Romans 10:8-13
Introduction
In Romans 10:8-13, we learn that when believers call on Jesus as Lord, they are acknowledging His title and rulership. The word “Lord” in the New Testament is the same word used to describe God the Father in the Old Testament. When you address Jesus this way, you are recognizing Him as God the ruler and creator over everything (Col 1:16).
The title “Lord” also means that Jesus is the final authority over all (Matt 28:18). To accept Jesus as Lord is to recognize His deity, and to follow Jesus as Lord is to submit to His deity. Our baptism is symbolic of our submission to Jesus as Lord (Rom 6:1-7), indicating that we have become fully aligned with the Lord in every area of life. When we are in alignment with the rulership of Christ, He becomes our master and final authority in all areas of life. However, far too many Christians call on Jesus as Lord without submitting to His rulership. It is impossible for us to have Jesus as Lord without submitting to His authority. His rule and authority come hand in hand.
Our submission to the lordship of Jesus Christ is our key to experiencing Heaven’s intervention on Earth. In Matthew 10:32 Jesus declares, “Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven.” In other words, our confession of Christ as Lord impacts our experience with God the Father. We cannot be connected to the Father and skip the Lord Jesus Christ. That’s why it’s important we operate in the name of Jesus as Lord before God the Father. In doing so, we make known our association and identification with His name, title, and lordship.
Our Christian response to the lordship of Jesus Christ is obedience to and public confession of His rule. Romans 10:9 says, “that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” When we go public with Jesus as Lord, we are saying we can’t be secret followers of Jesus Christ. Public identification with the lordship of Jesus Christ allows us access to God the Father.
In Romans 10:13, salvation is contingent on of our confession of Jesus as Lord. However, Paul is not referring to salvation from Hell because he’s talking to believers. The salvation Paul refers to is deliverance from the power of sin and its consequences in a believer’s life. As we previously learned, salvation means deliverance. This verse lets us know that those who acknowledge Jesus as Lord and are operating under His authority can confidently appeal to Jesus’ lordship for deliverance from the power and consequences of sin.
Getting Started
- What new insights do you have regarding Jesus’ title as Lord?
- Confessing Jesus Christ as Lord publicly is an important exercise of our faith. While the American church still enjoys a level of freedom in our religious confession, what might you do if asked to confess Jesus as Lord in a hostile nation? How do you think the American church would fare under persecution?
Let’s Get Personal
- List the characteristics of a master/servant relationship. In light of the sermon, are you truly operating with Jesus as your master and you as His servant?
- How have you confessed or failed to confess the lordship of Christ? Have your actions ever negated your confession of Jesus Christ as Lord over your life?
- In what areas do you need to see Jesus operate as Lord in your life right now? In other words, is there an area in your life where you need the deliverance of our ultimate ruler?
Take the Next Step
- In light of Jesus being our Lord, how should your prayer life change this week?
- Want to go deeper? Take a look at the following passages: Matt 22:41-46; Acts 2:36; 1 Cor 1:1-2; 12:3; Joel 2:32; 1 Tim 1:8; 2 Tim 2:22; John 12:42-43; 20:28; Ps 110:1; Col 1:15-18; 3:17; 1 Pet 3:15; Eph 1:22-23; Rom 14:8-9; Luke 6:46; 1 John 2:23; 4:2-3
Renew Your Mind
“Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” – Luke 6:46
