What Does Romans 10:9 Mean?
Romans 10:9 meaning explained verse-by-verse: "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raise..." Original language, context & application.
"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."
— Romans 10:9 (KJV)
The Plain Meaning
Paul provides a clear summary of the gospel response: confessing Jesus as Lord (publicly declaring allegiance) and believing in His resurrection (the heart of Christian faith).
Word Study
'Kyrios' means lord, master, or sovereign ruler. In the Septuagint (Greek Old Testament), 'kyrios' translated the divine name YHWH. Calling Jesus 'Kyrios' was thus a declaration of His deity—equating Him with Yahweh—not merely acknowledging Him as a teacher or prophet.
Living It Out
Salvation involves both heart belief and verbal confession. This verse shows that salvation is accessible to all who genuinely believe in and confess Christ.
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