Can Jesus Be Your Savior If He Is Not Your Lord?
Introduction
This theological question is important. It strikes at the heart of how we proclaim the Gospel:
- do we present Jesus to unbelievers as Lord, or as Savior only?
- what are the essential truths of the Gospel message?
- how can a person know his or her faith is real?
- what are the demands of the Gospel, or are there any?
- what kind of transformation is accomplished in the new birth?
- how do we explain sin in the Christian’s life?
- how far in sinning can a Christian go?
- what relationship is there between faith and obedience?
- can a person be saved, and yet not put into practice Jesus’s teachings?
This is particularly important since most television evangelism preaches an easy gospel–a message of “simple-faith gospel that requires no repentance, no surrender, no commitment, no changed life.” This “no-lordship” theology teaches people to “accept Jesus as Savior” now, but “make Him Lord” later, if you want. Just be sure you have your eternal “fire insurance.”
No-Lordship Theology
A. Believing facts about Jesus without a personal commitment to His Lordship is not salvation.
B. Sanctification
- Repentance is not essential to salvation. Repentance is only changing your mind about Christ. No turning from sin is required.
- Spiritual fruit is not guaranteed in the Christian life. Some Christians spend their lives in a barren wasteland of defeat, confusion, and every kind of evil.
C. Submission to Lordship is not a condition for salvation.
Lordship Theology
A. Salvation is by faith, accompanied by repentance, Acts 3:19; 26:20
B. Salvation produces a changed life, 2 Corinthians 5:17-18
C. Obedience and changed behavior are important tests of faith, 1 John 2:3-4.
D. Returning to a life of sin means one is not saved, 1 John 3:9-10 and 1 Corinthians 1:8
E. Sanctification is a necessary outgrowth of justification, John 15:16.
If Jesus Is Not Lord, He Is Not Your Savior
Faith that remains idle is no better than the faith the demons display, James 2:19. Faith works are a consequence of faith, not a component of faith.