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.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse highlights that confessing Jesus as Lord with your mouth and believing His resurrection in your heart are inextricably linked, not separate requirements, but two sides of the same coin that demonstrate genuine faith leading to salvation. This means your outward declaration is a vital expression of the inner truth that God has validated through Christ's resurrection.
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.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul is explaining how the good news of salvation is readily available through faith in Jesus, contrasting it with the impossible standard of the Law. He quotes Old Testament passages to show that God's righteousness is not distant or unattainable but is found in the message proclaimed. This verse then specifies the core confession and belief required for that salvation.
We often hear that believing is enough, but this verse highlights the importance of speaking out our faith. What does it really mean to 'confess with your mouth'?
Paul isn't just talking about reciting a creed. To 'confess with your mouth' means to publicly acknowledge Jesus as Lord – to declare your allegiance to Him and His rule in your life. This isn't a passive agreement, but an active declaration that sets you apart.
Why does Paul specifically mention Jesus' resurrection when talking about salvation? This one event unlocks the power of our faith.
The belief that 'God raised him from the dead' is absolutely central to Christian faith. It's not just one fact among many; it's the cornerstone.
Ask a follow-up
This single event confirms the efficacy of His death and guarantees our future life with God.
This verse presents two key actions: confessing with the mouth and believing in the heart. Are these separate requirements, or do they belong together?
Paul presents a beautiful picture of a unified faith where the inner reality matches the outward expression. Believing in your heart isn't just a private thought; it naturally overflows into confession with your mouth.
Understand the original words
homologeō · Greek Verb
To acknowledge, profess, or publicly declare a truth, specifically the lordship of Jesus Christ.
kyrios · Greek Noun
One who possesses absolute authority, power, and sovereignty; a title belonging to God and applied to Jesus as the resurrected Ruler.
sōzō · Greek Verb
To be rescued from divine judgment, sin, and death, and restored to eternal life with God.
This passage describes the Ethiopian eunuch's confession of faith in Jesus as the Son of God before being baptized, highlighting the importance of public acknowledgment of Christ.
1 Corinthians 15:3-4This passage lays out the core gospel message, including Christ's death for sins and his resurrection, which directly parallels the belief required in Romans 10:9 for salvation.
Philippians 2:11This verse speaks to the future universal confession that Jesus Christ is Lord, reinforcing the idea that confessing Jesus as Lord is a fundamental aspect of Christian belief and salvation.
1 John 4:15This verse states that whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God, directly linking confession with a believer's relationship with God.
vincentRomans 10:9: "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."
That (ὅτι)So rendered as expressing the contents of the word of faith; but better because, giving a proof that the word is nigh. Confess and believe, correspond to mouth and heart.The Lord Jesus (κύριον Ἱησοῦν)Others, however, read τὸ ῥῆμα ἐν τῷ στοματί σου ὅτι κύριος Ἱησοῦς If thou shalt confess with thy mouth th…
barnesRomans 10:9: "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."
That if thou shalt confess - The word here rendered "confess" ὁμολογέω homologeō is often rendered "profess"; Matthew 7:23 , "Then will I profess to them, I never knew you;" Titus 1:16 ; Titus 3:14 ; Romans 1:22 ; 1 Timothy 2:10 ; 1 Timothy 6:12-13 , 1 Timothy 6:21 ; Hebrews 3:1 , etc. It properly means to "speak what agrees w…
The verse highlights that confessing Jesus as Lord with your mouth and believing His resurrection in your heart are inextricably linked, not separate requirements, but two sides of the same coin that demonstrate genuine faith leading to salvation. This means your outward declaration is a vital expression of the inner truth that God has validated through Christ's resurrection.
Paul is explaining how the good news of salvation is readily available through faith in Jesus, contrasting it with the impossible standard of the Law. He quotes Old Testament passages to show that God's righteousness is not distant or unattainable but is found in the message proclaimed. This verse then specifies the core confession and belief required for that salvation.
Paul is explaining how the good news of salvation is readily available through faith in Jesus, contrasting it with the impossible standard of the Law. He quotes Old Testament passages to show that God's righteousness is not distant or unattainable but is found in the message proclaimed. This verse then specifies the core confession and belief required for that salvation.
"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." — The verse highlights that confessing Jesus as Lord with your mouth and believing His resurrection in your heart are inextricably linked, not separate requirements, but two sides of the same coin that…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026