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Romans 10 English Standard Version (ESV)

The Message of Salvation to All

⁵ For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them. ⁶ But the righteousness based on faith says, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down) ⁷ “or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). ⁸ But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); ⁹ because, 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. ¹⁰ For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.¹¹ For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” ¹² For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. ¹³ For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

REFLECTION

1. The central affirmation of the early church was “Jesus is Lord”; everyone else was saying “Caesar is Lord”. At their baptism, first-century Christians would make the public confession that “Jesus is Lord”. Why is public confession important in addition to the belief in one’s heart?
2. What is one major way your confession of Christ as Lord has influenced your life? Who or what are some gods that compete with your allegiance to Christ?
3. As a short exercise today, say aloud twenty times: “Jesus, whom God raised from the dead, is Lord.” How did it affect your heart?