“If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.” Romans 10:9-10
The action words “declare … believe” are two aspects of what Paul says is an inseparable link between faith as expressed outwardly and possessed inwardly. He bases this comment on Deuteronomy 30:13, “…the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it.”
The phrase “Jesus is Lord” is an early Christian confession and clear testimony to Christ’s deity. The Greek word for “Lord” is used over 6,000 times to translate God’s name Yahweh, and to identify the risen Christ.
The transition word “for” indicates that verse 10 explains verse 9. The condition for being “justified” is internal faith. The condition of “saved” means delivered from the power of sin through external confession, which is calling on the Lord for help.
Verse 10 also reverses the order “believe … profess” to reinforce the oneness of faith and confession in the Christian experience, as well as the blessings received. Paul is saying that confession saves in order to show what sort of faith receives eternal life, namely, that which is firm and active. That faith, however, that does not present itself in confession is not firm.
God’s blessings on your day…