Romans 10:9

That. Or, “because.” If the translation “that” is retained, Paul is stating the contents of the message about faith. If “because” is preferred, Paul is giving proof that the word of faith is nigh. In either case the contents of the message of faith are shown to correspond with Moses’ teaching in Deuteronomy.

Confess. Gr. homologeo. The same word is often translated “profess,” and the related noun, “profession” (Matt. 7:23; Titus 1:16; Heb. 3:1). It means, literally, “to agree with,” “to say the same thing as someone else.” Thus the confession of a believer is the expression of his agreement with all that God has declared to be true. This includes all that God has revealed about His law, our sin, and our need of a Saviour. It includes all that God has stated about the only means of salvation — faith in His Son, Jesus Christ.

The Lord Jesus. Or, “that Jesus is Lord” (cf. 1 Cor. 12:3; Phil. 2:11). The Jews attributed lordship solely to God the Father. The Gentiles worshipped the emperor as their lord. But the Christians recognized Christ as “the Lord from heaven” (1 Cor. 15:47), the only Son of God (John 3:16), who is the exalted head of the church (Eph. 5:23) and Lord of all (Acts 10:36). Confession of His lordship implies a willingness to follow His leading and obey His commandments (John 14:21; 1 John 2:3, 4).

Believe. Belief normally precedes confession, but Paul is following the order of v. 8, where mouth is mentioned before heart. In v. 10 Paul gives the normal order of faith, then confession.

God hath raised him. See on v. 7. The resurrection was the confirmation of Christ’s claims, the divine seal on His sacrifice (see on ch. 1:4). By believing that God raised Jesus from the dead, the Christian acknowledges Christ’s triumph over sin and death and His power to justify and save sinners (see on ch. 4:25). As contrasted with righteousness by law (ch. 10:5), righteousness by faith depends upon what Christ has done and can do rather than upon what we are able to do.