us to others, we must be strong, endure hardship, suffer trouble, be diligent, shun idle arguments, depart from iniquity, flee youthful lusts, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace (2 Tim 2:1-26). If we fail to do such things, and deny Jesus rather than confess and proclaim our alignment with Him, then He will deny us the ability to rule and reign with Him in His Kingdom, even though we will still remain part of the family of God.
This is the exact same truth Paul teaches in Romans 10:9-10, which is the passage most often used to teach that confession of Jesus is required for eternal life.
Romans 10:9-10
… that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation (Romans 10:9-10).
Many use Romans 10:9-10 to teach that if a person is going to truly be a Christian, they are required to make a public confession of faith in front of other people.
How this occurs varies from teacher to teacher. Some say that it occurs at baptism, while others say that standing up in church to share a conversion story is what is needed.
Most argue, however, that the only thing required is that a Christian never publicly deny that Jesus is their Lord and Master. When asked to take a stand for Jesus in the public arena, we are required to not be ashamed of the gospel (Romans 1:16), and instead be ready to give an answer for the hope that we have in Jesus Christ (1 Peter 3:15).
According to many, the one who fails to take such a public stand for Jesus proves that he never really a Christian in the first place.
But is this really what Paul is teaching? Is Paul saying that we need to make a public confession that Jesus is Lord in order to receive eternal life? No, this is not what Paul is saying.
The reason this text is so widely misunderstood and misapplied is because few people understand that the words “saved” and “salvation” do not refer to receiving eternal life.
People see the words “saved” and “salvation” in these verses and think that Paul is writing about how to receive eternal life. But he is not. The words “saved” and “salvation” in the Bible never refer specifically to receiving eternal life by faith in Jesus.
Instead, the salvation word family refers to some sort of deliverance or rescue, and can include deliverance from premature death due to sickness or enemies, deliverance from running one’s relationships, or even to deliverance from shame at the Judgment Seat of Christ.
When Scripture teaches about being saved from sin, it is not referring to escaping hell and going to heaven when we die, but to the deliverance from the devastating and destructive consequences of sin in this life.
It is this last idea of “salvation” which Paul primarily has in mind when he writes about salvation in his letters, and especially in his letter to the Romans.
Paul not only wants his readers to receive eternal life through faith in Jesus (Romans 4-5), he also wants his readers to experience the life of God in their day-to-day lives right now (Romans 6-8).
Paul not only wants his readers to be justified (Romans 4-5), he also wants them to be sanctified (Romans 6-8).
He not only wants them to be declared righteous in the sight of God (Romans 4-5), but also to live righteously in the sight of men (Romans 6-8).
So when Paul writes about salvation, it is this day-to-day journey into discipleship and sanctification that Paul has in mind.
“Salvation” in Romans is NOT about gaining forgiveness of sins so we can escape hell and go to heaven when we die. It is about following Jesus in the path of discipleship so that we can avoid the destructive and devastating consequences of sin in this life.
We see this quite clearly right here in Romans 10:9-10.
The word Paul uses for righteousness in verse 10 is the same exact Greek word he uses elsewhere for justification (see Justification). And how is a person justified? According to Paul, a person is justified when they believe in Jesus (cf. Romans 4:4-5). This belief takes place in their heart, that is, in their inner being. It is not something that necessarily has any outward sign, activity, or manifestation.
When we believe in Jesus, He gives us eternal life (John 3:16; 5:24; 6:47). We are justified, or declared righteous by God.
But being declared righteous by God is not the same thing as the daily experience of freedom from sin.
Deliverance from the penalty of sin is not the same thing as deliverance from the power of sin in our lives. All Christians know that even after they become a Christian, they continue to struggle with disobedience and rebellion against God. Paul knows this very well (cf. Romans 7), and so a constant theme in his letters is to teach Christians how to experience the freedom for which they have been set free (cf. Gal 5:1).
Though justification truths are central to Paul’s thinking and teaching, sanctification truths are more constant.
So here in Romans 10:9-10, one key to gaining deliverance from the addictive and destructive power of sin in our lives is by publicly confessing our allegiance to Jesus.
We are justified by faith alone, but one key to experiencing salvation, that is, deliverance from the power of sin in our lives, is by boldly proclaiming with our mouth that Jesus is our Lord and Master.
As long as we hide the fact that we are aligned with Jesus, it will be easier for sin to continue to have mastery over us. But when we let friends, family, and co-workers know that we follow Jesus and obey His instructions, it will be easier for us to stand up for what is right and do what He commands. In this way, we will begin to experience salvation; we will begin to find deliverance from the devastating and destructive consequences of sin in our lives.
So is public confession with the mouth important? Yes, of course!
Taking a public stand for Jesus is essential for finding freedom from the power of sin in our lives. But this public stance is not required to receive eternal life. God declares us righteous when we believe in Jesus.
We believe in Jesus for eternal life, and we confess Jesus with our mouth to experience deliverance from sin.
How will this public stance look? Well, it will be different from person to person and from place to place. Baptism might be part of it, as well as possibly sharing a testimony in the church. But taking a public stand for Jesus is not a one-time event. It is an ongoing way of life that requires daily commitment and discipline. Taking a public stand for Jesus is part of every conversation, interaction, and decision with friends, family, coworkers, and even in our personal life.
Paul’s message in Romans 10:9-10 is that while being justified by faith alone is wonderful, it is not enough to deliver us from the power of sin in our lives here and now.
The first step toward this salvation from sin is to publicly confess and agree that we belong to God, that Jesus is our Master, and that we will follow Him and do what He says.
Note that this way of understanding Romans 10:9-10 can be easily understood by reversing the “order of events” in Romans 10:14-15. In these verses, Paul writes this:
How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent?
The “calling on Him” is equivalent to confessing Jesus, so let us take these events in reverse order:
1. A person is sent
2. That person preaches to people
3. The people hear what is preached
4. They believe what is preached (and are therefore justified)
5. Those who believe call on the name of the Lord.
Do you see? A person cannot call on the name of the Lord until they have first believed. In other words, the “calling” or “confessing” that Paul has in mind is a discipleship activity. It is for believers who are already justified. This calling and confession helps “save” believers from the destructive power of sin in our lives.
One does not gain eternal life by calling on the name of the Lord or by making a public confession that Jesus is Lord. We receive eternal life by believing in Jesus for it.
But having believed, we can gain victory over sin in our life (salvation) by confessing Jesus, calling on His name, and taking a public stand for Him. If we fail to do this, it does not mean we don’t have eternal life; it just means we will not experience victory over sin in our life.
So Do You Need to Confess that Jesus is Lord?
Well, it depends … what are you trying to do?
If you want to gain eternal life from God, then no, you do not need to confess that Jesus is Lord. Simply believe that Jesus has given eternal life to you. That’s it. Eternal life is a free gift received by faith alone in Jesus Christ alone.
But if you want to break free from the besetting, addicting, and destructive power of sin in your life, then yes, confession that Jesus is Lord and submission to Him in your life will be necessary. Only when we commit to following Jesus and take a stand for Him will we gain “salvation” from the power of sin in our lives here and now.
Does this make sense? I hope so! Leave any comments or questions you might have in the comment section below.
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i dunno, he knows your heart. when it was illegal to skip church is another story.
Great Post. Best explanation I have read yet of passages that supposedly speak of avoiding Hell and going to Heaven. Salvation being delivered not from Hell but the consequences of sin makes so much more sense of a loving God.
Great Post!
Thanks Jeremy for bringing a clear presentation of Romans 10:9-10. Podcast has been a blessing. It’s a discipleship issue (Sanctifcation)!
The context, especially bearing in mind the OT reference to “Lord”, seems to be saying that one must “confess/agree” that Jesus is GOD to be saved. Selah!
So the if confession is not needed and if we gain salvation by simply believing in Jesus then, does everyone who believes in Jesus (Muslims, unclean spirits, etc) get saved also?
Have you considered why God planned to have a thief get saved at Jesus’s crucifixion’s? When an American president leaves office he has a farewell address to give to the nation. This is his/her time to tell the American people what she/he regards are the most important things he/she feels the people need to know. I believe that God knew that there would be a great deal of confusion concerning how people get saved. Since Christianity is a salvation religion God would use the crusification as an opportunity to illiminate the confusion.
Thus he arranged that on the cross would in effect be Jesus’s farewell address in which he could illustrate what must be done for anyone to get saved. Thus it is inconceivable to me that he would save a thief who didn’t do precisely what everyone desiring to be saved has to do. Thus God predetermined to declare in Romans 10:9 that confessing Jesus as Lord as a necessary thing to do and then having the thief get saved immediately after addressing Jesus as “Lord” according to Luke 22:43.
Thus we have in Romans10:9 a declaration of what confessing Jesus as lord will accomplish and we have in Luke 22:43 an example of a man getting saved who only did Romans 10:9 and nothing more. To me this is an airtight case that Confessing Jesus as Lord is necessary to be saved. Why? Because Jesus has no legal right or authority to do anything for people he is not first the LORD of.
The word LORD means ruler one who has authority this is why people should ask Jesus to be become their lord not their savior because when Jesus is Lord his first gift is immediately as it was to the thief that addressed him as Lord first and than asked to be saved. Then Jesus has the authority to take leadership and save the one who is asking. This is why it is written “You have not because you ask not.
The following questions are answered at the cross.
What must I say? You must say out loud Jesus is Lord publicly If you refuse to do so you’re showing you are ashamed of Jesus and you won’t be saved. The thief addressed Jesus as Lord publicly. So must we all do so publicly.
When do people become born again as the Lord Jesus said “Except a man be born again ye can not enter the kingdom of God? John 3:3 Since the lord Jesus said a man must be born again we know that if the thief had already been born again before being on the cross he wouldn’t have been railing against Jesus in the early morning. Therefore He got born again when he said Lord to the Lord Jesus otherwise the Lord Jesus wouldn’t have been able to save the thief as he did.
Also the fact that the thief that got saved was railing against Jesus in the early morning right along with the thief on the other side indicates he didn’t know that Jesus was Lord before being crucified so how is it that he came to realize that Jesus was Lord? I believe it was the work of the Holy Ghost who took possession of the thief inorder togive us an example of what must be said according to Romans 10:9.
3. When do people receive the gift of the Holy Ghost? As soon as they say Lord to the Lord Jesus 1 Corinthians 12:3 and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy .Ghost..
Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.
4. Do my good works help me to get savedNo!!!Good works are the results of being saved, not the cause of being saved. Good works we do will all be rewarded for and they constitute the treasures the bible describes being stored up in Heaven for us talked about in Matthew 6:19-21
Good works will be rewarded in Heaven and are the treasures stored up for the doer of good works but good works have nothing to do with getting into heaven.
Notice as written above thinking your good works will save you is what causes the Lord Jesus to tell them “Depart from me I never knew you” Matthew 7:25. Notice they offered their many good works as reasons why they should be accepted and were shocked to have the Lord Jesus rebuke them.
Make sure you divest yourself of any idea that you’re being a good person who has done many good works entitles you to salvation. No No perish the thought or this thought will perish you! As it does to the many of Matthew 7:25. The Lord Jesus did it all for you and deserves all the credit for making salvation available to you. He took the terrible punishment for you.
Knowing therefor the importance of the word “LORD” meaning as it does ruler one who has the authority I conclude that Yes one must address Jesus as Lord Jesus inorder for the Lord Jesus to supply as He promises all our needs one of which is to be saved.
Respectfully yours
Deep Think
de*********@gm***.com
Well said
I find in these last days Satan is at work to undermine the Word of God; The Bible. The reason I ended up here is to see what “teaching” is available about Romans 10:9 and following, after reading the corrupt NIV reading and teaching by a Pastor.
Comparing to what it actually “says” in the KJV bible. The NIV gives a different “sense” to that of the KJV.
The NIV says that” you need to believe” and exercise “your” faith (before your receive it from Christ) and say that Jesus is Lord of your life and believe that Jesus was raised from the dead “before” salvation occurs.
The KJV says confess ,that is, verbalize or agree with God that Jesus is Lord “and” believe that Jesus was raised from the dead. You then receive “the gift of Faith of Jesus” to enable you to be saved.
How can you say that Jesus is Lord if you have no experience of Him or if the Holy Spirit has not convicted you of this truth. After we confess . That is, “agree” with what God “says” in His word or hear via an anointed preacher that Jesus is Lord and has the “ability to save” then we receive the gift of Jesus Christ… “His faith” via the Holy Spirit. Its Jesus’ “Faith” that saves!! That is my experience.
I think the Apostasy is the “great falling away or rebellion from the true word of God” and its teaching. For the West, this is the Textus Receptus manuscripts.
Most people think uncofessed sins keep people out of Heaven? Well than no one is going to be saved because most people have unconfessed sins. Also do you not know that the Lord Jesus has already been punished for all of our sins so that keeping people out of heaven for unconfessed sins make a mockery out of Jesus crusification. Our sins are already paid for even unconfessed sins.
What keeps people out of Heaven is not confessing Jesus as Lord this side of the grave. Why? Because unless the Lord becomes the Lord of your life he has no authority because the word Lord Means ruler of my life.This is why the thief got saved not because he said he deserved being crusified but because he asked the Lord Jesus to be his lord by saying Lord not Jesus ,not the christ, not God but did what Romans 10: 9 said he must do and confessed Jesus is Lord
The one thing people who teach that it is not necessary to make a public confession that Jesus is Lord to become saved is to answer the question why did the Holy Ghost empower the Thief on the cross that got saved to address Jesus as Lord prior to asking for salvation if it is not necessary to do so?
Scripture informs us that no one can say Jesus is Lord except by the power of the Holy Ghost. To my mind the only logical explanation is that it is necessary to confess Jesus as lord out loud publicly to get saved which is in perfect harmony with Romans 10:9. Thus in Romans 10:9 we find the word “IF” signifying that if there is no publick confession that Jesus is Lord there is no salvation. Thus Romans 10:9 declares what must be done to get saved and the thief on the cross illustrates what Romans 10:9 declares.In my mind those who teach that it is not necessary to confess Jesus as Lord are disagreeing with the Holy Ghost and are leading people away from salvation.
Also there is not enough emphases being placed on the word “Lord” The word Lord means ruler of my life. One who has the authority to rule. The Lord of anything is responseible for whatever the lord is the lord of and not responsible for anything the lord is not the lord of. Its a lot like a lawyer. You can believe in lawyers but until you have actually hired one to represent you no lawyer will represent you in the court room.
So it is with the Lord Jesus Christ. You can believe in him but unless you have asked him to be your Lord he is not your lord and has no legal right to represent you on Judgement day. Actually
in Christianity it is asserted that Jesus becomes the husband of those who accept his Lordship and such saved people become His bride. The very first gift the husband Jesus Christ gives His bride is the gift of salvation so that the bride can not thinks she earned it.
In my opinion one of the surest evidences that one is saved is their frequent referencing Jesus as Lord for it is highly unlikely since no one can say Jesus is Lord except by the power of the Holy Ghost that the Holy Ghost is empowering unbelievers (Unsaved people) to address Jesus as Lord.
Also consider there was war in Heaven over who is Lord. The war was a rebellion’ against the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Doesn’t it seem reasonable that we are here in this life to qualify for Heaven by accepting the Lordship of Jesus Christ in this life because God doesn’t want anyone to enter the new Heaven who don’t want His lordship. Thus the Holy Ghost makes it clear that there must be a public declaration that Jesus is Lord in this life before the Grave. Those that refuse to do so have disqualified themselves from Heaven.
I’d love to have a chance to converse with one another.
I believe to confess with your mouth is a works. To do something in order to receive something. If one confesses while alone with no one around to verify, would that be valid? How many people need to witness it? How many times does it have to happen?
Can you also explain John 3:16? It only states to believe.
The thief on the cross illustrates that works don’t get you into heaven. One thief believed and the other thief didn’t.
Now, I believe it’s very important to live a Christ-like life and to live in obedience to His will. It’s also important to confess that He is your Lord, but in this situation you’ve already earned eternal life by simply trusting in Him.
John 6:29
Jeremy
Romans 10.9 doesn’t mean making a public confession, it means that you must truly believe in your heart that Jesus is Lord and that God raised Him from the dead. I believe you’re wrong when you say you have eternal life from the moment you are born. You have the possibility of eternal life, but you must make a choice to walk the path of obedience to Gods’ will. Otherwise, you are walking the path to death. Some wonderful folks are on the wrong path and don’t know it.
Randy
Hi Jeremy,
I must say that I am over my 50’s and I have always worried over scriptures like this. I have never heard anyone explain Romans 10:9 like this. EVER. I was writing an article that I would like to publish, but I chose to wait. I believe that God had me read your article first. It helps me to remember not to involve myself too much in Commercial Christianity because it can give you the wrong ideas about scripture. Thank you so much!
why did the Holy Ghost empower the thief to address Jesus as Lord prior to asking to be remembered when Jesus goes into his Kingdom if it weren’t necessary? To my way of thinking the thief did not know that Jesus is Lord and would not have addressed Jesus as Lord if the Holy Ghost had not empowered him to do so.
The significance of the word Lord is One who has authority. Jesus has no authority to grant anything until he is first the Lord of that person that is why confessing Jesus as Lord comes ahead of getting saved. Also if the thief didn’t confess Jesus as lord first before asking for salvation there would have been a contradiction between Romans 10: 9 and Luke 22:23 KJV.
Why then did the holy ghost empower the thief to address Jesus as lord prior to asking for salvation in Luke 22 verses 42-43 if it wasn’t necessary? The thief didn’t figure out on his own that Jesus is lord It was the Holy Ghost who apparently disagrees with those that deny one must make a publics confession that Jesus is lord in order to get saved? Scripture informs us that no one can say Jesus is Lord accept by the power of the holy ghost.
So Tell me why did the holy Ghost empower the thief to address Jesus as Lord before asking to be remembered when the Lord Jesus comes into His kingdom if it wasn’t necessary?
Also it is very unlikely that Jesus would demonstrate a person getting saved in an incorrect
manner. It is more reasonable to assume that the main reason for having the lord Jesus saving a person in the correct manner. I think the Holy Ghost empowered the thief to confess Jesus as lord Jesus to be in harmony with Romans 10:9 otherwise there would have been a contradiction between Romans 10:9 and Luke 22:42-43. Also the word Lord means one who has authority. It could be that just as one hast to higher a lawyer to have a lawyer and your believing in lawyers accomplishes nothing unless you higher a lawyer to be your lawyer. So until one in effect ask Jesus to be their Lord by confessing him as lord Jesus is not their lord and has no authority to save anyone he is not first their lord hence the importance of the Holly Ghost empowering the thief to confess Jesus as Lord prior to asking for salvation.
That if thou shalt confess – The word here rendered “confess” ὁμολογέω homologeō is often rendered “profess”; Matthew 7:23, “Then will I profess to them, I never knew you;” Titus 1:16; Titus 3:14; Romans 1:22; 1 Timothy 2:10; 1 Timothy 6:12-13, 1 Timothy 6:21; Hebrews 3:1, etc. It properly means to “speak what agrees with something which others speak or maintain.” Thus, confession or profession expresses our “agreement or concord with what God holds to be true, and what he declares to be true.” It denotes a public declaration or assent to that, here expressed by the words “with thy mouth.” A profession of religion then denotes a public declaration of our agreement with what God has declared, and extends to all his declarations about our lost estate, our sin, and need of a Saviour; to his doctrines about his own nature, holiness, and law; about the Saviour and the Holy Spirit; about the necessity of a change of heart and holiness of life; and about the grave and the judgment; about heaven and hell. As the doctrine respecting a Redeemer is the main and leading doctrine, it is put here by way of eminence, as in fact involving all others; and publicly to express our assent to this, is to declare our agreement with God on all kindred truths.
With thy mouth – To profess a thing with the mouth is to speak of it; to declare it; to do it openly and publicly.
The Lord Jesus – Shalt openly acknowledge attachment to Jesus Christ. The meaning of it may be expressed by regarding the phrase “the Lord” as the predicate; or the thing to be confessed is, that he is Lord; compare Acts 2:36; Philippians 2:11, “And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.” Here it means to acknowledge him as Lord, that is, as having a right to rule over the soul.
Shalt believe in thy heart – Shalt sincerely and truly believe this, so that the external profession shall correspond with the real, internal feelings. Where this is not the case, it would be hypocrisy; where this is the case, there would be the highest sincerity, and this religion requires.
That God hath raised him – This fact, or article of Christian belief, is mentioned here because of its great importance, and its bearing on the Christian system. If this be true, then all is true. Then it is true that he came forth from God; that he died for sin; and that God approved and accepted his work. Then it is true that he ascended to heaven, and is exalted to dominion over the universe, and that he will return to judge the quick and the dead. For all this was professed and taught; and all this was regarded as depending on the truth of his having been raised from the dead; see Philippians 2:8-11; Ephesians 1:21; Acts 2:24, Acts 2:32-33; Acts 17:31; 2 Corinthians 4:14; 1 Corinthians 15:13-20. To profess this doctrine was, therefore, virtually to profess all the truths of the Christian religion. No man could believe this who did not also believe all the truths dependent on it. Hence, the apostles regarded this doctrine as so important, and made it so prominent in their preaching. See the note at Acts 1:3.
Thou shalt be saved – From sin and hell. This is the doctrine of the gospel throughout; and all this shows that salvation by the gospel was easy.
Salvation” in Romans is NOT about gaining forgiveness of sins so we can escape hell and go to heaven when we die. It is about following Jesus in the path of discipleship so that we can avoid the destructive and devastating consequences of sin in this life.
Romans 11:26 so what is it referring to when it says that all Israel will be saved?
That’s a good article, thanks. I am getting baptised in a few days, so I have been contemplating what it means to say Jesus is Lord, and what it means to be saved by confessing this. It makes sense to me, what you explained about Romans 10:9-10, that confessing Jesus as Lord delivers us from the power of sin in this life, not grants us eternal salvation (which comes just from faith in Jesus).
Context is everything (and nothing by itself).
In that time, confessing Christ as Lord was a massive deal. It would put your life, livelihood, relationships etc at great risk.
Rom 10:9-10 seems to used today as some sort of incantaion to access heaven, but the confession carries no significant price in the West (rarely anyway).
The early believers were not speaking incantations as some kind of password to enter a new religious cult.
They were on the frontline of enduring the legacy of Christs actual ministry, and accepting that these historic events (witnessed personally or through word of mouth), lined up with the Scriptures (OT). That Jesus is/was the fortold Messiah, who lived a sinless life and rose from the dead as testament to His claims to be God.
And, they took on the gravity that this knowledge (objective, not subjective) was so important that they were willing to do whatever they could to share this Gospel with the world.