Should I approach Jesus as 'Lord Jesus Christ' or just as 'Jesus'?
Scripture directs believers to confess with the mouth the Lord Jesus and to approach Him as Lord Jesus Christ, not merely as Jesus. After the cross and resurrection, He becomes Lord of our life, and it is proper to approach Him on those terms, believing in the heart that God raised Him from the dead.
Les explains that verse 9 goes beyond the Jesus of His earthly ministry, because He had not yet died then. But as soon as He finished the work of the cross and the power of the resurrection, He now becomes Lord. Les emphasizes that this cannot be emphasized enough: He becomes Lord of our life. He becomes not just Jesus, but Jesus Christ the Lord, or the Lord Jesus Christ. Les says it is only proper to approach Him on those terms. So confession is made with the mouth to the Lord Jesus, while belief is an attitude of the heart, trusting that God raised Him from the dead. Since Christ died, was buried, and rose again, the promise is that thou shalt be saved—God said it.