“The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart,
that is, the word of faith which we preach,
that if you confess with your mouth ‘the‘ Lord Jesus
and believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead,
you will be saved.”
Romans 10:8-9

It’s important to have an accurate translation of the Bible. This passage for example, has one implied word that without it – the meaning is literally changed.

“…if you confess with your mouth ‘the‘ Lord Jesus…”

In the Greek text in which this was written, the word “the” is not there.

Why does it matter? It matters because it’s vital to salvation. Many would confess that Jesus is the Lord, even the demons do that. But when you remove the implied “the,” it becomes this:

“…if you confess with your mouth “Lord Jesus.”

Reading it correctly without the word “the” changes everything. It goes beyond confessing THAT Jesus is Lord which even the demons do. It’s not to confess THAT Jesus is Lord, to be saved one must confess “Lord Jesus,” meaning Jesus must become YOUR Lord.

It’s a matter of authority. In the fall of mankind, Adam relinquished authority over the earth when he submitted to Satan’s deception. Satan usurped the authority and has become “the god of this world” (2nd Corinthians 4:4). All born under Adam are born into the authority of Satan, into the kingdom of Satan, who is now the “god of this world.”

“But even if our gospel is veiled,
it is veiled to those who are perishing,
whose minds the god of this world has blinded…”
2nd Corinthians 4:4

Until a person can confess Jesus as his/her Lord, he remains in Satan’s world into which we all are born, and that’s why Jesus stressed “you MUST be born again.”

“Jesus answered, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you,
unless one is born of water and the Spirit,
he CANNOT enter the kingdom of God.
That which is born of the flesh is flesh,
and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You MUST be born again.’”
John 3:5-7

Being born again takes place when a person chooses to leave the lordship of the world system under the reign of Satan, and chooses to surrender his life and himself to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. This is a transaction that must take place and when it does, the Lord Jesus Christ removes that person from the kingdom into which he was born, and BIRTHS him into the Kingdom of God. He is born again.

Believing that there is one God does not bring salvation.

“You believe that there is one God?

“You do well – even the demons believe and tremble!”
James 2:19

Salvation does NOT happen when one believes “that…”

Salvation depends on making it personal. Believing that there is one God changes nothing in your heart. Salvation comes when a man surrenders his life to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Jesus is no longer the Lord generally, he becomes Lord personally. You must confess with your mouth, “Lord Jesus.”

Only when he becomes your Lord, does he become your Savior.

MORE:
How One Is Born Again