It’s obvious that we need Jesus to be our Savior to save us from the judgment our sins deserve, but we also need him to be our new master, since before Christ, all we do is obey Satan, the world and our sinful flesh. So is what you have made him in your life the same as what God has made him—Lord/Master?
Here’s how we know—Luke 6:46 “Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? 47 Everyone who comes to Me and hears My words and acts on them, I will show you whom he is like: 48 he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid a foundation on the rock; and when a flood occurred, the torrent burst against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. 49 But the one who has heard and has not acted accordingly, is like a man who built a house on the ground without any foundation; and the torrent burst against it and immediately it collapsed, and the ruin of that house was great.”
Having Christ as Lord is evidenced by not only hearing sermons or by reading the Bible, but by obeying his teachings, not as the means to be right with God, but as the fruit of already being right with God by faith in the finished work of Christ.
On the contrary, we sometimes develop thinking like this: “I know what God’s word says about this issue, but I’ve got this circumstance that exempts me from obeying him in that area.” This exemption is often in the areas of loving others or forgiving others or pouring yourself out to meet the needs of others in the body. For instance, what do you do with that condemning or jealous thought towards someone? How about a selfish action or an angry tone?
Do you bring those sins under the lordship of Christ as crimes against the King OR do you allow these offenses to remain?
If there are blatant, long-term areas of stubbornness, then he’s not Lord of your life no matter what comes out of your mouth. Accordingly, both the books of 2nd Peter and Jude teach that someone can deny the lordship of Christ simply by living contrary to his commands.
Jesus also taught that talk is cheap and worthless in and of itself. Consider Matt. 7:21“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. 22 Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’
Again, God has made him Lord—Have you?