(Romans 10:9) If you declare with your mouth that “Jesus is Lord” you will be saved!

In this verse, the apostle Paul tells us that our salvation depends on our declaration that “Jesus is Lord.” It is this heart-centered declaration of belief in “Jesus as Lord” that is central to our personal deliverance.

Our salvation does not occur simply by reciting the words, but it occurs when we fully surrender, and align our lives under the kingdom (dynamic rule) of Jesus.

So, what does it mean that “Jesus is Lord”? Modern Christianity, unfortunately, has often shrunk the rule of Jesus to our private sphere of existence. For example, we say, “he is the Lord of our hearts.” Of course this is true, but the Lordship of Jesus is so, so, so much more.

When we declare that “Jesus is Lord,” we are proclaiming his rulership over ALL OF REALITY—private and public, personal and universal. He is the active Lord over the entire universe, not just over our personal lives. There is not one piece of sand or blade of grass that is not under his government. Jesus is Lord of all of God’s creation, nothing and no-one is autonomous outside his authority. Jesus is Lord of your family, neighbors, animals, businesses, past, and your future.

As Philippians 2:10-11 tells us, one day, every knee will bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue will declare that Jesus Christ is Lord. When we declare that “Jesus is Lord,” we are worshiping his eternal exaltation.

Our Christian lives remain dull and restricted when we attempt to keep Jesus in our private little religious boxes. Jesus cannot be contained and controlled!

Never forget, Jesus is the one who holds everything together. For unrestrained Spirit-empowered Christian living, we all must expand our vision of the reign of Jesus. We need to symbolically let him out of our little restrictive religious boxes.

Let’s all go outside, look up into the heavens, lift up our hands, and declare over and over again, “Jesus, you are the Lord!”

Now, this is what it means to be saved.