One of the verses that I quote when we’re out open-air preaching is Romans 10:9: That 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. This is one of my favorite verses in the Bible. It is a mighty powerful verse. Unfortunately, I’m afraid it is one of the most abused and misused verses in the whole Bible.
I’m afraid that many preachers and evangelists are emphasizing the wrong part of this great verse. It’s almost like they start out reading That if you confess… they focus so intently on the very beginning of the verse that they just go on auto pilot through the rest of the verse. They’re just like a mad scientist that thinks he has discovered some great secret to life and they yell Eureka! These well-intentioned, but misguided preachers and evangelists act like they’ve found a magic formula for salvation here in the Romans 10:9. Just confess, just say, just repeat after me. You just say these magical words and walla – you are saved.
How many times have you been in a church service and at the end the pastor tells everyone to close their eyes and they ask you to raise your hand if you are saved? Then they ask those who are not saved to raise their hands? (There’s nothing wrong with these two questions). But then many times they’ll say if you can’t say that you are saved and you want to be, if you want to go to Heaven after you die, then repeat this prayer after me and mean it while you say it, Oh Lord, I know that I’m a sinner, I ask you to forgive me for my sins, I confess my sins to you and I ask Jesus to save me, I ask you to come into my heart. I thank You Lord for saving me, Amen. Now if you just said that prayer and you meant it, then you are saved. Welcome to the kingdom!
I feel like I’m going to vomit every time I hear a preacher or evangelist say something like this. Most assuredly, many of them are looking to Romans 10:9 when they say these things. They are counting on a sinner confessing their sins to God and I think they really believe that when people repeat the prayer that they are saved. But that’s not biblical. There isn’t one verse in the Bible that instructs us to repeat a prayer to be saved. There’s not one and those who are hanging their hat on this verse to promote the sinner’s prayer are completely missing the most important elements of this wonderful verse.
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth – it doesn’t stop here, it’s just getting started! That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus. Notice how that changes everything. It isn’t the confessing with your mouth, but it’s who you are confessing. It’s confessing the Lord Jesus. It’s acknowledging who He is and understanding who you are. Jesus is Lord!; not you and not me. Jesus, precious Jesus, He is Lord! He is Lord of all. Hallelujah, Amen!
Colossians 1:12-16 says: Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: 13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: 15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
Everything was created by Jesus and for Him. Everything is His. He is Lord. He is Lord of all. We are His workmanship. He created us, He loves us and He suffered and died for us. Even those who mock and scoff Him are His. Jesus created them too. Even those who reject the Son of God – they are His. (Don’t get me wrong, I’m not promoting universalism, I’m just saying that Jesus is Lord. He is lord of the dead and the living – Romans 14:9. He is Lord of the spiritually dead and those who He has quickened or made alive.)
Matthew 13:47-50 states: Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind: 48 Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away. 49 So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, 50 And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
The net is His. The sea is His. The fish are His. The good are saved and the bad are cast away, but all are His. He is in charge at the end of the world. His angels will separate the wicked from the just – the saved from the unsaved. His angel’s will cast the wicked into the furnace of fire – also known as the lake of fire and brimstone. Please don’t miss this – everything is under the authority, under the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
He is Lord, whether we admit it or not. He is Lord whether we are His followers or whether we are His enemy, He is Lord over us. The question is: do you know that He is your Lord? Are you living your life like He is your Lord? Have you surrendered your life to Him or are you still dead in your trespasses and sins? Whether you are a believer or not; He is Lord. He is the Master. Do you freely admit it tonight? Do you willingly bow your knee and confess with your tongue that Jesus is the King of kings and the Lord of lords?
Jesus is Lord, but why is it important to understand this? Why is it important to believe in the Lord Jesus? Well, let’s continue with Romans 10:9: That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead. Why did Jesus die? We need to look at why God raised Jesus from the dead. Jesus died for guilty sinners like you and me. Yes, He made us and loves us, but we’ve all rebelled against God. We’ve all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Isaiah 59:2 says: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.
Jesus suffered and died on the cross for your sins and for my sins. He was wounded for our transgressions. All we like sheep have gone astray. Our sin separates us from God and there is nothing that you or I can do to get back right with him. Our iniquities have separated us from God and He doesn’t hear our prayers – when we are rebellious against Him; when we are still spiritually dead in our sins.
That’s why we need a Savior. That’s why Jesus suffered and died on that old rugged cross. He carried the sins of the world upon Himself as He suffered God’s wrath over our sins. Do not be deceived tonight. God hates sin and our sins will be punished. He bruised His only begotten Son over sin. We’ve all sinned against Almighty God and our sin separates us from Him. Jesus suffered the punishment that we deserved in order to bring us back into a right relationship with God.
2 Corinthians 5:18-21: And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. 21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Each and every one of us deserve God’s wrath tonight. We really do deserve to spend eternity in Hell. But Jesus made a way of escape for us. He took the punishment that we deserve. Jesus came into this world to save His people from their sins. Jesus made a way for us to be reconciled to God the Father.
Do you believe this tonight? Do you believe this with all your heart? Do you really understand that Jesus died for your sins? He suffered and died for you. Then God raised Him from the dead and now Jesus sits at the right hand of God the Father (there’s the Lordship of Jesus again). When Romans 10:9 talks about believing in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, it’s talking about the Gospel. Do you believe the Gospel? Do you believe the Good News? Not just with head knowledge, but with your heart? We are to love God with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength. Do you believe? Do you believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ? Do you believe that He died for your sins? Have you repented and believed the Gospel? Have you turned away from your sins and turned to Jesus Christ our Lord?
Jesus said Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life (John 6:47). And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up: That whoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life (John 3:14-15). Have you believed on the Lord Jesus? Have you put your trust in Him – with saving faith? But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name (John 1:12). Believe in your heart; believe with every fiber of your being that Jesus Christ is Lord.
Now to the end of Romans 10:9: That 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. THOU SHALT BE SAVED! It’s not just confessing. It’s confessing the Lord Jesus. It’s not just confessing the Lord Jesus, it’s believing the Gospel – that God has raised Him from the dead. It’s about salvation! It’s not repeating a little one time prayer; it’s a question of your salvation. Are you saved? Are YOU saved tonight?
Have you truly surrendered your life to the Lord Jesus? Have you really submitted to His Lordship? He is Lord, but are you really living your life like you believe it? Are you really denying yourself, picking up your cross and following Him?
Too many people, especially in America, have just enough religion to send them straight to Hell. Don’t be one of those people who are counting on a one time prayer. Don’t be one of those who are counting on good works to save them. Don’t be one of those who are counting on church attendance or tithing to get you into Heaven. Don’t be one of those who intellectually know and believe on the surface that Jesus died on the cross for guilty sinners. Don’t be one of those who are so close to the kingdom, yet so far way. Close won’t count on Judgment Day. Being nearly saved won’t save you from God’s eternal wrath that will be poured out upon you on that terrible day of the Lord. The lake of fire is everlasting torment.
Jesus is Lord. Salvation is of the Lord. You can be saved. Your sins can be forgiven. You can be washed in the blood of the Lamb. Your name can be written down in the book of Life. But you must surrender your life to Him. It is a total and unconditional surrender. Have you done this? Are you truly His? Don’t be one of those who will be shocked on Judgment Day when Jesus looks at you and says: And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity (Matthew 7:23).
He is Lord, but are you really submitted to Him? Have you truly repented and put your faith in Jesus? Are you trusting in His finished work on the cross for your salvation? Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved (Acts 16:31). There it is again – Jesus is Lord. Call upon the name of the Lord and be saved (Romans 10:13). If you are not completely surrendered to the Lord, won’t you do so tonight? Won’t you come to Jesus? Won’t you believe on the Lord Jesus tonight?