If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus
William MacDonald emphasizes that true salvation requires both confessing Jesus as Lord and believing in His resurrection, highlighting the essential doctrines of incarnation and resurrection.
In this sermon, William MacDonald explores Romans 10:9, focusing on the vital doctrines of the incarnation and resurrection as foundational to salvation. He explains the necessity of confessing Jesus as Lord and believing in His resurrection, unpacking the theological and practical implications for believers. MacDonald also clarifies the order of confession and belief in both historical and personal contexts, offering clear guidance for those seeking assurance of salvation.
Text
“If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” (Romans 10:9)
This favorite Gospel verse zeroes in on the two basic truths that are so hard for fallen man to accept—the incarnation and the resurrection. There can be no salvation without accepting these doctrines and all that they signify.
First we must confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord, that is, that the One who was born in Bethlehem’s stable is none other than God manifest in the flesh. The deity of the Lord Jesus is essential to the whole plan of salvation.
Second, we must believe in our heart that God raised Him from the dead. But this means more than the simple fact of the resurrection. It includes the fact that the Lord Jesus died on the Cross as our Substitute. He paid the penalty that our sins deserved. He endured the wrath of God that we should have endured eternally. Then on the third day God raised Him from the dead as a proof of God’s entire satisfaction with Christ’s sacrifice for our sins.
When we receive Him as Lord and Savior, the Bible says that we are saved.
But someone may ask, “Why is confession put before believing? Don’t we believe first and then confess?”
In verse 9 Paul is emphasizing the incarnation and the resurrection, and he gives the historical order in which they occurred - the incarnation first and the resurrection thirty-three years later.
In the next verse he puts believing before confessing. “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Here the order is that which takes place when we are born again. First, we trust the Savior and are justified. Then we go out to confess the salvation which we have already received.
Our verse has an artless simplicity and perennial freshness about it. No wonder the children sing:
Romans ten and nine
Is a fav’rite verse of mine;
Confessing Christ as Lord,
I am saved by grace divine;
For there the words of promise
In golden letters shine:
Romans ten and nine.
Sermon Outline
-
I
- Confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord
- Acknowledge the incarnation of Christ
- Understand the importance of Jesus' deity
-
II
- Believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead
- Recognize the resurrection as proof of salvation
- Comprehend Christ's substitutionary death on the Cross
-
III
- The order of confession and belief in salvation history
- The order of belief and confession in the born-again experience
- The simplicity and power of Romans 10:9
Key Quotes
“If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” — William MacDonald
“The deity of the Lord Jesus is essential to the whole plan of salvation.” — William MacDonald
“God raised Him from the dead as a proof of God’s entire satisfaction with Christ’s sacrifice for our sins.” — William MacDonald
Application Points
- Confess openly that Jesus is Lord in your daily life as a testimony of your faith.
- Believe sincerely in the resurrection of Jesus as the foundation of your salvation.
- Understand and embrace the doctrines of incarnation and resurrection to deepen your spiritual walk.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why must we confess Jesus as Lord?
Confessing Jesus as Lord acknowledges His deity and the incarnation, which are essential for salvation.
What does it mean to believe in the resurrection?
Believing in the resurrection means trusting that God raised Jesus from the dead as proof of His sacrifice and our salvation.
Is confession before belief or belief before confession?
Historically, incarnation (confession) came first, then resurrection (belief); but in personal salvation, belief precedes confession.
Why is Romans 10:9 important?
It succinctly summarizes the essential truths of salvation through confession and belief.
Can salvation occur without confessing and believing?
No, both confession of Jesus as Lord and belief in His resurrection are necessary for salvation.