Romans 10:9

that if thou shalt, &c. Here the contents of the "utterance" are given in more detail.

confess with thy mouth i.e., practically, "submit to and own Him as supreme for thee." See, for the demand of such "confession," Matthew 10:32; Luke 12:8. For all adult converts, this was an important feature of Baptism. In all cases, it is to be a test of the intelligence and reality of the faith of which it is a fruit. "Confession" is here put before "believing," because in Deuteronomy "the mouth" had been named before "the heart." In the order of experience, of course, faith precedes confession.

the Lord Jesus Better, Jesus as Lord; i.e., as Supreme and Eternal; the all-blessed Son. Cp. 1 Corinthians 12:3; where light is thrown on the deep reality and significance of the confession meant here. St Paul here refers back to the "who shall ascend?" of Romans 10:6: Jesus, as Lord, is He "who is in Heaven," (John 3:13,) who came thence, and is the way thither.

that God hath raised him, &c. Cp. Hebrews 13:20; where the "bringing again of the Great Shepherd from the dead," by the Father, is the full and final proof that the Father is the God of Peace; i.e. of Reconciliation, of Justification. See too above, Romans 4:24-25; Romans 5:1; and 1 Thessalonians 1:10. The belief in the Resurrection here is not merely historical belief, (which yet is indispensable to all other belief in it,) but "heart" belief; the perception and cordial embrace of what the Resurrection reveals and imports as to the Risen One and His work. Here, obviously, the "who shall descend?" of Romans 10:7 is referred to.