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Given the controversy surrounding a political rally at which someone declared “Jesus is Lord,” it’s crucial to examine this statement’s meaning and historical context.
In the book of Romans, Paul is quoted as saying:
“Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9).
Paul also wrote, “So that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:10-11).
Proclaiming Jesus as Lord indicates a title equivalent to master, ruler, and, more importantly, divine authority, signifying that Jesus is God.
In the book of Matthew, we find the Greatest Commandment, which reads, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37).
Notice again that the title Lord is used to attribute a divine reverence to God.
For Christians, Jesus is absolutely Lord. Jesus expected as much in statements such as:
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15).
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 7:21).
“You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am” (John 13:13).
Jesus is the world’s Savior, but He also bears the title of Lord.
Using the title Lord for Jesus acknowledges the respect He is owed. It signals He is the master and ruler of your life. In simpler terms, announcing His Lordship places Him at the center of your life and signifies your surrender of life’s affairs to Him.
If Jesus is Lord, your standards are His. If Jesus is Lord, you take the Greatest Commandment to heart and live for Christ alone.
Claiming Jesus as Lord has its challenges. You will be mocked, ridiculed, and even persecuted. Jesus promised as much (John 15:19-20, Matthew 5:10-12).
Yet, such ridicule and even persecution should never discourage us, but motivate us even more to live a life surrounded to following our Lord Jesus Christ, “And he said to all, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it'” (Luke 9:23-24).
Therefore, proclaiming Jesus as Lord should become not just a phrase but a principle you abide by.
Proudly confess and believe Jesus is Lord, and surely you will be rewarded.
