Romerbrevet 10:9

Man could do neither. Had it been possible, neither would have suited the glory of God. He in grace meets man... "Near thee is the word, in thy mouth and in thy heart." The blessing is at the doors. Christ is given and preached. It is for man to name Him with his mouth and to believe with his heart. There is no question of heights to be scaled or depths to be sounded, which would put honour upon human earnestness and ability.

Confession of the name of the Lord is first stated, because it is that which forms the decisive token of distinction between the living Christian and the dead world... Confession, then, seems placed here first in order, lest Satan, whose lie deceives the whole world, should seek occasion from such a passage to persuade men that a mere belief of the resurrection as a matter of fact, or even as a proof of Divine power, could suffice to save the soul. But the source of this acceptable confession is a heart which by faith not only perceives the reality of Divine truth as declared in Scripture, but believes in God who raised Jesus from the dead.

The outward expression is put first, not of course as most important, but as that which first comes into notice to the praise of Jesus: nevertheless it is of no value for the soul save as the embodiment of faith.

Mark it is first the heart, then the tongue. It is not head-work. That will not do here... when you come to the knowledge of the Lord, it is heart-work. You have all got hearts, let Christ fill them... When a man's heart is touched, he believes, and then confesses Christ... You get right with God first in your heart, and then put yourself right with men by your mouth. Your tongue exalts Christ.

It will be observed that there is here no mention of death, but of resurrection. Death does not of itself imply resurrection; but resurrection does necessarily involve death. Jesus then is confessed to be Lord: why fear, why be anxious, if He who has undertaken to save is above all?... It is not only then that love came down to meet you and suffer for you, but power has entered, where Jesus was crucified in weakness. God entered the grave of Jesus in power and waked Him up... He is for thee. He has proved it in raising up Jesus from among the dead.

What does the title mean? It means His authority, His absolute rights over us; He is sovereign Lord... "If thou shalt confess with thy mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in thy heart that God has raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." That means open and definite subjection to His will... It was what Saul of Tarsus did when he cried: "Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?"

Once, however, you have the Word of God beneath your feet and are sure, confess Christ immediately, let nothing make you delay... You will never be happy without it, for you will be a hypocrite. Inwardly a Christian, outwardly still a man or woman of the world, drifting with the stream, doing as others do, feebly smiling when worldlings direct the shafts of their wit and ridicule at sacred subjects.