Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior

I- Introduction

Why Human Efforts Are Not Enough for Salvation

The idea that our own efforts can bring us closer to the divine is a common misconception. In reality, human effort alone is not enough to bridge the gap between humanity and God. It is not our good works, our offerings, our memorized knowledge of the Scriptures, or our pilgrimages that grant us access to heaven. Attending church, even regularly, does not ensure salvation if the heart is not sincerely turned toward God. You don’t go to heaven by going to church, any more than you become a doctor by going to the hospital regularly.

Good Cannot Compensate for Evil

According to the Bible, sin (evil) cannot be erased simply by doing good deeds. The idea of “compensating” evil with good is foreign to divine justice. Romans 3:20 reminds us: “Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.” Doing good has its place in our lives, but as the fruit of a transformed heart, not as a means of redeeming our sins.

Our Sinful Nature and the Demand for Perfection

If we commit a single sin, we are sinners. And that is exactly what we ALL are: sinners. Human beings are inherently imperfect and prone to sin. Even our “good works” may be tainted by selfish motives or fall short of divine perfection. No amount of human effort can erase the “debt” accumulated by sin, nor can it bridge the infinite gap between a sinful humanity and a perfect God.

We can be filled with sorrow at human suffering and give money to the homeless, while mocking or criticizing people behind their backs. We can lie from time to time and still be of service to our loved ones and support them in their times of need. No matter how much good we do, it can never compensate for the evil we commit. No amount of good can redeem all our evil deeds. We sin by our fallen human nature, and the wages of our sins is death, as Romans 6:23 indicates .

The Need for a Savior

This is why we desperately need a Savior to deliver us from death, the wages of our sins. Jesus Christ, our Lord, came into the world to save sinners .

We cannot “do enough good” to surpass “evil” in God’s eyes, for His standard is perfection, a standard that only Christ fully achieved.

Romans 6:23 offers us this liberating truth: “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

And 1 Timothy 1:15 confirms this: “Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.”


Let us pray: Oh Heavenly Father, we confess our sins to one another, and pray for one another, that we may be healed. In the name of Christ! Amen!

II- Reflection

II.1- Jesus Is Savior

Understanding the Gospel: Why Jesus is Savior

The central message of the Gospel, the Good News, is that “Jesus is Savior.” However, as Dr. Feddes , a professor at the Christian Leaders Institute, explains, it is impossible to fully grasp the greatness of this Good News without first understanding the Bad News. The Bad News can be summed up as follows: “There is nothing we can do to solve our sin problem.”

Before exploring God’s solution, it is crucial to appreciate the gravity of human sin. Dr. Feddes ‘s answer is clear and compelling: “Sin is very, very, very, very serious.” Let’s briefly analyze his explanation.

Sin: A 3D Disaster (Debt, Distance, Death)

The Bible describes sin as a multifaceted disaster, which can be illustrated by three key dimensions:

• Debt: Scripture often compares sin to a debt. We owe God for offending Him and for misusing the gifts He has given us. This is a moral obligation that we cannot settle on our own.
• Distance: Sin creates a distance between humanity and God. Romans 3:23 states, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”. We are unable to bridge this gap that separates us from perfection and divine glory. Our sins inherently distance us from God’s presence.
• Death : A third biblical description of our human condition is that of death. Ephesians 2:1 states, “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins,”. Similarly, Romans 5:12 explains, “Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned—”. An existence without God is, in essence, a “living death” on the spiritual level.

This “3D picture” – Debt, Distance, Death – is the Bad News of the Bible: we can do nothing on our own to solve our sin problem.

The Good News: The Three “Rs” of Salvation in Jesus

In the face of the gravity of sin, the Good News is that Jesus provides the three “Rs” of salvation to overcome Debt, Distance, and Death. ( Death ):

• Redemption: Paying Our Debt . Jesus Christ came to earth and died in our place. His death is an infinite ransom for our sins (2 Corinthians 5:17). He died to pay the price we owed God (Romans 5:8), so that we would not have to. 1 Peter 1:18-19 emphasizes that we have been redeemed “not with corruptible things, like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ.” Ephesians 1:7 adds : “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace”. This is why Jesus is the only Savior (John 14:6 ; Acts 4:12).
• Reconciliation: Bridging the distance between us and God . Christ has reconciled us to God (Romans 5:10; 2 Corinthians 5:18; Colossians 1:20-21). By dying on the cross, Christ satisfied God’s judgment, thus allowing us, who were His enemies, to be at peace with Him. Our reconciliation with God is therefore the fruit of His grace and the forgiveness of our sins.
• Rebirth: Bringing us out of our state of death . Our faith in Christ’s finished work on the cross causes us to be born again. This is a spiritual birth. Just as our physical birth brought a new person into the earthly world, our spiritual birth brings a new person into the heavenly realm (Ephesians 2:6).

Jesus Christ: The Only Savior

Jesus Christ, God incarnate, did not come to convince us to save ourselves, nor to help us do so, nor even to show us how to be better people in order to save ourselves. He came to save us .

Do you believe in Jesus as your Savior? Is He your “personal” Savior?

Many people think that the Christian faith is all about going to church, practicing rituals, or avoiding certain sins. This is not the case. True Christian faith is a personal relationship with Jesus Christ . Accepting Jesus as your personal Savior means placing your faith and trust in Him. No one is saved by the faith of another person, nor is forgiven by their own works. The only way to be saved is to personally accept Jesus as your Savior, to believe that He died for your sins and rose again to guarantee you eternal life (John 3:16).

II.2- Jesus Is Lord

Jesus is Lord: An Indispensable Prerequisite for Salvation

Jesus is Lord . Without this fundamental truth, He cannot be the Savior as described in the “Bad News” and the “Good News.” Only the Lord of the Universe had the power to triumph over death to offer us eternal life, to rescue us from Satan’s reign and bring us into His own kingdom.

The idea of accepting Jesus as Savior without accepting Him as Lord is simply absurd. It is a huge inconsistency to think that we can obtain forgiveness and eternal life by believing only that Jesus died for us, while refusing to acknowledge Him as our Lord and submit to Him, the One who holds all rights over us.

Jesus is Lord. He came not only to save you, but also to rule you. If you don’t acknowledge Him as Lord, then you don’t have Him at all. You can’t “cut” Jesus in two, choosing the part you like and rejecting the part you don’t. It’s impossible to take the part of Jesus called “Savior” and reject the part called “Lord.” When you receive Christ, you receive all of Him, not just a part of Him. And when He redeems you, He claims all of you, not just a part of you.

How could you accept Jesus as Savior and reject Him as Lord? The Bible doesn’t simply say, “Believe in Jesus and you will be saved.” It says, “Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved ” (Acts 16:31). And it adds that “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9).

You cannot separate salvation from the Lordship of Jesus. Expecting Jesus to redeem you with His blood without moving in and taking control of your life is like selling a house and expecting the new owner not to live in it.

When you receive Christ, you receive Him in His entirety. And when He redeems you, He claims you in His entirety.

III- Conclusion

Confessing Jesus as Lord: A Daily Commitment

If you desire salvation, it is essential to confess that Jesus is Lord and submit to His guidance and correction.

The moment the Holy Spirit enters your life and places the Lord Jesus on the throne of your heart, you are a transformed and saved person. You have the assurance of God’s forgiveness and belong to Him forever. In this sense, putting your faith in Jesus and confessing Him as Lord is a unique and definitive act.

However, in another sense, it is also a daily process. Once you have accepted His sovereignty over your life, there will still be many occasions throughout your existence when you will need to ask for forgiveness, renounce your own will, and submit to the demands of His lordship.

Can you say “Jesus is Lord” and really mean it?

Thank Jesus for all He has done to save you, regardless of your own efforts. Put your faith in the Lord Who holds all authority in heaven and on earth and Who claims you as His own. Rejoice that He has purchased you for Himself. Receive all that He is and give Him all that you are. Serve Him in every aspect of your life and love Him with your whole being, until you see Him face to face and your love for Him is perfected.


Let us pray: Oh God! I know that I have sinned against You and deserve punishment. But Jesus Christ took upon Himself the punishment I deserved, so that through my faith in Him, I might have access to forgiveness. I trust in You for my salvation. Thank You for Your wonderful grace and forgiveness, for the gift of eternal life.

In the name of Christ! Amen!