THE LORD JESUS CHRIST

Christians have become so focused upon the fact that "salvation is not of works, but by grace through faith," (Eph. 2:8-9) that some of us forget that God's grace calls us to surrender to the Lordship of Christ!  Salvation involves two factors:  Remission - Christ paid the penalty for my sins; and Repentance - my acknowledgement of my need for His salvation, and that I am being called to follow Him as my Shepherd, my Lord (Lk. 24:47)!  As a result, millions of people have believed that they are Christians because they believe the Gospel.  They believe that Jesus died for their sins, that He was buried, and that He rose from the dead according to the Scriptures (1 Cor. 15:3-4), but they fail to comprehend that Jesus' death made Him Savior, but He was raised to be LORD.  Philippians 2:5-11 says:

"Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:  Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:  but made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:  and being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.  Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name:  that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is LORD, to the glory of God the Father."

You see, man needs salvation because we disobey God.  When true salvation occurs, one is indwelt by the Holy Spirit, and He leads us to obey our Lord (Jn. 14:17; 16:13)!  Yes, true salvation results in a desire to obey Jesus Christ as our Lord!  Here are a few verses written to believers:

*   Acts 5:29-32 - "Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.  The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, Whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.  Him hath God exalted with His right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.  And we are His witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, Whom God hath given to them that obey Him."
*   2 Thessalonians 1:7-8 - "...the LORD Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them...that obey not the Gospel of our LORD Jesus Christ."
*   2 Thessalonians 3:14 - "And if any man obey not our Word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed."
*   Hebrews 1:9 - "And being made perfect, He became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him."

When a person believes the Gospel, he finds not problem in understanding the words of Jesus:

 



"Ye call Me MASTER and LORD: and ye say well; for I AM" (Jn. 13:13).