Jesus is Lord (1)
A Sermon on Romans 10:9-10
Originally preached Oct. 18, 1963
Scripture
9That 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. 10For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Sermon Description
Paul has finally laid to rest the theory of salvation through the law. Salvation is through faith alone and Paul tells the church in Rome that they must first declare “Jesus is Lord” in order to be saved. This is one of the great statements of the Christian gospel. The only way to be righteous before God is to believe God and his word by faith. In this sermon on Romans 10:9–10 titled “Jesus is Lord (1),” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones says that the Christian must first consider the content of this saving faith. Salvation is all about Jesus and the fact that He is Lord. Christ is the firstborn of all creation and it is through Him that all was created. It is also through God that all of the cosmos will be restored once again. The second point is that God raised Christ from the dead. Without being completely clear of those two points, there is no salvation.
Sermon Breakdown
- The content of saving faith is not vague general ideas or moral practices. It is objective truth centered on Jesus Christ.
- Saving faith is defined as confessing with your mouth that "Jesus is Lord" and believing in your heart that God raised Him from the dead.
- To say "Jesus is Lord" is to make a statement about His person - that Jesus is God. This is the Christian confession.
- The New Testament was written to establish and confirm this truth about Jesus in the face of false teachings. The Gospels and Epistles make clear statements about Jesus' deity and lordship.
- Jesus is the "firstborn of all creation" - meaning He has priority over and preexists all creation. All things were created by Him and for Him.
- In Jesus dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. He is the exact image of the invisible God.
- Jesus' lordship includes His relation to the universe. All things in heaven and earth, visible and invisible, were created by Him and for Him. All things are held together by Him.
- Jesus is the heir of all things. The universe belongs to Him as the Father's gift.
- Through Jesus, God will restore the universe to its original perfect condition, gathering all things in heaven and earth in Him.
Sermon Q&A
How Do I Receive Salvation According to Romans 10:9-10? Key Insights from Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
What is the essential content of saving faith according to Romans 10:9-10?
According to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones' exposition of Romans 10:9-10, the essential content of saving faith consists of two key elements: confessing that "Jesus is Lord" and believing that "God raised Him from the dead." This is not merely a subjective experience but involves concrete, objective truths about Jesus Christ. Dr. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that these two elements were central to apostolic preaching from the beginning, as evidenced in the book of Acts where the apostles consistently preached "Jesus and the resurrection." This content is objective, historical, and centered on a person—not merely subjective feelings or experiences.
What does it mean to confess that "Jesus is Lord"?
Confessing "Jesus is Lord" is a profound theological declaration that goes far beyond a mere password or cliché. Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that the word "Lord" (kyrios in Greek) was used in the Septuagint (Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible) to translate "Jehovah," the highest title applied to God. Therefore, confessing "Jesus is Lord" means acknowledging Jesus as divine—as Jehovah God Himself. This confession affirms that Jesus is "the image of the invisible God," the creator and sustainer of all things, who possesses "all the fullness of the Godhead bodily." It's a declaration about His divine person and authority over all creation.
Why does Paul mention both confession and belief in Romans 10:9-10?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones addresses the seeming reversal in order between verses 9 and 10, explaining that there's no contradiction. In verse 9, Paul mentions confession first ("confess with your mouth") and then belief ("believe in your heart"), while in verse 10 he reverses the order. This reflects two different perspectives: from an observer's viewpoint, we first hear someone's confession before knowing what's in their heart, but experientially, belief always precedes genuine confession. As Lloyd-Jones quotes from Psalm 66, "I believed, therefore have I spoken." Belief in the heart is the foundation that leads to confession with the mouth.
How does Lloyd-Jones contrast biblical Christianity with modern theological trends?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones sharply contrasts biblical Christianity with what he calls "new theology" that was emerging in his time (1960s). He criticizes theological perspectives that reduce Christianity to mere subjective experience, feeling, or moral behavior without objective truth claims. He argues that modern theology often speaks of "God" as merely an experience of depth, love, or meaning, without reference to the historical person of Jesus Christ. Lloyd-Jones insists that true Christianity is centered on objective historical truths about Jesus—His deity, His resurrection—not merely subjective experiences of "depth" or "love" divorced from these truths.
What is the relationship between Jesus' lordship and creation according to Lloyd-Jones?
Lloyd-Jones elaborates on Christ's lordship by explaining His relationship to creation. Based on Colossians 1 and Hebrews 1, he teaches that Jesus: 1. Created all things, both visible and invisible 2. Created all things "for Himself" - the universe is the Father's gift to the Son 3. "Upholds all things by the word of His power" - actively sustains the universe 4. Is the "heir of all things" - the universe belongs to Him 5. Will ultimately "gather together in one all things in Christ" - He will restore cosmic unity that was fractured by sin
This comprehensive lordship shows why salvation requires acknowledging Jesus as Lord over everything.
Why does Lloyd-Jones emphasize objective truth in salvation?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones repeatedly emphasizes the objective nature of saving faith because he sees a dangerous trend toward subjective experience replacing doctrinal truth. He insists that true Christianity begins with objective propositions about who Jesus is and what He has done, not merely with moral ideals or spiritual experiences. Lloyd-Jones argues that many religious people may be concerned about moral conditions without being Christians, and others may have intense spiritual experiences without embracing the true content of Christian faith. Salvation comes through believing specific truths about Jesus Christ, not through undefined spiritual experiences.
The Book of Romans
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.