by Timothy W. Burnett
A study of confessing with the mouth the Lord Jesus leads to 1Corinthians 12:3 where it says, "...and no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost." Continued research on what it means to speak by the spirit of God will help to ascertain what it means to confess with the mouth the Lord Jesus unto salvation.
1Corinthians chapters 12-14 cover certain spiritual matters.Chapter 14 and verse 15 specifically refers to praying with the spirit of God. It says, "What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also. I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also." To understand the context of verse 15, read verses 1-14. To pray with the spirit was about speaking in tongues, and to pray with the understanding was about words from mental thoughts.
As a side not, speaking in tongues involves speaking in languages that are not understood by the one speaking This is why verse 2 says, "...for no man understands, howbeit in the spirit he speaks mysteries." According to Acts 2:4, the words are given by the spirit of God. The individual does not determine what is spoken, but instead simply starts speaking with the trust that the spirit of God will give the words.
All Christians know it is possible to declare the Lord Jesus with words that come from God in their personal languages. But, not everybody understands it is possible to declare that Jesus is Lord with words that come from the spirit of God by speaking in tongues. This is largely because many Christians do not understand what it means to speak in tongues, and probably do not even believe it is available to do so. Having ruled out the option of speaking in tongues, people understandably conclude that to "confess with the mouth the Lord Jesus" (Romans 10:9-10) refers only to speaking in their own languages.
According to 1Corinthians 12:3, nobody can declare that Jesus is Lord but by the spirit of God. This does not nullify people's ability to declare the Lord Jesus in their own languages. Instead it establishes that nobody can truly do so except by the spirit of God. Many times during the day, Christians will glorify God and declare from their thoughts that Jesus Christ is Lord. It is mentally edifying to do so. It is also possible to truly worship God with words that come directly from the spirit of God by speaking in tongues.
Christians can worship God with their understanding and they can do so with the spirit of God. Christians can pray with their understanding and they can pray with the spirit of God. Christians can declare the Lord Jesus with their understanding and they can do so with the spirit of God. Christians can call upon the name of the Lord with their understanding and they can do so with the spirit of God.
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