Submission to the Lordship of Jesus Christ

In this three message sermon set; I’m endeavouring to explain what it means to have saving faith or abiding faith. Last week; we explained that repentance was turning from sin towards God as the first essential component to saving faith. This week; I will elaborate the second necessary component to salvation: submission to the lordship of Jesus Christ. Next week; I will teach the final component to saving faith; faith in the power of Jesus Christ to save.

Firstly; in acknowledging the doctrine of Lordship salvation; we affirm a correct, understanding of the Biblical Jesus Christ, and not a false idol of our own imagination.  To begin with; the primary title given to Jesus Christ used 700 times in the New Testament is Lord which is from the Greek “Kyrios” which means God, lord, or master. The world of Jesus’ day condoned slavery and slave ownership was a normal relationship between a ruling “Kyrios” and their obedient servant or “Doulos” in ancient Greek. The early church would have fully understood what it means to call someone Lord. In defending a position for salvation that does not demand surrender to the Lordship of Jesus Christ; I find this point un-reconcilable.

Secondly; Acknowledging Jesus Christ as Lord is formally taught in the New Testament as a prerequisite to saving faith.  The early church understood this as fact. It would have been absurd to call Jesus Christ your God and Saviour and ignore his Lordship over you; to teach otherwise cancels what the apostles and church believed and taught since its conception.

Romans 10:9 

 ⁹ that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

Thirdly; The Bible teaches that Christians belong to Jesus Christ because they have been purchased by Him. The idea stems from the fact that we are Jesus’ blood bought possessions and that we are now subservient to his ownership.

1 Corinthians 6:20 

²⁰ For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body ^[a]and in your spirit, which are God’s.

Fourthly and most compelling; Jesus Christ personally taught that we must obey Him and his word if we desired to live.  Jesus taught that his true disciples would abide in His word. That means they must continue in his teachings.

³¹ Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.

Jesus was also very critical of hypocrites and liars. Jesus’ harshest words were for those who professed outward religion but whose hearts were not yielded to His lordship.

Luke 6:46 

⁴⁶ “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?

I will now endeavour to answer some possible objections one might have to this essential; yet stern, seemingly restrictive teaching:

One might argue that Lordship salvation is an entirely different gospel of works and not of grace. Dear Friend; obeying Jesus Christ is your primary duty as a Christian and to do otherwise is to deny the very one who bled and died for you in order that you may live! I certainly do not condone man-made ritualism or works salvation as is taught in Roman Catholicism or other such false religious systems. I simply echo that which is already etched in scripture from Jesus Christ personally. (John 14:15 reads) If you love Me, keep my commandments.

Secondly: I hear another brother or sister objecting:

 Does he mean to confiscate my personal liberties? Am I to quit from any devotion that is apart from the will of Jesus Christ?

Does the Bible not teach that in Jesus Christ you will be completely free from the enslaving power of sin? Romans 6:22 says:

²² But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit ^[a]to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.

Therefore; continue in righteousness and see to it that whatever liberty you choose to partake in does not lead you back into sin!

Thirdly: An ignorant person will say;

 I’ve been a Christian for many years and I’ve not fully digested this truth and now I’m not sure if I’m even saved!”

Well to you I would say: take time to digest this truth! Perhaps you’ve adhered subconsciously already without giving it much thought or perhaps your ignorance has prevented you from coming to saving faith in the true person of Jesus Christ who is lord over all! Confess Jesus Christ as your Lord today! Jesus promises He will in no way cast any out who come to him humbly.  

Romans 10:13 says:

¹³ For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

A fourth deceived person might say:

“I belong to such and such a church and I have good standing in my personal life, my community and my business practises are of the highest integrity and have no need to confess Jesus Christ as my Lord.”

 Poor wretched soul! Isaiah condemns your self-righteousness and declares in Isaiah 64:6:

⁶ But we are all like an unclean thing,
And all our righteousnesses are like ^[a]filthy rags;

Agree with God that you are a sinner in desperate need of saving lest you should perish with the hypocrites and unbelievers!

Romans 6:23 says:

²³ For the wages of sin is death, but the ^[a]gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Next, the idolater will object:
“My affections and passions already belong to this idol and that idol and I could never betray my devotion to my false gods.”

Dearest lost person; your idols are impotent and unable to deliver you in the day of your death!

Mark 8:36 reads:

³⁶ For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?

Therefore; give up your worthless idol and take hold of the one who bears up the entire universe by His power and might! Turn from that which is unable to see, hear, taste, smell or touch and turn to the one who created your very being and holds your life’s breath in the palm of His hand.

The Gnostic may yet object:

How am I to know this Jesus Christ which you proclaim is the one true lord? There are many professed lords and how can I be certain of your claims? What if you are mistaken in you bold assertions?

Dearest skeptic: Your lack of evidence will not protect in the day of wrath!

Romans 1:20 reads:

²⁰ For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and ^[a]Godhead, so that they are without excuse,

Therefore; look into this matter more closely! Pay attention to the Holy Scriptures that were translated for your personal enquiry. Do not leave your eternal destiny to chance and discover the truth about Jesus Christ and your eternal future. The Father may yet draw you to His son the Lord Jesus Christ and bring you to salvation.

I’ve endeavoured to explain, defend, and persuade from the Holy Scriptures why we must hold to the confession that Jesus Christ is lord and that there is no room for avoidance of the doctrine of Lordship salvation. 2 Corinthians 6:2 reads

² For He says:                                                                                                         

“In an acceptable time I have heard you,
And in the day of salvation I have helped you.”

Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

If you have not yet confessed Jesus Christ as your lord; repent (turn away) and confess the lord Jesus Christ to forgive you of your sin. He died for you on the cross to pay your sin debt and rose again the third day!