Have you ever read Matthew 7:21 where Jesus says that many ‘who think they are safe’ in the Last Day will come to Him, saying, “Lord! Lord!” Didn’t we do all these great things in your name. And Jesus says, “Get away from Me. I don’t know you.”
Striking words!
So clearly, mere words of acknowledgment aren’t enough in our relationship with Jesus. This tension between simply claiming Jesus as Lord and truly living under His Lordship strikes at the heart of authentic faith. Like saying “I love you” without actions to back it up, calling Jesus “Lord” without submission creates a hollow faith.
Lordship involves a complete surrender born out of love and trust—not just lip service. This profound question of true salvation invites us to examine whether our profession of faith genuinely transforms our lives or merely decorates our speech.
Biblical Insight
Jesus addresses this exact issue in Matthew 7:21-23:
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven,
but only the one who does the will of My Father who is in heaven.”
This statement comes near the conclusion of the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus has been establishing the radical nature of Kingdom living. The repetition of “Lord, Lord” represents enthusiastic religious profession that ultimately lacks foundation. Notably, Jesus doesn’t question their sincerity or even their supernatural experiences, but rather highlights their fundamental disconnection from obedience.
This teaching directly parallels Jesus’ parable of the two builders in Matthew 7:24-27, where He contrasts those who hear His words and put them into practice (building on rock) with those who merely hear without obedience (building on sand). The Greek word for “Lord” (kyrios) carried tremendous weight in first-century culture, signifying absolute authority and ownership. When Jewish listeners heard this term, they would have recognized it as the Greek translation for יהוה (Yahweh) used in their Scriptures. By using this title for Himself while simultaneously demanding obedience, Jesus was making an extraordinary claim about His identity and authority.
Paul’s statement in Romans 10:9 about confessing Jesus as Lord must be understood within this fuller context of Scripture. The confession Paul describes isn’t merely verbal acknowledgment but enthroning Jesus as the ruling authority in one’s life. James reinforces this understanding when he writes that “faith without works is dead” (James 2:26). The New Testament consistently portrays salvation as involving both justification (being declared righteous through faith) and sanctification (growing in obedience through that same faith). The two are inseparable in authentic Christian experience.
Practical Wisdom
True lordship flows from love and trust. When we genuinely recognize who Jesus is—His beauty, His sacrifice, His worthiness—submission becomes a natural response rather than a burdensome obligation. Think about someone deeply in love: they naturally adjust their lives around their beloved, not out of compulsion but desire. This is what Jesus invites us into—not religious rule-following, but relationship-based transformation where we gladly surrender because we’ve found Someone infinitely worthy of our allegiance.
The Holy Spirit plays the essential role in this process, giving us both the desire and power to live under the Messiah’s lordship. As Paul explains in Philippians 2:13, “it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill His good purpose.” When we struggle with submitting certain areas of our lives to Jesus, the solution isn’t more willpower but deeper communion with Him through the Spirit, allowing His love to cast out fear and resistance. This communion includes honest repentance when we’ve claimed His lordship with our lips while reserving parts of our hearts and lives for ourselves.
The beautiful assurance is that when we genuinely repent, the blood of Jesus immediately clears all charges against us. There’s no probationary period, no lingering guilt—just immediate restoration because of His perfect sacrifice. This liberating truth frees us to pursue obedience not from fear of punishment but from grateful love, knowing we’ve been forgiven much and therefore can love much. As we experience this grace-fueled transformation, we’re equipped to extend the same mercy to others, creating a cycle of redemption that reflects God’s Kingdom in our everyday relationships and choices.
Clearing up misunderstandings
One common misconception is viewing the “sinner’s prayer” as a magical formula that automatically secures salvation regardless of subsequent life direction. While acknowledging Jesus as Lord is indeed essential to salvation, Scripture presents this acknowledgment as the beginning of a transformative relationship, not merely a one-time verbal declaration. Jesus’ warning in Matthew 7 specifically addresses those who use spiritual language (“Lord, Lord”) and even perform spiritual activities (prophecy, exorcism, miracles) without the fundamental heart transformation that produces obedience.
Another misunderstanding involves seeing obedience as earning salvation rather than evidencing it. The works Jesus and James speak of aren’t merit-earning activities but the natural fruit of genuine faith. As Jesus taught, “A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit” (Matthew 7:18). Our obedience doesn’t cause our salvation; rather, it confirms its authenticity. The thief on the cross demonstrates this principle—he had no opportunity for extended obedience, yet his recognition of Jesus’ lordship was genuine, shown by his defense of Jesus’ innocence and acknowledgment of His Kingdom authority.
Some also mistake emotional experiences or religious knowledge for lordship commitment. While feelings and knowledge have their place, Jesus consistently points to obedience as the true measure of devotion: “If you love Me, keep My commands” (John 14:15). This doesn’t mean perfect performance—we all stumble—but it does mean a life progressively aligned with Jesus’ teachings through continual repentance and growth. The key question isn’t “Have I said the right words?” but “Is my life increasingly submitted to Jesus’ authority out of love for Him?”
Conclusion
The journey from merely saying “Lord, Lord” to living under the Anointed One’s loving lordship is the essence of discipleship. When we encounter Jesus in His full glory and grace, understanding the incredible price He paid to redeem us, calling Him Lord becomes not just a statement but a joyful surrender born of genuine love. His lordship isn’t meant to be burdensome but liberating—the perfect leadership of the One who knows us better than we know ourselves and loves us more than we can imagine.
As you continue walking with Jesus, may you experience the deepening joy that comes from not just knowing about Him, but truly knowing and following Him as Lord. Each area surrendered to His loving authority becomes a territory of freedom rather than restriction, allowing His life to flow through yours in ways that bring His Kingdom reality into every aspect of your world. This is the abundant life He promised—not found in mere words, but in the daily dance of loving obedience to the most trustworthy Lord.
Did you know
In ancient Roman culture, slaves who had been freed by their masters often chose to become “bond slaves” (doulos in Greek) out of deep gratitude and love for a good master. They would have their ear pierced with an awl against the doorpost of their master’s house as a public declaration of permanent, voluntary service. This cultural practice illuminates Paul’s frequent self-identification as a “bond servant of Christ”—not someone forced into service, but someone who had experienced freedom and chose lasting commitment to a worthy Master out of love and devotion.
