“The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” — John 1:14 (BSB)
“If you confess 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 (BSB)
“And every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” — Philippians 2:11 (BSB)
“The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His nature, upholding all things by His powerful word.” — Hebrews 1:3 (BSB)
This confession sets Christianity apart. To say “His only Son” is to affirm the unique divine sonship of Jesus. While believers are adopted as children of God, Jesus is the Son by nature, not adoption. As Hebrews 1:3 declares, He is “the exact representation” of the Father’s being. Conservative Anglican theologian Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali explains, “To say that Jesus is God’s only Son is to affirm His divinity and uniqueness. No other shares His status, nor His saving role.”
By calling Him “our Lord,” we submit to His divine authority. The Greek word Kyrios used in the New Testament to call Jesus “Lord” is the same title used in the Greek Old Testament (Septuagint) for Yahweh. Thus, to say “Jesus is Lord” is to worship Him as God. Richard Hooker, a foundational figure in Anglican theology, wrote: “Christ is our only sovereign and head, the Alpha and Omega of our salvation. He is both our peace and our ruler.” In the Creeds and in worship, we affirm that Christ is not only Savior but also King.
John Stott, a leading evangelical Anglican of the 20th century, wrote: “To call Jesus ‘Lord’ is to acknowledge His complete authority over every part of our lives. It is not a title of convenience but of costly allegiance.” In Anglican liturgy, this allegiance is woven into our very prayers and confessions: “Through Jesus Christ our Lord…”—a constant reminder that He is not merely an idea or figure of history but the reigning Lord of heaven and earth.
To say, “Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord,” is to place our faith in the one who is fully God and fully man, sent by the Father, crucified for our sins, risen in glory, and reigning forever. It is a confession of personal trust, covenant loyalty, and living hope. As we say these words in the Creed, we join the apostles, the martyrs, and the entire Church in declaring the unchanging Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Irenaeus emphasized the full divinity and humanity of Jesus as the foundation of salvation.
Tertullian (c. 155–220 AD) affirmed: “Jesus Christ is the Son of God who existed before all things and through whom all things were made. He is our Lord, because He has bought us with His blood.” — Against Praxeas, 15
Tertullian identified Jesus as both divine Creator and Redeemer, worthy of our worship and obedience.
St. Athanasius (c. 296–373 AD) declared: “The Son is not made, but begotten. He is co-eternal with the Father, and through Him the Father is known. He is our Lord because He is our God.” — On the Incarnation, 2
Athanasius defended the eternal divinity of the Son and the necessity of His lordship.
St. Cyril of Jerusalem (c. 313–386 AD) taught: “We say ‘Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord’ because we believe He is of the same essence as the Father, truly God, who became man for us and for our salvation.” — Catechetical Lectures, 10.1
Cyril connected the confession of Jesus’ divinity and lordship directly to salvation.
St. Augustine of Hippo (354–430 AD) wrote: “If He were not Lord, He could not redeem; if He were not Son, He would not reveal; if He were not Christ, He would not be the anointed Savior.” — On the Creed, 3
Augustine emphasized how each title—Jesus, Christ, Son, Lord—expresses a vital aspect of who Jesus is.
An Anglican Catechism (Expanded) offers over 350+ Scripture-based answers to the core truths of the Christian faith. Each entry includes biblical texts, theological insight, and reflections from historic and contemporary Anglican voices. Rooted in the classical tradition, it is designed for teaching, discipleship, and spiritual formation.
An Ancient Worship Movement invites readers into the rich, historic worship of the early Church rediscovered through the Anglican tradition. This book calls believers into a deeper, Spirit-filled encounter with Christ through timeless practices.
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