Biblical Topics A to Z
Jesus as Lord
What the New Testament means when it calls Jesus Lord, the significance of that title in the Roman world, and what confessing Jesus as Lord commits a person to.
At a Glance
Confessing Jesus as Lord was, in the Roman world, a claim that placed him above every other authority, and the New Testament ties this confession directly to salvation and to a life of submission to him.
Overview
The New Testament's confession that 'Jesus is Lord' directly echoed and rivaled the imperial claim 'Caesar is Lord,' asserting Christ's supreme authority over every other power, and Scripture ties this confession not to mere verbal assent but to genuine faith and a life submitted to his rule.
Learning Objectives
- •Explain the significance of confessing 'Jesus is Lord' against the backdrop of the Roman imperial cult.
- •Describe what Romans 10:9 ties the confession of Jesus as Lord to for salvation.
- •Identify what Jesus's own words in Luke 6:46 warn about calling him Lord without obeying him.
That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Philippians 2:10-11
Read It in Context
This study quotes Philippians 2:10-11, but no verse stands alone. Open a Bible and read the whole surrounding chapter to see the full argument the passage sits within, then look up the other references cited throughout this study — Romans 10:9 and beyond — in their own context. Scripture is the final authority here, not this summary.
Historical & Literary Context
In the Roman world of the New Testament, 'Kyrios' (Lord) was a title claimed by the emperor, and citizens were expected to acknowledge 'Caesar is Lord' as a mark of civic and religious loyalty. Against this backdrop, the earliest Christian confession, 'Jesus is Lord' (Romans 10:9, 1 Corinthians 12:3), was a bold and often costly claim that placed ultimate allegiance in Christ above any earthly ruler, a claim that led many early believers to persecution and martyrdom.
A Claim Above Every Rival Power
Philippians 2:9-11 declares that God has given Jesus 'a name which is above every name,' so that every knee will bow and every tongue confess 'that Jesus Christ is Lord,' asserting his authority over every other claim to lordship, whether political, spiritual, or personal.
Tied to Genuine Saving Faith
Romans 10:9 connects confessing 'the Lord Jesus' with believing 'in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead' as together constituting saving faith, showing that the confession of his lordship is inseparable from trusting his resurrection.
A Confession That Must Be Lived
Luke 6:46 records Jesus's own pointed question, 'why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?', warning that verbal confession without actual obedience falls short of what it means to truly call him Lord.
Christ-Centered Focus
The confession 'Jesus is Lord' is, at its root, a statement about who Christ actually is: risen, exalted, and reigning, meaning to confess it rightly is to submit every other allegiance in life to him.
Practical Application
This week, apply Luke 6:46's challenge directly: identify one area where you say Jesus is Lord but your actions do not match that confession, and take one concrete step to bring that area under his authority.
Prayer
Father, I confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, risen and reigning above every other power. Help me not merely to say this with my mouth but to live under His lordship in every area of my life. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Scripture Memory
"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved."
Romans 10:9
Reflection Questions
- 1How does knowing that 'Jesus is Lord' rivaled the claim 'Caesar is Lord' deepen your sense of what this confession costs and means?
- 2What does Romans 10:9 teach about how confessing Jesus as Lord relates to genuine saving faith?
- 3How does Luke 6:46's warning challenge the gap that can exist between what you say about Jesus and how you actually live?
- 4What is one area of your life you need to bring more fully under Christ's lordship?