WHAT ABOUT ROMANS 10:9-10? MUST I AUDIBLY CONFESS “JESUS IS LORD” TO BE SAVED?
by Shawn Brasseaux
The Bible says in Romans 10:9-10:
“[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. [10] For with
the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth
confession is made unto salvation.” For salvation, must one audibly
confess that Jesus is Lord? Are Fundamentalists and Evangelicals
correct in using this passage as a “profession of faith” proof text?
Should we as Bible believers use Romans 10:9-10 in our Gospel tracts and
our Gospel messages today? Let us search the Scriptures for the
answers!
Undoubtedly, this study will make religious people
very angry, but
so what! As Romans 3:4 says,
“Let God be true, but every man a liar.” We are
not interested in advancing church doctrine.
The Bible is right, no matter whom it contradicts! Let
us not grow angry with God’s Word. Let us grow angry with the religious
system that deceived us about Romans 10:9-10! (I was once deceived
myself about it.)
CONTEXT, CONTEXT, CONTEXT!
Beloved, the most basic principle of Bible hermeneutics (interpretation) is
context.
From time immemorial, people have been grabbing appealing Bible verses
without paying attention to the context. Cults and denominations are
notorious
for this. They even partially quote verses: all that is quoted is
verses or phrases that fit theological systems. Verses and Bible phrases
that challenge the theological system are disregarded and (hopefully)
no one will study the Bible for himself or herself, to find those
ignored words, and thus learn how religious tradition shafted him or
her!
Nothing is more tragic than misquoted Bible verses
that complicate and thus hide a pure Gospel message from an unsaved
audience. Many souls in hell today were “church-going people.” They
heard a few verses here or there, some more than others. However, many
of them heard a watered-down Gospel message. They heard salvation verses
that belonged to
other people in the Bible, but those verses did
not belong to
them in the Dispensation of Grace. One case in point is Romans 10:9-10.
Before we grab Romans 10:9-10 and apply it to ourselves, we had better
first grab verse 1.
Verse 1 is the context. “Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.” What is the purpose of Romans chapter 10? Is it
Gentile salvation? Certainly
not (if words mean anything, of course). Romans 10:9-10, while often used as a “Gospel invitation” today, is actually
not speaking
to or
about us at all. According to Paul, he is discussing
Israel’s
salvation! (Will we believe the Apostle Paul writing by the power of
the Holy Ghost, or will we believe some fallible preacher?) Romans
chapter 10 is actually the heart of a three-chapter passage, Romans
chapters 9-11. These three chapters are the Apostle Paul’s discussion of
the nation Israel—past, present, and future. (If you want
Gentile salvation, Paul
already talked about it in the first five chapters of Romans. Romans chapter 10 is
Israeli salvation! Friend, understand that Gentile salvation was
already settled in the previous chapters.)
Romans 10:1-4
In order to understand Romans 10:9-10, it is better if we begin reading in verse 1:
“[1] Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel
is, that they might be saved. [2] For I bear them record that they have
a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. [3] For they being
ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own
righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of
God. [4] For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one
that believeth.
When the Holy Ghost moved the Apostle Paul to write the book of
Romans during the Acts period, unbelieving Israel was still operating
her Temple according to the Law of Moses (cf. Hebrews 8:4). Jerusalem’s
Temple would not be destroyed until A.D. 70. Israel was still offering
the animal sacrifices and still ignoring Jesus Christ’s sacrifice of
Himself at Calvary. Israel was still attempting to keep the Mosaic Law
in her own strength. They were ignoring the 1,500-year testimony that
their ancestors were unable to do it. Lost Jews were
not
interested in God’s righteousness (demonstrated at Calvary’s cross).
Like religionists today, they were interested in proving themselves to
be righteous (via the Mosaic Law, complete with the rites, rituals, and
ceremonies of Judaism). They were zealous, quite passionate, but totally
ignorant of what really mattered. They could not understand the Law and
all of its obligations predicted and typified
Jesus Christ!
Prior to Romans 10:1, Paul closed chapter 9 with these verses:
“[30]
What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after
righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness
which is of faith. [31] But Israel, which followed after the law of
righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. [32]
Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the
works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone; [33] As it
is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence:
and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.”
Israel stumbled over Jesus Christ’s earthly ministry. They could not
see Him through the eyes of faith. They did not believe He was God’s
Son, the long-promised Messiah of the Old Testament. They were too busy
focused on their own works in religion, too overwhelmed with working to
establish their own righteousness. Their unbelief reached its pinnacle
at Calvary, when they denied Jesus as their Messiah-King and demanded
His crucifixion (John 19:15). However, Gentiles recognized who Jesus
was, and through Paul’s ministry, Gentiles came to believe on Jesus as
their personal Saviour and thus gain righteousness before God. Lost Jews
still refused Jesus Christ, their only way to be justified (declared
right) before God. Paul, in chapter 10, is trying to convert those lost
Jews. (
“… that I might save some of them;” Romans 11:14).
Jesus Christ
“is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth” (verse
4). Now that Jesus Christ demonstrated He alone could (and did) keep
God’s laws perfectly, and that He pleased Father God at Calvary, there
was no more reason for Israel to deceive herself into thinking she could
merit God’s favor with her Law-keeping. The believing
Gentiles understood it in Paul’s ministry. The believing
Gentiles believed it in Paul’s ministry. Now, if only Paul could have the unbelieving
Jews understand and believe it! (
“… that I might save some of them;” Romans 11:14).
Romans 10:5-8
Continuing in Romans chapter 10:
“[5] For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law,
That the man which doeth those things shall live by them. [6] But the
righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine
heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from
above:) [7] Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up
Christ again from the dead.) [8] But what saith it? The word is nigh
thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith,
which we preach;”
In verse 5, Paul writes,
“That the man which doeth those things shall live by them”
(quoting Leviticus 18:5; cf. Nehemiah 9:29; Ezekiel 20:11,13,21). This
is the righteousness which is of the Law. A man who keeps the Law is
righteous, justified before God. But, here is the important
question—Does
any man keep
100 percent of the law
100 percent of the time? Not at all. Friend,
that is what sin is! Romans 3:19-20:
“[19]
Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who
are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world
may become guilty before God. [20] Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.”
Unbelieving Israel, like so many church members today, ignored the
above truth—the Law is the knowledge of sin, it shows you and I to be
sinners! They still did their best in works-religion to make themselves
right before and accepted of God. Paul was telling them in Romans
chapter 10 that they had not submitted themselves to God’s righteousness
in the Person of Jesus Christ. When one realizes that righteousness
comes by Jesus Christ
alone, and that righteousness is imputed (applied) to one’s account by faith in Christ
alone,
then that individual will no longer seek to establish his or her own
righteousness by keeping the Law of Moses. This is what Paul is
exhorting unbelieving Israel to understand during the Acts period!
“For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.”
Now, in verse 6 and following, we move on to
“the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise [in this manner]….” In verses 6-8 of Romans chapter 10, Paul quotes Deuteronomy chapter 30. Moses’ original writing read as follow:
“[10]
If thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to keep his
commandments and his statutes which are written in this book of the law,
and if thou turn unto the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with
all thy soul. [11] For this commandment which I command thee this day,
it is not hidden from thee, neither is it far off. [12] It is not in
heaven, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and
bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it? [13] Neither is it
beyond the sea, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go over the sea for
us, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it? [14] But the
word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou
mayest do it.”
Notice how Paul interpreted that Mosaic passage for us in verses 6-8 (Paul’s commentary is in parentheses):
“But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:) Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)”
When JEHOVAH God delivered the Mosaic Law to Israel through Moses back in Exodus, Israel was
without excuse. Moses said in Deuteronomy 30:14,
“But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it.” The nation Israel knew
exactly
what God demanded of her. God did not leave her to wonder what He
wanted her to do. As Paul commented, furthermore, centuries after Moses,
a Man
did come down from heaven and did come
up from the grave to tell Israel everything that God expected of them at
that time. That Man was Jesus Christ, His earthly ministry and
resurrection (
“that is, to bring Christ down from above… that is, to bring Christ again from the dead”).
Moses had been sent to instruct Israel, but they refused to listen to
him. Father God had sent Jesus Christ, but Israel rejected His words as
well (Matthew through John). Jesus Christ had sent Paul to Israel
during the Acts period, but they did not want to hear Paul either. This
is the context of Romans chapter 10 (see verses 14-21, which is Paul
describing how lost Israel refuses his preaching the Gospel of the Grace
of God during the Acts period). Israel during the Acts period was just
as guilty of unbelief as she was when Moses ministered to her and when
Jesus Christ ministered to her. Israel during the Acts transitional
period could not say God had not sent anybody to them. Paul was God’s
spokesman to lost Israel during Acts, and the only way lost Jews could
be saved from God’s wrath was to listen to and believe Paul’s Gospel and
join the Body of Christ.
The
“word” (message) was
“nigh” (near to) Israel; the Old Testament’s prophecies were
known in the
head but
not believed in the
heart.
The Jews could recite their Old Testament verses from memory, just like
lost people today can quote all sorts of verses and yet they do not
believe them. Every Sabbath day, the scrolls Law of Moses and/or the
Psalms and/or the Prophets would be read in the Jewish synagogues (Luke
4:16-17; Acts 13:27; Acts 15:21; 2 Corinthians 3:14). These Old
Testament passages were talking about Jesus Christ. They testified of
Him. Let us look at a few passages now to establish that fact.
Luke 24:44:
“And he [Jesus] said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.” And Acts 3:18:
“But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled.” And Acts 13:27:
“For they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets which are read every sabbath day, they have fulfilled them in condemning him.” One more example, Jesus’ words in John chapter 5:
“[39] Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. [46] For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me; for he wrote of me.”
Again, the Old Testament passages were a prophetic view of Jesus
Christ. However, the Jews were so preoccupied with their religious
activities and their self-righteousness that they could not see that
their Scriptures validated Jesus as Messiah/Christ. Israel did
not have
heart faith in those Scriptures.
The believing Jew would
not say in
his heart, “I do not know what God wants me to believe.” A believing Jew
would understand exactly and believe what God expected him, whether in
Moses’ day, or Christ’s earthly ministry, or Paul’s Acts ministry. The
heart of faith would
not object and say
he or she did not know what to believe concerning God’s Word or God’s
will. The heart of faith would know that Jesus Christ
did come down (Matthew through John), but that Israel refused to hear. Also, the heart of faith would see that Jesus Christ
did
reveal to the Apostle Paul (Acts chapter 9 onward) what information all
unsaved Jewish and Gentile people had to believe so as to escape
Satan’s captivity. This is all Paul writing to lost Jews during Acts to
make them realize just how lost they really are!
Romans 10:9-10
Now, with all of the above as background, we reach the controversial verses:
“[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. [10] For with the heart man believeth unto
righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
Before we even comment, just re-reading the “hot topic” passage with
background in mind makes it a little clearer, yes? Again, Israel could
recite her Old Testament Scriptures, they could verbalize them, but
there was no belief in the heart. There was nothing but unbelief and
disobedience. The heart can talk—
“say not in thine heart…” (verse 6). When Romans 10:9 says to confess with the mouth the Lord Jesus, this is
not the physical mouth. It is something done inside,
said in the heart. This
“heart” is
not the literal physical heart that pumps blood, but rather the
soul, the part of us that can believe. A muscle does
not have the capacity to believe God’s Word. The
“heart” of Romans 10:9 is what we use to trust God’s Word. It is
the soul (cf. Romans 1:21).
Likewise, the
“mouth” of Romans 10:9 is
not the literal, physical, visible opening near the bottom of our literal, physical, fleshly faces. The
“mouth” there is the mouth
of the soul. Luke 16:19-31 says how Abraham and the rich man, both physically dead, were still talking with one another (this is the mouth
of their souls).
Their physical bodies are in the ground, but their souls are in the
heart of the earth, and yet they have conversations (verses 24-31). The
Bible also says that the human soul, even when separated from the
physical body, has ears, eyes (verse 23), fingers and a tongue (verse
24), and memory (verses 25,28). A verbal confession is that which is
believed and said in the heart first.
Anyone can mindlessly parrot some words audibly without meaning what
they say. God is more interested in the heart (soul) talking than the
physical lips! After all, He can see down into the soul, beyond mere
spoken words, to see what the person
really believes instead of simply what he or she says/professes.
When the Bible says that
the lost Jew during Acts is
to confess the Lord Jesus (Romans 10:9), this goes back to the Old
Testament, that Israel confess the name of JEHOVAH. As King Solomon was
dedicating Israel’s Temple over 900 years B.C., he prayed this prayer,
quoted in part (1 Kings 8:33-35):
“[33] When thy people Israel be
smitten down before the enemy, because they have sinned against thee,
and shall turn again to thee, and confess thy name, and
pray, and make supplication unto thee in this house: [34] Then hear
thou in heaven, and forgive the sin of thy people Israel, and bring them
again unto the land which thou gavest unto their fathers. [35] When
heaven is shut up, and there is no rain, because they have sinned
against thee; if they pray toward this place, and confess thy name, and turn from their sin, when thou afflictest them:” (cf. 2 Chronicles 6:24-26).
Unbelieving Jews, those who found themselves facing God’s judgment,
scattered amongst the nations, were to confess JEHOVAH’S name. Lost Jews
had indeed experienced God’s wrath during the Acts period, the fall of
their nation (1 Thessalonians 2:14-16). The seven-year Tribulation and
wrath at Jesus’ Second Coming were impending as well (Acts
2:15-21,33-40; Acts 3:19-23; et cetera). In relationship to Paul’s Acts
transitional ministry, confessing JEHOVAH’S name meant admitting that
Jesus was
not a fraud or imposter (as
Israel accused Jesus of being when they demanded His crucifixion). They
were to admit Jesus was Messiah, or in other words, Jesus was and is
JEHOVAH.
So, let us review thus far. Paul is teaching in Romans chapter 10
that if a Jew wanted to be saved during the Acts period (which was when
Romans was written), then he or she had to first recognize Jesus as
Messiah/Christ, the Lord, the Son of God, instead of rejecting Him as an
imposter. Then, that Jew had to believe in Jesus Christ’s resurrection,
which was another hang-up for the unbelieving Jews. Remember, there was
a rumor that Jesus Christ had not resurrected, but rather His disciples
had stolen His corpse and hidden it elsewhere (Matthew 28:11-15).
Whether in Peter’s ministry or Paul’s ministry, a Jew had to believe in
Jesus Christ’s resurrection. Hence, there is no
burial of Christ referenced in Romans 10:9. Jesus’
burial was
not
controversial with Israel—it was His literal, physical, bodily
resurrection!! (Now you know why the burial is mysteriously absent in
this verse!)
Re-read 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.”
Notice Jesus’ “Messiahship” and His resurrection. This is what Paul
preached to Jews in the synagogues during the Acts period (cf. Acts
13:33,37; Acts 17:3; Acts 18:5; et cetera). These two acknowledgments
were key in leading a Jew to Christ during Acts.
Now to the
“salvation” of Romans 10:9-10:
“[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.
[10] For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the
mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
The
“salvation” here is
not being saved from sins and hell. We know this because
“believeth unto righteousness” (justification) is a reference to being saved from sins and hell. To
“confess” and
“believe” unto
“salvation” is actually deliverance from
Israel’s apostasy and unbelief.
A Jew who recognized Jesus as Lord/Messiah/JEHOVAH, who recognized that
He rose from the dead, this Jew can then believe Paul’s Gospel (
“Christ died for my sins, He was buried, and He was raised again” [1
Corinthians 15:3-4]) and that Jew will be justified, thus being saved
from Israel’s apostasy and spiritual blindness. Israel in unbelief
rejected and killed Messiah Jesus years earlier. However, through Paul’s
ministry and message, Israel can escape that spiritual blindness and
satanic captivity. Paul is urging lost Jews to listen to Jesus Christ
speaking through him now during Acts. Years earlier, they ignored Jesus
Christ in His earthly ministry. They are now not to disregard Jesus
speaking through Paul.
Romans 10:11-14
Friends, we have a few more loose ends to tie together, and then we are finished:
“[11] For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall
not be ashamed. [12] For there is no difference between the Jew and the
Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
[13] For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
[14] 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?”
Verse 11 is a free quotation of Isaiah 28:16 (cf. 1 Peter 2:6), all
of which are a reference to Jesus Christ. For brevity’s sake, we will
forgo further commentary here.
As verse 12 says, in the Dispensation of Grace, there is
no difference between Jew and Greek (Gentile). It is
not
saying that Gentiles are to behave like Jews (a common misconception).
No, in our dispensation, a Jew is saved the same way a Gentile is. Lost
Jews are to behave like Gentiles.
“Even the righteousness of God which by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference” (Romans
3:22). The unbelieving Jews have to enter into God’s program via the
Church the Body of Christ, just as Gentiles. Paul’s ministry during Acts
was to provoke lost Jews to emulation. He wanted them to behave the
same way as the Gentiles—believe Paul’s Gospel, thereby joining the
Church the Body of Christ.
Romans 11:11-14 is Paul’s commentary on his ministry during the Acts period:
“[11]
I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but
rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to
provoke them to jealousy. [12] Now if the fall of them be the riches of
the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how
much more their fulness? [13] For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I
am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office: [14] If by any
means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save
some of them.”
Paul did various strange things in Acts to provoke lost Jews to
salvation into the Body of Christ. For example, he water baptized
converts, he raised the dead, he cast out devils, he healed the sick, he
went to the Temple to offer sacrifices, he circumcised Timothy, et
cetera. You can read more about this in our study, “Could you explain
Paul’s ‘Acts’ ministry?,” linked at the end of this study.
Unfortunately, time and space do not permit us to comment any further
here.
When Romans chapter 10 says,
“[13] For whosoever shall call upon
the name of the Lord shall be saved. [14] 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?,”
this is really simple. Calling on the name of the Lord to be saved,
Romans 10:13, is a quote from Joel 2:32, which is what a Jew is to do in
Israel’s program in order to be saved from apostate Israel. Any
unbelieving Jews during Paul’s ministry are to call upon the Lord; that
is, seek rescue from the nation that is so wrapped up in false religion
that God’s wrath is coming upon it (the Second Coming of Christ). Once a
Jew believed Paul’s Gospel during Paul’s Gospel, he was to call upon
the name of the Lord (notice the order in verse 14).
CONCLUSION
Friends, Romans 10:9-10 was a formula for lost Jews to be saved from
Israel’s apostasy during the Acts period. Paul wrote it with Jewish
salvation in mind during the transitional period. He did it to provoke
lost Israelis to understand and address their spiritual dilemma. Romans
10:9-10 has
nothing to do with us Gentiles or members
of the Body of Christ. There are religious people who do not like that
previous sentence, but that is fine. I would rather believe my Bible
than them or their denomination
any day! You, friend?
Why does it matter that we have a firm, dispensational understanding
of Romans 10:9-10? It is because people (although sincere) have used it
and are using it to mislead the lost when it comes to salvation from
their sins. Faith needs an adequate basis to rest on, and Romans 10:9-10
does
not make reference to Christ dying for anyone’s sins. This is why
1 Corinthians 15:3-4 should be used instead of Romans 10:9-10.
“Christ died for our sins, He was buried, and He was raised again the third day.” That is a clear Gospel message, a message without theological gibberish, shallowness, and gospel clichés.
Unfortunately, Romans 10:9-10 is also used to pressure new Christians
to get up before a congregation to make a “profession of faith,” lest
they not “complete their salvation.” This too is a
gross mistreatment
of the passage. Unfortunately, Matthew 10:31-32 is abused likewise.
“Come walk the aisle, shake the preacher’s hand, and make your
profession of faith in Jesus! You do not want God to deny you in heaven
one day,
do you?” This is certainly
not what Romans 10:9-10 is saying. That is
shallow
religious tradition parading as Bible doctrine. That is coercion,
bullying, intimidation, not the Spirit of God but the flesh of men!
SUPPLEMENTAL: MODERN ENGLISH VERSIONS AND THEIR RESULTANT OBFUSCATION
Unfortunately, modern English “bibles” add to the confusion by re-translating Romans 10:9 so that it reads:
- AMERICAN STANDARD VERSION – “because if thou shalt confess with thy mouth Jesus as Lord….”
- AMPLIFIED BIBLE – “Because if you acknowledge and confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord….”
- CONTEMPORARY ENGLISH VERSION – “So you will be saved, if you honestly say, “Jesus is Lord,”…”
- ENGLISH STANDARD VERSION – “because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord…”
- GOOD NEWS BIBLE – “If you confess that Jesus is Lord…”
- HOLMAN CHRISTIAN STANDARD BIBLE – “If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,”…”
- LIVING BIBLE – “For if you tell others with your own mouth that Jesus Christ is your Lord….”
- THE MESSAGE – “Say the welcoming word to God—”Jesus is my Master”….”
- NEW AMERICAN (CATHOLIC) BIBLE – “for, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord…”
- NEW AMERICAN STANDARD – “that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, ….”
- NEW LIVING TRANSLATION – “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord….”
- NEW REVISED STANDARD VERSION – “because if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord….”
- REVISED STANDARD VERSION – “because, if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord….”
Notice how Protestant and Roman Catholic translators alike insert the verb “is”: “Jesus
is
Lord.” The 1901 American Standard Version explains with a footnote:
“Some ancient authorities read ‘confess the word with thy mouth, that
Jesus {is} Lord.’” The corrupt modern versions and their underlying
manuscripts are at it again, friends!
Also observe how the
Living Bible says, “If you tell others
with your own mouth that Jesus is your Lord” (beside the Message, this
is an extreme version of dynamic, or interpretative, translation). The
translator has assumed the role of the teacher—this is spiritually
dangerous! Notice how the
Amplified Bible says, “Because if you
acknowledge and confess with your lips….” “Lips” being inserted only
confuses the verses. Evidently, the translators of all of the versions
quoted above are also under the impression that this verse is talking
about confessing with our
physical lips and our
physical
mouths. (They may not be correct in that interpretation, but all we
have is their interpretation, and not the pure Word of God with which to
compare!)
In actuality, they have polluted God’s Word to teach
Lordship Salvation, the
damnable
heresy of Calvinism, that people have to submit to Jesus’ Lordship over
every detail of their lives before they can be saved unto eternal life.
This is works-religion. This is
not
Christianity. Whenever someone says, “The modern versions still contain
‘the Gospel!,’” they evidently do not know what the Gospel is and/or
they do not know what Romans 10:9-10 is talking about! No lost person
can give his or her life to Christ—lost people are dead spiritually.
Only a
Christian gave his or her life to Christ!
