Last week we began to exam Romans 10:9-10 and we discussed the importance of not only believing in JESUS but also confessing JESUS. As we go back there this week, we will focus on who is this JESUS that we are confessing.
The scriptures teach us not to just confess JESUS, but to confess the “LORD” JESUS (some versions read JESUS is Lord). The Greek word for Lord is kyrios. Other descriptors of this word are supreme in authority, controller, or master. Just as belief is essential to the confession so is “the what” that is being confessed. In the text above Paul teaches that confessing the LORD JESUS is “the what.”
When we consider what LORD means we understand this to not be a light thing. Confessing the LORD JESUS is not a cute phrase to come out of one’s mouth or a verse committed to memory for recital’s sake. Confessing the LORD JESUS means that you are confessing that JESUS is supreme in authority over your life. HE is controller and master. HE rules in your life, and HIS rule is a dictatorship—not a democracy.
If you confess the LORD JESUS, does your life look like HE is supreme in authority? If not, is HE really LORD? This brings up a great point: belief and confession look like something—meaning, your true belief, and confession can be seen. Deception may escape the eyes of man but not GOD (Hebrews 4:12-13).
I love the account of the Apostle Paul’s confrontation with JESUS on the road to Damascus (Acts 9). The Apostle Paul (then Saul) was confronted by JESUS on his way to Damascus to persecute Christians. The magnitude of the confrontation appeared in a light shining on Saul from heaven that sent him to the ground and the voice of JESUS spoke to him, although he did not know that it was JESUS speaking. However, Paul recognized the “supreme authority” in the light and voice that came from Heaven.
He recognized it so much so that he addressed the voice as Lord when he said, “Who are You, Lord?” When JESUS told him who HE was, Paul did not regress in his words but rather confessed JESUS as the same as he did when he did not know the voice. Paul’s response was, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” And I submit to you today that confessing the LORD JESUS; confessing JESUS as supreme authority in your life; confessing HIM as the SON OF GOD; confessing JESUS as controller and master of your life; yes I submit to you that confessing the LORD JESUS only leaves room for these few words: ”what do You (JESUS) want me to do?” That’s it—period. I heard someone once say:
Either HE is LORD of all or HE is not LORD at all.
In all of our believing, let us confess. In all our confessing, let it be the LORD JESUS. And in all of our living, may JESUS really be LORD.
Grace and peace.
