Overview: Declaring Jesus as Lord
Confession and commitment are at the heart of the Christian conversion experience, marking the transition from internal belief to external allegiance. While faith and repentance begin within the heart, confession brings that transformation into the public and relational sphere. It is the open declaration that Jesus Christ is not only Saviour but Lord. This confession bears spiritual, communal, and societal significance—it confirms personal devotion, unites one to the Church, and testifies to the world.
The New Testament term for confession (homologeō) conveys more than verbal admission; it signifies a public profession of loyalty. To declare “Jesus is Lord” is to acknowledge His divine authority, submit to His reign, and entrust one’s life to His governance. This is not a superficial ritual, but a wholehearted commitment that shapes identity, conduct, and destiny.
Confession leads naturally to commitment. If Jesus is Lord, then the believer must live under His lordship. Christianity is not merely a belief system to accept but a new life to live. The confession of faith marks the beginning of a transformed identity, and commitment expresses that identity in daily obedience and discipleship.
Scriptural Foundation: Romans 10:9–10; Luke 9:23
Romans 10:9–10 articulates the integral role of confession in salvation:
“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.”
Here, salvation is described as requiring both inner belief and outward confession. Silent faith is incomplete if it does not culminate in a bold declaration. The phrase “Jesus is Lord” (Greek: Kyrios Iēsous) was profoundly countercultural in the Roman world, where Caesar claimed lordship. To confess Christ was to renounce rival allegiances and pledge absolute loyalty to Him.
Luke 9:23 expands the meaning of commitment:
“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”
This passage reveals that following Christ demands daily self-denial, perseverance, and sacrificial obedience. It is not a one-time utterance but a continual declaration of loyalty, enacted in every choice and moment.
Together, these scriptures teach that confession is not ceremonial and commitment is not optional—both are central to authentic Christian discipleship.
Doctrinal Themes: Lordship Salvation and Obedience
1. Lordship Salvation: Submission in Faith
The doctrine of Lordship salvation teaches that genuine faith in Christ necessarily involves submission to His lordship. One cannot receive Jesus as Saviour while rejecting Him as Lord. Salvation involves not only trusting in His work, but yielding to His authority.
This stands in contrast to “easy-believism,” a view that reduces salvation to mere intellectual assent without repentance, transformation, or obedience. Jesus challenges such superficiality when He says, “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?” (Luke 6:46). True faith is always accompanied by a new allegiance and direction.
2. Obedience: The Fruit of Faith
Obedience is not the cause of salvation, but its evidence. The believer is saved by grace alone through faith alone, yet the fruit of that salvation is a life marked by growing obedience. Paul writes, “You are not your own… you were bought with a price” (1 Corinthians 6:19–20). The one who confesses Christ is also called to live under His rule.
This obedience is not legalistic but relational. It flows from love, gratitude, and the indwelling Spirit. Though believers struggle and stumble, they live with a new master, a new identity, and a new power at work within them.
Reflection: Am I Surrendering My Life or Just Believing Facts?
This chapter calls for sincere and searching self-examination:
- Have I publicly confessed Jesus as Lord—not only with words but through the way I live?
- Does my life exhibit a surrendered will, or am I clinging to autonomy in key areas?
- Is my faith merely intellectual, or have I submitted my heart, habits, and hopes to Christ?
- Do I bear the marks of commitment—self-denial, perseverance, and obedience—in my daily walk?
- Have I embraced Jesus as both Saviour and Lord, or have I accepted half a gospel?
To confess Jesus as Lord is to declare, “I am no longer my own; I belong to Christ.” This confession is the gateway to true discipleship, and it demands a wholehearted, lifelong commitment. Far from being burdensome, this surrender leads to true freedom—the freedom of living under the gracious reign of the One who laid down His life for His people.
Key Scriptures:
- Romans 10:9–10 – “Confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord…”
- Luke 9:23 – “Deny himself and take up his cross daily…”
- Luke 6:46 – “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I say?”
- 1 Corinthians 6:19–20 – “You are not your own… bought with a price.”
- Ephesians 4:1 – “Walk in a manner worthy of the calling…”