Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones on Confessing Christ: Questions and Answers

What does it mean to "confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus" according to Romans 10:9-10?

According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, confessing Christ with your mouth is not a mechanical or formulaic act. It's not merely saying words or wearing Christian badges. Rather, true confession springs naturally from genuine heart belief. As the Puritan Thomas Hooker put it, "If a man have faith within, it will break forth at the mouth." This confession is inevitable when someone truly believes, because the very nature of the truth is so transformative and powerful that it cannot be contained. It's not about methodically telling every person you meet about salvation, but rather the natural expression of a transformed heart.

Why does Dr. Lloyd-Jones say confession of faith is inevitable for a true believer?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones provides several reasons why confession is inevitable:

1. The very nature of the gospel truth is so great and glorious that one cannot remain silent about it
2. The truth has a "constraining power" within it (as in 2 Corinthians 5) that compels expression
3. The transformation in the believer's life is so profound that it cannot be hidden
4. As he states, "The man's astounded. He doesn't see anything as he saw it before, and therefore he must inevitably make this fact known."

How does true confession of Christ as Lord affect a believer's intellectual life?

When someone truly confesses that Jesus is Lord, it means Jesus becomes Lord of their entire life, including their intellect. Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that this means:

1. Our thinking must be governed entirely by Scripture
2. We may need to become "fools for Christ's sake" in the eyes of the world
3. We cannot be governed by "modern thought" or "the latest discoveries of science" where they contradict Scripture
4. Jesus' lordship demands intellectual submission, not picking and choosing which parts of revelation to accept

What are the practical ways Christians confess Christ according to this sermon?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones outlines several practical ways Christians confess Christ:

1. By submitting our minds and thinking to Christ's lordship
2. Through changed actions and behavior that align with the gospel
3. By belonging to and identifying with Christ's people (the church)
4. Through our concern for Christ's glory and his kingdom
5. By being ready to give a reason for the hope within us
6. By not being ashamed of Christ or his followers in any circumstance

How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones contrast true confession with being ashamed of Christ?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones says that not being ashamed of Christ is a crucial part of confession. He contrasts true confession with:

1. Hiding or concealing the fact that you're a Christian in certain circles
2. Having dual standards of behavior (one for church, another for other contexts)
3. Trying to explain away difficult Christian doctrines to appear "intellectually respectable"
4. Caring more about social status than acknowledging Christ (like those in John 12:42)

He quotes George Swinnock: "He is a base servant that is ashamed of his lord's livery." True confession means being willing, if necessary, to face suffering, rejection, or even death rather than denying Christ.

What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones say about the relationship between church attendance and confessing Christ?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones makes a clear distinction between mere church attendance and true confession of Christ. He states: "I don't mean merely church attendance, because that can be done for many reasons. It can be a purely social act." Instead, true confession involves having "a real concern" about Christ's kingdom and the state of his church. This includes being grieved when Christ's name is blasphemed, being concerned about the spiritual condition of the church, and praying for revival. True confession means the Christian community has genuine priority in one's life, not just attending services out of habit or social convention.