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Wednesday, November 7, 2018

Does Jesus Need to be Both Lord and Savior of Our Life?” {Romans 8:18-10:21}

Years ago, just as I began to teach women Bible studies, I thought it would be a great idea to open with a question that would invite the women to share their knowledge, or opinions and there-by help the group to get to know one another better and feel more comfortable in the group. That was until I asked the question one day, Does Jesus need to be both Lord and Savior of your life?”

I honestly thought World War III was about to break out in my livingroom that day! There were strong opinions on both sides of the issue, and we finally had to end the discussion by agreeing to disagree! Both sides seemed to have valid points and neither side seemed interested in changing or accepting the other side’s view.

That was the last time I ever opened a study with a question like that until today!

Since that day, I’ve often thought about whether Jesus needed to be both our Savior and Lord, and I believe this passage speaks directly on this subject, so I thought it was time to finally answer the question!

Paul begins chapter 10 sharing a bit of his heart for the Jews,

Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved.  For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.  For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness.-Romans 10:1-3

In other words, though they had a zeal, they didn’t get it. But Paul continues in assuring us that God’s salvation really isn’t that difficult!

But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim);  because, 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.- Romans 10:8-10

Now hold still one moment, for some have said this passage means we must confess with our mouth to be saved but that’s not what this passage is saying.

It might be better if we could understand Greek. The passage is talking about what is in our heart and in our mind. The Greek word for “confess” is HOMOLEGO. It means “to say the same thing”- to admit with our mouth what we know to be already true in our heart.

And here in the Book of Romans is not the only place Scripture talks about confession with our mouth:

  • And I say to you, everyone who confesses Me before men, the Son of Man shall confess him also before the angels of God.  Luke 12:8

  • Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.  1 Timothy 6:12

  • Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.  1 John 4:15

  • Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit.- 1 Cor 12:3

Each of these passages testifies that a Christian’s words will reveal what he or she believes in his/her heart. But not only our words!

Jesus, Himself told us in John 14:14-17,

Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. 
 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.

The real question we need to ask ourselves is, “Does my mouth and actions reveal what I honestly believe in my heart about Jesus – that He is Lord of my life?”


One last thing that’s important for us to understand and that is God the Father has made Jesus Lord, not only over our lives, but over all of creation. The Father has highly exalted the Son by giving Him the name that is above every other name (Philippians 2:9).

As the apostle Paul states in Colossians 1:15–20, "He [Jesus] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross."


All authorities, whether earthly or spiritual, are subject to the lordship of Jesus Christ. Therefore He must also be preeminent in our lives as well.