And in Jesus Christ, His Only Son, Our Lord

 

September 24, 2025

John 1:1–14 

“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

Colossians 1:15–17 

“The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created…”


Philippians 2:9–11 

“Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow…”

Next we see that the Creed moves from God the Father to God the Son: “And in Jesus Christ, His Only Son, Our Lord.” With these words we confess key truths about the Son:

The name Jesus means “The LORD saves.” While it was a common Jewish name, for Him it holds profound eternal significance. His mission is revealed in His very name: He came to save humanity. When we say “Jesus,” we are not referring to a concept, myth, or distant figure, but to a real historical person who lived, taught, healed, suffered, died, and rose again.

Second, we have “Christ”,  this is not Jesus’ last name, it’s a title. It means Anointed One, the Messiah promised throughout the Old Testament. In Him, all of God’s promises are fulfilled (2 Corinthians 1:20). Confessing Jesus as Christ affirms that He is the One who ushers in God’s kingdom, rescues and redeems humanity, and reigns as God’s chosen King.

Third, His Only Son highlights Jesus as being uniquely God's Son. While it is true that Scripture calls us all children of God by "adoption", Jesus is the Son by nature, sharing the same essence as the Father, being fully God and fully human. In Jesus, God is not distant but has come near. We do not worship a far-off deity but the God who lived among us.

Lastly, we encounter the title Our Lord.  This title is perhaps the most countercultural claim in the Creed. In the first century, it was common for Romans to declare, “Caesar is Lord.” Yet Jesus followers, Christians, often even at the risk of their lives, declared boldly, “No — Jesus is Lord.” Now, to call Jesus Lord means He is the one with ultimate authority over our lives. It means surrender, allegiance, and trust. So you can see how this declaration would "rub" Caesar the wrong way.

Isn't it profound how this short phrase in the Creed gathers the mystery of Christmas, the wonder of Easter, and the hope of His return? This points us to the reality that our faith is not centered on ourselves but on Jesus Christ, the Son of God, our Lord.

When Polycarp, an early Christian bishop, was put on trial in the year 155, Roman officials ordered him to swear loyalty to Caesar and deny Christ. Polycarp responded, “For eighty-six years I have served Him, and He has done me no wrong. How can I blaspheme my King and my Savior?”

You see, Polycarp’s words echo the Creed: “Jesus Christ, His Only Son, Our Lord.” Polycarp didn’t rely on political powers or earthly rulers but on the One with eternal authority. I suggest to you today, that this belief continues to guide Jesus followers today with the confident declaration He is Lord!

I wonder, in what areas of your life is it hardest to say, “Jesus is Lord”? What might surrender look like in those places?

Let's Pray

Jesus,
You are the Son of the living God. Forgive me when I want to cling too much to personal control of things. Teach me to trust You fully, to bow to Your authority, and to live in the joy of Your kingdom. Amen.