“For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” – Romans 10:10
Believing in your heart that Jesus rose from the dead is essential—but it’s not the whole picture. Paul writes in Romans 10:10, “For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” It’s possible to believe all the right things and still fall short. Even demons believe in God’s existence, His power, and His plan (James 2:19). They know Scripture, they fear judgment, and they understand the Cross better than most people. But they do not confess Jesus as Lord. That’s the dividing line. Jesus Himself saw through superficial faith in John 2:23–25—people believed because of signs, but He “did not commit Himself to them.” Why? Because He knew their hearts. They had belief, but not surrender.
Confession is more than words—it’s the outward evidence of an inward reality. To confess Jesus as Lord is to agree with God that Jesus is who He says He is: the risen, reigning Son of God. It’s not enough to feel conviction, fear judgment, or even desire salvation. The rich young ruler had all of that, but when Jesus asked him to surrender everything and follow, he walked away. Why? Because he wasn’t ready to confess Jesus as Lord of his life. Confession means submission. It means Jesus is not just Savior, but King. Luke 9:62 reminds us that “no one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” Confession is the fruit of true belief—it’s the voice of a heart that has been transformed.
So here’s the question: Have you confessed Jesus as Lord—not just with your lips, but with your life? Do your words match what your heart believes? Romans 14:9 says, “For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living.” If you truly believe in His resurrection, then let your life declare His Lordship. Confess Him boldly. Live under His rule. And rest in the assurance that only the Holy Spirit enables such a confession (1 Corinthians 12:3). The seat of righteousness is the heart. The key is belief in the resurrection. But the evidence—the outward sign that confirms the inward change—is the confession that Jesus is Lord. Let your heart and your mouth agree, and you will know the joy of true salvation.
“Faith is the outstretched empty hand which receives the free gift of God’s righteousness in Christ.” – J.I. Packer
surrendered devotions 