What does it mean that no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit?

In 1 Corinthians 12:3, the apostle Paul writes, “No one can say ‘Jesus is Lord’ except in the Holy Spirit” (ESV). Of course, anyone can vocalize the words Jesus is Lord, with or without the Holy Spirit’s help. But Paul is speaking about something else entirely. What’s in view here is a genuine confession that flows from a regenerated heart. Such a confession of the lordship of Christ demonstrates the Spirit’s work in a person’s life.

The Corinthian church had become preoccupied with specific spiritual gifts, such as speaking in tongues and prophecy, so Paul reorients their focus to what truly matters. He writes, “Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed” (1 Corinthians 12:1, ESV). He then contrasts their former lives as idol worshipers (verse 2) with their current standing in Christ.

In this context, Paul writes, “I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says, ‘Jesus is accursed!’ and no one can say ‘Jesus is Lord’ except in the Holy Spirit” (1 Corinthians 12:3, ESV). With these words, Paul draws a line between authentic and inauthentic faith. A genuine faith will always glorify Jesus as Lord, but an inauthentic faith can only give lip service to the truth. The Spirit enables a sincere confession of Jesus as Lord.

Romans 10:9 states, “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (ESV). Verbal confession alone is insufficient. We must also believe in our hearts that Christ rose from the dead. In doing so, we will be saved, for salvation comes by faith. This is a promise.

Paul’s point in 1 Corinthians 12:3 is not that people are physically incapable of saying, “Jesus is Lord,” but that a saving confession is impossible without the Spirit’s enablement.

Sincerely confessing Jesus as Lord is evidence of a transformed heart. The Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 16:8) and opens our eyes to God’s glory in Christ. After Peter confessed Jesus as Lord, Jesus said, “Flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 16:17, ESV). Spiritual insight is God-given.

In 1 Corinthians 2:14, Paul writes, “The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him” (ESV). Jesus’ lordship is veiled to those who do not have the Spirit. But when Spirit regenerates a heart in conjunction with saving faith, Jesus’ lordship is proclaimed.

Romans 8:15–16 describes the Spirit’s work in making us God’s children: “You have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’ The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God” (ESV). The Spirit not only makes us God’s children; He also assures us of salvation.

The apostle John writes, “Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God . . . and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God” (1 John 4:2–3, ESV). As in 1 Corinthians 12:3, the Spirit prompts a proper confession of Christ. The Spirit’s role is to glorify Christ, as Jesus predicted: “He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you” (ESV). The Spirit’s work is always Christ-centered.

Every believer owes his or her confession of faith to the Spirit’s work. The Spirit opens our hearts, renews our minds, and anchors our souls in the fact that Jesus is Lord. This confession is greater than any spiritual gift. It is what truly matters.