Romans 10:1-13

Confess Jesus as Lord

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1Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is for their salvation.

2For I testify about them that they are zealous for God, but not on the basis of knowledge.

3Because they were ignorant of God’s righteousness and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness.

4For Christ is the end of the law, to bring righteousness to everyone who believes.

5For concerning the righteousness that is by the law, Moses writes: “The man who does these things will live by them.”

6But the righteousness that is by faith says: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ (that is, to bring Christ down)

7or, ‘Who will descend into the Abyss?’ (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).”

8But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming:

9that if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

10For with your heart you believe and are justified, and with your mouth you confess and are saved.

11It is just as the Scripture says: “Anyone who believes in Him will never be put to shame.”

12For there is no difference between Jew and Greek: The same Lord is Lord of all, and gives richly to all who call on Him,

13for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Berean Standard Bible

Read aloud

Paul's heart's desire and prayer for Israel is that they may be saved. He bears witness that they have zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. They are ignorant of God's righteousness and seek to establish their own, refusing to submit to God's righteousness.

Christ is the end or goal of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. The righteousness based on faith does not ask who will ascend into heaven or descend into the abyss. The word is near, in the mouth and heart.

If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. With the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. Everyone who believes in Him will not be put to shame, and everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

Paul draws on Moses' words in Deuteronomy 30 about God's word being near. No one needs to perform an impossible journey to bring Christ down or raise Him from the dead. God has already sent His Son and raised Him. The gospel announces what He has done, and faith receives it.

The heart believes and the mouth confesses Jesus as Lord. These belong together: words without trust are not what Paul describes. Nor does he present a verbal performance that earns salvation. The same Lord richly gives to all who call on Him, Jew and Greek alike. Paul's closing promise comes from Joel: everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

How We Know

Romans joins salvation to confessing Jesus as Lord and believing that God raised Him from the dead. Paul is not offering a detached formula: the resurrection belongs to the same proclamation he summarizes in 1 Corinthians, where he names Christ's death, burial, resurrection, and appearances to witnesses. The two letters therefore show the confession resting on a public apostolic announcement about Jesus, not merely on private religious feeling.

Questions

1 What does Paul pray for Israel?

AnswerHe prays that Israel may be saved. His concern is expressed with love, not contempt, even while he says their zeal lacks knowledge.

2 What is wrong with their zeal?

AnswerThey have zeal for God but seek to establish their own righteousness instead of submitting to God's righteousness. Sincerity cannot turn self-made standing into the righteousness God gives.

3 What does Romans 10:9 require?

AnswerIt calls for confessing with the mouth that Jesus is Lord and believing in the heart that God raised Him from the dead. Confession and belief together name a public, resurrection-centered trust.

4 Who will be saved according to the closing promise?

AnswerEveryone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. The word “everyone” keeps the invitation open to every person who believes, without creating a privileged inner circle.

What This Means for Us

Paul presents Jesus as the goal of the law's story and the source of righteousness by faith. This faith responds to God's revelation rather than bypassing it.

Confession is more than repeating words. Calling Jesus Lord places allegiance, identity, and daily obedience under the reality of His resurrection.

Ask what your household's public words and private loyalties say about who is Lord. Let belief become visible in truthfulness, courage, mercy, and the way people with less power are treated.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, give us faith in Your resurrection and courage to confess You as Lord. Save us from self-made righteousness, make our words and lives agree, and let our household welcome everyone who calls on You. Amen.

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