The Meaning of “Jesus is Lord”: Biblical Foundations of the Lordship of Jesus
The title “Lord” (Greek: Kyrios) is one of the most significant designations for Jesus in the New Testament. Its usage is deeply rooted in the Old Testament, where the Hebrew word Adonai (Lord) and the divine name YHWH (often rendered as LORD in English translations) are used to refer to God. When the New Testament writers apply the title “Lord” to Jesus, they are making a profound theological claim about his identity and authority.
One of the clearest and most foundational statements comes from the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Romans: “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)
Here, Paul links salvation directly to the confession of Jesus’ lordship. This is not simply acknowledgment of Jesus as a respected teacher or prophet, but a declaration of his divine authority and sovereignty.
The roots of this confession are found in the earliest Christian proclamation. In Acts 2, Peter’s Pentecost sermon climaxes with the declaration: “Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” (Acts 2:36)
This statement, delivered to a Jewish audience steeped in the language of the Old Testament, would have been understood as a claim that Jesus shares in the authority and identity of the God of Israel.
The Lordship of Jesus in the Context of the Roman World
To confess “Jesus is Lord” in the first-century Roman Empire was a radical and potentially dangerous act. The phrase “Caesar is Lord” was a common political slogan, expressing loyalty to the emperor as the supreme authority. For Christians to declare that Jesus, not Caesar, is Lord was to assert that ultimate allegiance belongs to Jesus alone. This confession often brought believers into conflict with the surrounding culture and authorities.
Paul’s letter to the Philippians contains a powerful hymn that shows us this reality: “Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 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 2:9-11)
This passage echoes Isaiah 45:23, where God declares, “To me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear allegiance.” By applying this language to Jesus, Paul affirms that Jesus shares in the divine authority and is worthy of the same worship and obedience as God himself.
Theological Implications of Jesus’ Lordship
The confession of Jesus as Lord is not just a statement about his name and authority; it is a recognition of his divine nature. The New Testament writers consistently present Jesus as the one through whom all things were created (John 1:3; Colossians 1:16), the one who sustains the universe (Hebrews 1:3), and the one who will judge the living and the dead (Acts 10:42).
In 1 Corinthians 8:6, Paul contrasts the many so-called “gods” and “lords” of the pagan world with the unique lordship of Jesus: “Yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.”
Here, Paul adapts the Shema of Deuteronomy 6:4 (“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one”) to include both God the Father and Jesus Christ, affirming the unity and distinction within the Godhead. This is a foundational text for the doctrine of the Trinity, which holds that Jesus is fully God and fully man, co-equal and co-eternal with the Father and the Holy Spirit.
The lordship of Jesus also encompasses his role as the Messiah, the anointed king promised in the Old Testament. In Psalm 110:1, David writes, “The Lord says to my Lord: ‘Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.’” Jesus applies this verse to himself (Matthew 22:44), indicating that he is the exalted Lord who reigns at God’s right hand.
What Does it Mean to Confess Jesus as Lord?
To confess that Jesus is Lord is to acknowledge his authority over every aspect of life. It is a call to obedience, discipleship, and transformation. Jesus himself asked, “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?” (Luke 6:46)
True confession is demonstrated in a life of submission to Jesus’ teachings and commands. The Golden Rule, articulated by Jesus in Matthew 7:12, is a practical outworking of his lordship: “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.”
This ethic of love and self-giving flows from the recognition that Jesus, as Lord, has modeled and commanded a new way of living. The apostle John records Jesus’ words:
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35)
The lordship of Jesus is not an abstract doctrine but a lived reality that shapes relationships, priorities, and values. It calls us to serve others, forgive as we have been forgiven, and pursue justice and mercy in the world.
The Lordship of Jesus and Salvation
The confession “Jesus is Lord” is central to the message of salvation. As Paul writes in Romans 10:9-10: “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. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.”
Salvation is not achieved by human effort or merit but is received through faith in Jesus as the risen Lord. This faith involves trusting in his finished work on the cross, submitting to his authority, and following him as master and king.
Conclusion - What does “Jesus is Lord” mean?
The confession “Jesus is Lord” is both simple and profound. It is a declaration of faith, a statement of allegiance, and a call to transformation. Rooted in the Old Testament revelation of God and fulfilled in the person and work of Jesus, this confession stands at the center of Christian belief and practice. To say “Jesus is Lord” is to recognize his divine identity, submit to his authority, and commit to living according to his will. The meaning of Jesus is Lord is the foundation upon which the Christian life is built. It is the hope that sustains believers until the day when every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.