The Apostles’ Creed continues by confessing that Jesus Christ is our Lord. While this title may sound familiar to modern ears, its meaning reaches far beyond a respectful way of addressing Jesus. To call Jesus Lord is one of the earliest and most profound confessions of the Christian faith. It is to recognize that the One who revealed the heart of God also possesses rightful authority over our lives.

In the ancient world, the word lord was used in many ways. It could describe a master, a ruler, or someone to whom allegiance was owed. Within the Roman Empire, the title carried even greater significance because it was commonly associated with the emperor. To confess that “Jesus is Lord” was therefore not simply a personal religious statement. It was a declaration that no earthly ruler, no political power, no nation, and no human authority could ultimately claim the allegiance that belongs to Christ alone. The earliest Christians were willing to suffer persecution and even death rather than deny this simple confession.

Yet Jesus transformed the very meaning of lordship. Throughout history, rulers have often exercised authority through force, wealth, fear, or domination. Jesus revealed a different kind of authority. He taught with wisdom rather than coercion. He welcomed those whom others ignored. He knelt to wash the feet of his disciples. He forgave those who betrayed him. Even upon the Cross, his concern remained for others. In Jesus, lordship is expressed not through the pursuit of power but through perfect love.

This is why Jesus could say that the greatest among his followers must become the servant of all. His authority does not diminish others; it restores them. He does not rule by taking life but by giving his own. The crown he wears is one of thorns before it is one of glory, reminding us that God’s power is most fully revealed through sacrificial love.

When Christians call Jesus our Lord, they are making a deeply personal confession. The Creed does not simply say that Jesus is the Lord. It says that he is our Lord. This small word reminds us that faith is not merely an acknowledgment of Christ’s authority in the abstract. It is an invitation to place our own lives under his loving guidance. To call Jesus Lord is to trust that his wisdom is greater than our own, that his way leads to life, and that his love is worthy of our complete devotion.

This does not mean surrendering our freedom. Rather, it means discovering what freedom truly is. We are always shaped by something. Our lives can be governed by fear, ambition, resentment, pride, success, public opinion, or countless other influences that quietly claim our allegiance. The Christian life asks us to consider a different question: Who or what is truly Lord of my life? Whatever ultimately shapes our decisions, commands our attention, and receives our deepest loyalty has, in some sense, become our lord.

To confess Jesus as Lord is to allow him to reorder our lives according to the values of his kingdom. His compassion begins to shape our compassion. His forgiveness softens our hearts toward those who have wronged us. His humility challenges our pride. His concern for the forgotten awakens our concern for those who are overlooked. His love gradually becomes the measure by which we seek to love God, our neighbors, and even ourselves.

This confession also reminds us that we never walk alone. The same Lord who called fishermen, tax collectors, scholars, laborers, women, children, saints, and sinners continues to call each of us today. He does not demand perfection before inviting us to follow him. Instead, he meets us where we are, patiently leading us toward the fullness of life. The Christian journey is not one of earning his lordship, but of continually learning to trust the One who already loves us completely.

To say, “I believe in Jesus Christ… our Lord,” is therefore to confess more than a doctrine. It is to entrust our lives to the One whose authority is expressed through love, whose kingdom is built upon mercy, and whose desire is not to dominate but to lead humanity into communion with God. Every day we are invited to renew this confession, allowing Christ to shape our hearts so that, little by little, our lives begin to reflect the life of the One we call Lord.

Questions for Reflection

• What does it mean for you personally to call Jesus our Lord?
• What influences or priorities most often compete for your loyalty and attention?
• In what areas of your life is Christ inviting you to trust his guidance more fully?
• How does Jesus’ example of servant leadership challenge your understanding of authority?
• How might your relationships change if you consciously sought to imitate Christ’s humility and compassion each day?
• Spend a few moments in prayer asking Christ to reveal any part of your life that you have been hesitant to place under his loving lordship. Reflect on what it would mean to entrust that part of yourself to him.