Some years ago I was in a large western city holding gospel meetings. One night in the audience I noticed a Scotch boy deeply burdened and distressed. One of his friends brought him to me after the meeting. He was under great conviction of sin. His face was the picture of gloom, almost of despair.
After trying to lead him into the light in several different ways I finally said to him, "My boy, do you believe that Jesus of Nazareth lived on this earth?”
"Oh, yes," he said, "I do.”
"Do you believe He is the Son of God?”
"Yes," he replied.
"Do you believe He died on the cross?”
"Oh, yes.”
"Do you believe God's Word is true when it says that He died for the whole world?”
"Yes," he said, "I believe that.”
"He must have died for you then?”
"But, sir," he said, "I can't get hold of it.”
I then proceeded: "Do you believe He rose from the dead? Do you believe that Jesus is now Lord over all?”
"Oh, yes, indeed," he said.
I said to him: "Every creature will have to acknowledge Him as Lord; for Paul says in Phil. 2:9-119Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:9‑11) that at some time 'every knee shall bow.. and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord' Of course, most of the world rejects Christ as Lord now, and their confession of Him in the day of judgment will be a compelled, and not a willing act. Their hearts will not be in it, though their mouths must confess that He is Lord. Now, my friend, would you like to have Jesus as your Savior and Lord here on this earth—now tonight?”
"Yes, indeed," he said. "I wish I knew Christ as my Savior.”
"Now listen to God's Word," I said. I turned to Rom. 10:99That 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. (Romans 10:9) and read: "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.”
"Now," I said, "you have told me that you believe that God raised Jesus from the dead.”
"Yes," he answered, "I do believe that. I believe Jesus is living tonight.”
"Are you willing then to confess with your mouth before me and before your friend here that Jesus is your Lord? You know He is really Lord of all the universe but most men are unwilling to confess Him for themselves. Are you willing?”
"Yes," he said, "I am willing. I want Jesus as my Lord.”
"Yes," I said, "but will you definitely declare that He is your Lord? Will you say these words: 'Jesus i. my Lord'? These are the words Paul says we must confess. You know Christ is living; you know that He died for your sin upon the cross. You have heard God's promise that if you will confess Him with your mouth as your Lord you shall be saved. Will you do it?”
He said, "I will. Jesus is my Lord!”
I wrung his hand hard, and went away.
The next night at the meeting I looked for him, and was astonished at the transformation. His face fairly beamed with joy. All his doubts and perplexities were gone. He came around to me after the meeting.
"Oh," he said, "Jesus is my Lord. I see it now! It is so simple. Jesus did all the work. He bore my sin and rose again to be my Savior. Now He simply asks me to acknowledge Him as my Lord. I have given my life to Jesus. He is my Savior, and I am His. I am confessing that Jesus is my Lord, and God says I shall be saved! I am simply believing His Word. I am so happy!”
Night after night thereafter, as we saw the beaming face and earnest life of this young man, we could not but think how literally fulfilled to him had been that promise of Rom. 10:99That 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. (Romans 10:9). Shall we not quote it again?
"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.”