John Calvin Commentary Romans 10:9

"because if thou shalt confess with thy mouth Jesus [as] Lord, and shalt believe in thy heart that God raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved:" — Romans 10:9 (ASV)

That if you will confess, etc. This is also an allusion, rather than a proper and strict quotation. For it is very probable that Moses used the word mouth (taking a part for the whole) instead of the word face, or sight. But it was not unsuitable for the Apostle to allude to the word mouth in this manner: “Since the Lord sets his word before our face, no doubt he calls upon us to confess it.” For wherever the word of the Lord is, it ought to bring forth fruit, and the fruit is the confession of the mouth.

By putting confession before faith, he changes the order, which is often the case in Scripture. The order would have been more regular if the faith of the heart had preceded, and the confession of the mouth, which arises from it, had followed. But he rightly confesses the Lord Jesus, who adorns him with his own power, acknowledging him to be such as he is given by the Father and described in the gospel.

Express mention is made only of Christ’s resurrection. However, this must not be taken as though his death was of no importance, but rather because Christ, by rising again, completed the whole work of our salvation.

For although redemption and satisfaction were effected by his death (through which we are reconciled to God), yet the victory over sin, death, and Satan was attained by his resurrection. From this resurrection also came righteousness, newness of life, and the hope of a blessed immortality.

And so, resurrection alone is often set before us as the assurance of our salvation—not to draw our attention away from his death, but because it bears witness to the efficacy and fruit of his death. In short, his resurrection includes his death. We have briefly touched on this subject in the sixth chapter.

It may be added that Paul requires not merely an historical faith, but he makes the resurrection itself its end.

For we must remember the purpose for which Christ rose again. It was the Father’s design in raising him to restore us all to life. Although Christ had power of himself to reassume his soul, this work is nevertheless for the most part ascribed in Scripture to God the Father.