LORDSHIP SALVATION

Throughout my forty-five years as a born again believer in Jesus Christ, I have heard, and unfortunately have repeated, that when people get saved, they recognize Jesus as their Savior, but as they grow in Him, they come to realize that He is worthy to be Lord of their lives.  I was wrong!  Let me illustrate from God's Word:  the words Lord Jesus appear 117 times in the New Testament!  Here are a few examples of Jesus being identified as Lord by the early Church:

*  Luke 23:42 - "And he [the thief on the cross] said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when Thou comest into Thy kingdom."
*  John 13:13 - "Ye call Me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am."
*  John 20:28 - "And Thomas answered and said unto Him, My Lord and my God."
*  Acts 4:33 - "And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all."
*  Acts 7:59-60 - "And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.  And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep."
*  Acts 9:29 - "And he [the apostle Paul] spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him."
*  Acts 15:11 - "But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they."
*  Acts 16:31 - "And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house."
*  Acts 19:4-5 - "Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on Him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.  When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus."
*  Acts 20:21 - "Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ."
*  Acts 21:13 - "Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart?  For I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus."
*  Acts 28:31 - "Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him."

Yes, the Gospels and the Book of Acts, foundational to understanding Who Jesus Christ is, clearly present Him as God (John 1:1, 14), as Lord and Master (John 13:13), and as the resurrected Son of God (Matthew 14:33; 28:6; Mark 1:1; 16:6; Luke 1:35; 24:6; John 1:34; 20:16; Acts 2:21-24; 4:33)!  So my question is, if Jesus is not being proclaimed as Lord, is the true Gospel being preached?  My contention is, if Jesus is not your Lord, you have not truly accepted the Jesus of the Bible!  The Apostle Peter calls Him first Lord, and then Savior (2 Peter 1:11; 2:20; 3:2, 18)! 

If the Gospel message has the power to save (Romans 1:16), and the Gospel message presents Jesus as Lord (1 Corinthians 15:58-59) to those who believe He died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried and His Father raise Him from the dead, according to the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:3-4), how can a person be saved without acknowledging Jesus is Lord?  He cannot!