I thank Christ Jesus our Lord…
Summary: We don’t always know how dark it is until someone turns on the light.
With these six words, “I thank Christ Jesus our Lord,” Paul is about to launch into a self-portrait of his own shortcomings and the power of Christ to forgive and restore us to his kingdom.
It is a stark portrait. Renaissance painters called the technique chiaroscuro (key-are-uh-SKYOOR-oh). The contrast between light and dark is enhanced by the imbalance between the two. Most of the painting is shadow, so the light is startlingly bright by comparison.
Paul’s self-portrait is painted in the dark tones of moral failings. The Light, God’s grace and mercy given through Jesus Christ, shines brightly.
Why the dramatic tone?
Because Paul knows that anyone who feels the sting of conscience understands their sin (Romans 2:14-15). Most people, unless their hearts are completely calloused, are aware of the pain of their moral failings.
Paul begins by pointing us to the Light, Jesus Christ.
He knows, firsthand, the importance of the Light. At the same time, he points to another truth: Jesus is our Lord.
The word Paul uses is kýrios (Strong’s G2962*). It is a word that Strong’s Lexicon defines as “supreme in authority.” Like our Supreme Court, the title “Lord,” in this case, refers to the fact that there is no higher authority than Jesus.
Why is Jesus the highest authority?
Thayer’s Greek Lexicon provides another clue. Their definition includes the statement, “…he to whom a person or thing belongs.” Our Lord is also our owner.
Really?
God owns us?
Yes. Even non-believers are the property of the Lord (Psalm 24:1). For those of us who believe, who accept Jesus as Lord, you might say we are twice owned:
“You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
Jesus owned us before we sinned, and he bought us back with his crucifixion on the cross. So yes, we are twice owned.
Application: Honor Jesus Christ … our Lord.
Food for Thought: How does it feel knowing that the Supreme Authority of all that exists sacrificed himself so that you and I could live?
*”G2962 – kyrios – Strong’s Greek Lexicon (NIV).” Blue Letter Bible. Web. 3 Feb, 2026. <https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g2962/niv/mgnt/0-1/>.
Grateful. And now I should show that by living for Him.
2 Corinthians 5: 15: And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.
Galatians 2: 20: I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Well said, Rich! Thank you! 🙂
There are many feelings that come up when I meditate on the sacrifice of Jesus: praise, gratitude, sorrow, awe. They all point me in the same direction, which is hopeful. Not only did the Supreme Authority of all that exists humble Himself and give Himself freely for my sin, so that I could be reconciled to God in eternity, but through Him I can have victory over my own flesh. I am not abandoned, cast aside, or left to flounder in this life. I am not simply moving forward on a timeline towards eternity, I am being transformed into His likeness, and being moved closer into the presence of God.
Philippians 2:6-8
6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
Romans 5:8
8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Galatians 2:20
20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Amen! Great verses, Chris!
Thank you!
How does it feel knowing that the Supreme Authority of all that exists sacrificed himself so that you and I could live?
John 3:16, For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Colossians 1:17, He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together.
1 John 3:16, This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.
John 16:8, When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment.
God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit created mankind as perfect beings, with free will to live as we chose. Humankind, believing they could become like God, chose to live in contridiction to His will, which led to our being separated from Him.
It is humbling to know for a fact that God loved and continues to love all mankind enough to not only create us as living beings. But to allow all to continue living after we have chosen to knowingly, deliberately disobey His will and live according to our own.
God allowed, sent His Holy Spirit to convict all mankind of their sin, righteousness and judgement to come. His Son Jesus Christ to be the sacrifice for these sins, and the knowledge of eternal peace with God which comes as we individually repent, turn from sin and choose Life in His Son Jesus Christ.
Thank you, Ron!
Beautifully written!!