Grace in Focus – Do We Need to Confess Christ as Lord to Be Saved? (Romans 10:9-10)

Date: September 4, 2025
Host: Bob Wilkin
Guests: Ken Yates & unidentified co-host
Episode Duration: 13 minutes

Brief Overview

This episode tackles the often-misunderstood passage Romans 10:9-10 and discusses whether confessing Jesus as Lord is a requirement for eternal salvation (justification), or whether the passage is actually about deliverance from temporal wrath (sanctification). Bob Wilkin and his co-hosts explore distinctions between justification and sanctification, address common misconceptions about the passage, and contrast interpretations within broader Christian traditions, especially Lordship Salvation and Calvinistic thought.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Common Misreading of Romans Road

• [00:04] Ken Yates introduces the episode by critiquing the “Romans Road” approach to evangelism, suggesting it may misuse certain passages for evangelistic purposes.
• Suggestion: The Gospel of John is a clearer resource for communicating the way of eternal salvation.

2. The Context of Romans 10:9-10

• [01:09] Bob Wilkin explains that Romans 10:9-10 is a famous “tough text” often misapplied in discussions about salvation.
• It’s commonly interpreted as requiring both belief and confession for salvation, leading to confusion among Christian groups and teachers.
  • Quote [02:08]: “It's a two step process, right? ... if you ask 10 preachers, you're gonna get 11 answers” — Bob Wilkin

3. Romans and Its Purpose

• [02:19] Bob Wilkin recommends Zane Hodges’ book Romans: Deliverance from Wrath for a different perspective.
• Many students and pastors see Romans primarily as evangelistic, but Wilkin and team propose that sections like Romans 10 are about the Christian walk and deliverance from wrath in this life—not about how to get to heaven.
  • Quote [03:39]: “Confession here is something that believers do.” — Bob Wilkin

4. What Is “Salvation” in Romans?

• [06:47] Ken Yates and the co-host affirm that in Romans, “salvation” usually refers not to eternal salvation (“saved from hell”) but rather to deliverance from God’s temporal wrath and the destructive consequences of sin for believers.
  • Quote [07:05, co-host]: “Salvation in Romans never means salvation from hell. [It's] always deliverance from wrath.”

5. Justification vs. Salvation: Two Distinct Realities

• [07:21] The hosts point out that Romans 10:10 makes a crucial distinction:
  • “With the heart, one believes unto righteousness (justification); with the mouth, confession is made unto salvation (deliverance).”
  • Quote [07:49]: “The heart is internal. The mouth is external... the point here is there's something internally going on that results in me having... right standing with God, but there's something external that goes on that results in me being saved from God's wrath.” — Unidentified Co-host

6. The Meaning of Confession in the Assembly

• Discussion notes that Zane Hodges (referenced throughout) argues that “confession” in context is a corporate activity among believers—in church life, believers corporately call out to the Lord Jesus.
  • Quote [08:30]: “Believers who gather in Christian assemblies acknowledge the Lord Jesus with their mouths and publicly appeal to his name for all that they need.” — (quoting Zane Hodges)

7. Explanation of the Sequence: Belief, Then Appeal

• [09:19-09:33] The text itself says belief comes first, then the calling/confessing/appealing comes for believers as a privilege.
  • Quote [09:33]: “Believing precedes the calling or the appealing.” — Bob Wilkin

8. Refuting Other Interpretations

• The hosts critique other widespread interpretations:
  • That confession is simply an internal process.
  • That confession means admitting you’re a sinner.
  • That confession must happen for justification to occur.
  • Quote [10:30]: “I've heard people say it's confessing your sins... I've sinned against him, and so I need to confess my sins.” — Bob Wilkin

9. Harmony with the Gospel of John

• [10:39-11:02] The Gospel of John never presents confession or repentance of sin as conditions for eternal life—only belief.
  • Quote [10:43]: “The Lord Jesus never brings up sin when he's evangelizing... He never says, you need to confess your sins. He never says, you need to turn from your sins.” — Unidentified Co-host
• Therefore, they insist, any interpretation of Romans 10:9-10 that contradicts the simple Gospel presented in John is problematic.

10. The Minority (Free Grace) Position

• [12:15] Wilkin sums up the “Free Grace” reading: believers, not unbelievers, are addressed. Faith alone results in justification, and confession/calling out is a privilege and help for believers dealing with temporal difficulties.
  • Quote [12:15]: “As a believer, you have the privilege of calling, appealing to Lord Jesus because he's risen from the dead and he's there to give you all the help that you need... individually and corporately.” — Bob Wilkin

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• [02:08] Bob Wilkin: "It's a two step process, right? ... if you ask 10 preachers, you're gonna get 11 answers."
• [03:39] Bob Wilkin: "Confession here is something that believers do."
• [07:05] Unidentified Co-host: "Salvation in Romans never means salvation from hell. [It's] always deliverance from wrath."
• [07:49] Unidentified Co-host: "The heart is internal. The mouth is external... the point here is there's something internally going on that results in me having... right standing with God, but there's something external that goes on that results in me being saved from God's wrath."
• [08:30] Zane Hodges via Bob Wilkin: "Believers who gather in Christian assemblies acknowledge the Lord Jesus with their mouths and publicly appeal to his name for all that they need."
• [10:43] Unidentified Co-host: "The Lord Jesus never brings up sin when he's evangelizing... He never says, you need to confess your sins. He never says, you need to turn from your sins."
• [12:15] Bob Wilkin: "As a believer, you have the privilege of calling, appealing to Lord Jesus because he's risen from the dead and he's there to give you all the help that you need... individually and corporately."

Key Timestamps

• [00:04] Critique of “Romans Road” evangelism
• [01:09] Introduction of Romans 10:9-10 as a “tough text”
• [02:19] Romans as a letter about sanctification, not eternal salvation
• [06:47] Distinguishing justification and sanctification in Romans 10
• [08:30] Zane Hodges’ interpretation: confession is corporate, for believers
• [09:19] Sequence: belief comes before calling/appealing
• [10:39] Harmony (or lack thereof) with the Gospel of John
• [12:15] Summary of the Free Grace view

Conclusion

This episode offers a counter-cultural take on Romans 10:9-10, emphasizing that justification (eternal salvation) comes by faith alone, and that the “confession” discussed is a call for deliverance, intended for believers facing rebellion, hardship, or spiritual threat—not as a step for getting saved from hell. Wilkin, Yates, and their co-host urge listeners to let clear biblical passages (especially in John) interpret complex or traditionally misunderstood texts. The discussion encourages Christians to keep “grace in focus”—resting in the sufficiency of faith in Christ for salvation, and understanding confession as an ongoing relational privilege, not a gateway to heaven for the lost.