Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ
The phrase “Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” is one of the most theologically rich and frequently used titles for Jesus in the New Testament. It encapsulates the Christian confession of who Jesus is and what he accomplished. This article will examine the biblical meaning of this phrase, its Old and New Testament roots, and its implications for Christian faith and practice.
The Old Testament Background: Lord and Savior
The Old Testament provides the foundational concepts for both “Lord” and “Savior.” The Hebrew word most often translated “Lord” is Adonai, a title of authority and sovereignty, and the divine name YHWH (often rendered “the Lord” in English Bibles) is used over 6,000 times. God’s sovereignty as Lord is seen throughout the Old Testament, as in Psalm 97:5: “The mountains melt like wax before the Lord, before the Lord of all the earth.”
The concept of God as Savior is also deeply rooted in the Old Testament. The prophet Isaiah declares: “I, I am the Lord, and besides me there is no savior.” (Isaiah 43:11)
Here, God asserts his unique role as the only savior of Israel, rescuing his people from bondage and danger.
These two titles–Lord and Savior–are thus inseparably linked to the identity of the one true God in the Old Testament. The New Testament’s application of these titles to Jesus is therefore a profound claim about his divine identity and mission.
Jesus as Lord in the New Testament
In the New Testament, the Greek word kyrios (Lord) is used both as a term of respect and, more significantly, as a title for God. The earliest Christian confession was “Jesus is Lord” (Iesous Kyrios), as seen in Romans 10:9: “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.”
This confession is not merely an acknowledgment of Jesus’ authority, but a recognition of his divine status. Paul explicitly connects Jesus’ lordship to the Old Testament’s use of “Lord” for God. In Philippians 2:9-11, Paul writes: “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.”
This passage echoes Isaiah 45:23, where God declares, “To me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear allegiance.” By applying this to Jesus, Paul affirms that Jesus shares in the divine identity and authority of the God of Israel.
Jesus as Savior in the New Testament
The New Testament also presents Jesus as the Savior, the one who delivers humanity from sin and its consequences. The angel’s announcement to Joseph in Matthew 1:21 sets the tone: “She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”
Peter, preaching to the Sanhedrin, proclaims: “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)
Paul likewise emphasizes that “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15). The title “Savior” thus points to Jesus’ unique role in God’s redemptive plan, fulfilling the Old Testament hope of salvation and embodying the very character of God as Savior.
The Combined Title: Lord and Savior Jesus Christ
The phrase “Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” appears several times in the New Testament, most notably in the letters of Peter. For example, 2 Peter 1:1 opens with: “To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ.”
Here, the Greek construction indicates that “God and Savior” both refer to Jesus, affirming his full deity and unique role as savior. This is reinforced in 2 Peter 1:11, 2:20, and 3:18, where the phrase “our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” is used.
The use of both titles together is not accidental. It reflects the New Testament’s consistent witness that Jesus is both the sovereign Lord, worthy of worship and obedience, and the gracious Savior, who redeems and reconciles sinners to God. As Sam Shamoun and other scholars note, the construction of these phrases in Greek makes it clear that the New Testament writers intended to ascribe both divine lordship and saving power to Jesus.
Why Do People Say, “Lord and Savior Jesus Christ”?
Christians use the phrase “Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” to confess the full biblical truth about who Jesus is. To call Jesus “Lord” is to submit to his authority, recognizing him as the rightful ruler of all creation and of one’s own life. To call him “Savior” is to acknowledge his work of redemption–his death and resurrection for the forgiveness of sins.
This confession is not merely formulaic; it is the heart of Christian faith. As Paul writes in Titus 2:13: “waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.”
Here, the expectation of Jesus’ return is grounded in his identity as both God and Savior. The phrase thus encapsulates the hope, trust, and allegiance of the believer.
Where Does the Bible Say Jesus Is Lord and Savior?
Several passages explicitly refer to Jesus as both Lord and Savior:
2 Peter 1:11: “For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
2 Peter 2:20: “For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ…”
2 Peter 3:18: “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
Additionally, as discussed above, the titles “Lord” and “Savior” are applied to Jesus throughout the New Testament, even when not combined in a single phrase.
To Whom Should Christians Pray: God, Jesus, or Lord?
The New Testament teaches that prayer is directed to God the Father, through Jesus the Son, in the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus instructs his disciples to pray, “Our Father in heaven…” (Matthew 6:9). Yet, prayer to Jesus is also modeled in the New Testament. Stephen, as he is being martyred, prays, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit” (Acts 7:59). Paul appeals to “the Lord” in prayer (2 Corinthians 12:8-9), and the early church calls upon the name of the Lord Jesus (Acts 9:14, 21).
Thus, Christians may pray to the Father, to Jesus, or to the Lord, recognizing the unity of the triune God. However, the normative pattern is prayer to the Father, in the name of Jesus, by the Spirit (Ephesians 2:18).
Conclusion - Is Jesus Christ Your Lord and Savior?
The title “Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” is a profound summary of the New Testament’s teaching about Jesus. It affirms his divine authority as Lord, his saving work as Savior, and his unique identity as the incarnate Son of God. This confession is rooted in the Old Testament revelation of God as both Lord and Savior and is fulfilled in the person and work of Jesus. Christians use this title to express their faith, hope, and allegiance to the one who is both sovereign over all and the redeemer of all who trust in him. As Peter exhorts, “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.” (2 Peter 3:18)
To confess Jesus as Lord and Savior is to accept him as the one who has authority over my life and as the one who saved me from sin and death. This confession is essential to Christian identity and salvation, as Paul writes in Romans 10:9-10. What about you?