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Confess with your mouth that Jesus is the Lord (Romans 10:9-10)

Who?
- Anybody that believes in their heart that the Lord is Jesus is able to confess.
- Each and every person must confess. "That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2:10-11).
- Since there is only one Lord (Ephesians 4:5), confessing that Jesus is Lord means that the person confessing is not the Lord, and neither are their earthly leader(s), experts, celebrities or scientists.
What?
- Confessing may be formal or informal. What's important, is that it is genuine and verbally pronounced with one's mouth.
- You are confessing that the Lord is Jesus (Romans 10:9).
- Confessing is verbally acknowledging or admitting what you know to be true. It is openly revealing what you know and believe in your heart, not merely saying or pronouncing words. It is more than saying the words "Jesus is Lord."
- A non-believer can write or pronounce the words "Jesus is Lord," but they cannot actually confess that Jesus is Lord.
- A formal confession is like a man/woman at a marriage confessing the other to be their wife/husband in front of everybody. Later, it is evident that their confession is true when they perform an act involving the shedding of blood, forming a blood covenant, what we call consummating their marriage. This ties in with communion and baptism.
- An informal confession would be like a man/woman speaking casually about their husband/wife and verbally saying that the person is their husband/wife. (i.e. "Hi Janice, I'd like you to meet my wife Trina"). It would cause serious concern if the person never told anyone that the other person was their spouse, as if they were ashamed to be married to them or trying to hide it.
When?
- As with a husband and wife, a person should willingly and freely confess Jesus to be Lord, both initally and when casually speaking of Him, regardless of consequence.
Where?
- You may confess anywhere. Scripturally, there is no requirement for a panel to witness your confession, or even a body of believers, but neither should you be ashamed to confess in front of them if they are present.
Why?
- Confessing informs others of the truth, and informs them of your relationship with Christ.
- Confessing allows Christ to feel secure about your relationship with Him, and your acceptance of His Lordship in the world. Jesus says if you are ashamed of Him before men, He will be ashamed of you before His father (Luke 9:26; Romans 10:11).
- It shows love, gratefulness and reciprocity to Christ, who took full punishment for our sins and died a humiliating, lonely death on the cross because He loved us.
- In Romans 10:9, Paul gives us another reason why we should confess Christ, when he says "if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved."
- What comes out of your mouth shows what is in your heart (Matthew 15:18).
How?
- You confess with your mouth. You say it. It is not just a prayer that you say in your mind with your mouth closed. You speak it. Romans 10:10 says with the mouth confession is made.
- You can say it in front of a body of believers and witnesses, like a bride and groom do at a wedding.
- You can say it to a person you're talking to, mentioning that He is the Lord (or your Lord), as casually as a person mentions one of their parents or their spouse.
- You can tell it to a single person formally.
- You can casually mention Jesus as Lord in front of a body of believers as you speak about whatever it is you're talking about.

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