Jesus As Savior And Lord

Jesus AsSAVIORAndLORD

Peter began his second letter this way: “Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Savior Jesus Christ: Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord” (2 Pet. 1:1-2 KJV ). With this statement he acknowledged our like precious faith through “our Savior Jesus Christ,” but then continued with, “grace and peace be multiplied ... through ... Jesus our Lord.” Which relationship do we emphasize concerning Him?

The word “Savior” appears at least 24 times in the New Testament, while “Lord” is mentioned over 700 times; simple numbers tell us of the emphasis on “Lord.” And so it should be if “grace and peace” are “multiplied” through His lordship. Salvation is not the only topic of the Scriptures. It is crucial, and 100% necessary – but once saved do we progress to the meatier elements of our relationship with Him as Lord? If we are to live in grace and peace, we must go on from the first principles of our salvation toward maturity in submission to His lordship. Otherwise we may be occupied with self rather than with Him.

Principles Of Salvation
“Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment” (Heb. 6:1-2). Once the foundation is laid concerning salvation, there is no need to continue laying again that foundation in one’s life. The next step is to build on that foundation. The foundation is there; it stands strong by itself and holds the rest of the structure. Let’s look at the stones of the foundation: “repentance,” “faith,” “baptisms,” “laying on of hands,” “resurrection” and “judgment.”

Repentance: This is a change of course due to a change of mind. The repentance necessary for salvation is to turn from unbelief – or from faith in our own works for salvation – toward faith in God and Christ’s sacrifice on the cross on our behalf. “Without faith it is impossible to please Him” (Heb. 11:6).

Faith: What is it that we are to believe? “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Cor. 15:3-4). Salvation is always based on the work of Christ, not our own dead works.

Baptisms: After faith comes our acknowledgment of His work in us, or baptisms – not just being baptized, although that is part of it. The idea is of willingly being identified with Him who said before His crucifixion, “I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I constrained till it be accomplished!” (Lk. 12:50). He also asked, “Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” (Mt. 20:22). Are we willing to go outside the gates of religious respectability to come unto Jesus alone? That’s one of the building blocks of the salvation foundation. Just as Jesus suffered outside the gate of Jerusalem, so we should go to Him outside any religious pretension.

As part of this, we should obey Him by submitting to water baptism, which is a picture of being buried and raised again together with Christ. Along with this, we should confess that He is now Master of our life, just as Romans 10:9 says: “ If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” In some countries the cost of this confession may not seem great, but in others it may mean persecution, prison, or even death. We pray that every reader will find this cost worthwhile, for Jesus said, “What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” (Mk. 8:36).

Laying On Of Hands: The laying on of hands speaks of sacrifice and honor, as illustrated in two Old Testament passages, each complimented by a New Testament verse. The first, Numbers 8:10 says: “Thou shalt bring the Levites before the Lord: and the children of Israel shall put their hands upon the Levites: and Aaron shall offer the Levites before the Lord for an offering of the children of Israel, that they may execute the service of the Lord.” And Romans 12:1 adds: “I beseech you therefore, brethren ... that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice.” The second, Numbers 27:18-20 says: “And the Lord said unto Moses, ‘Take thee Joshua ... a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay thine hand upon him ... and thou shalt put some of thine honor upon him.’” Remember that in Acts 4:13 the Sanhedrin took note of “the unlearned and ignorant men ... that they had been with Jesus.” The world takes note of Christians who make sacrifices for their Savior.

Resurrection And Judgment: Concerning resurrection and judgment, Jesus has become our Savior to deliver us from eternal judgment against our sin, and to give us a promise of being raised from the dead, incorruptible and undefiled.

Principles Of Lordship
The word “lordship,” used twice in the New Testament, is translated from two Greek words. One is in Luke 22:25, and it is a respectful title that means “to rule, to have dominion” for the benefit of those ruled. The other is in Mark 10:42 and it means “to lord against, to take control forcibly.” The Lord Jesus ultimately fulfills both aspects, depending upon our willingness to submit to Him. He is the ultimate benefactor who will rule over us for our benefit. Our responsibility is to obey His word.

Is it possible for Jesus to be our Savior and not our Lord? He Himself said, “Why call ye Me Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” (Lk. 6:46). He also said, “Ye call Me Master and Lord, and ye say well, for so I am” (Jn. 13:13).

Again and again we hear Jesus called “Lord.” Not once was He addressed as Savior. Lepers seeking cleansing, blind men seeking sight, the centurion seeking healing for his servant, parents whose children were possessed by demons, the woman taken in adultery, the man born blind, as well as Jesus’ disciples – all called Him “Lord,” and He demonstrated His dominion over their problems.

When Saul was resisting the testimony of the witnesses he had jailed or put to death, Jesus forcibly took control and met him on the road to Damascus. He responded, “Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?” (Acts 9:6). Early in Acts we see the results of Ananias and his wife Sapphira lying to the Holy Spirit: the Lord forcibly took control and removed them from this scene (Acts 5:1-11). This is the ultimate result of disobedience! How much easier it is to obey His command and comply with His wishes than to deceive or resist. He always has our best interest in mind. He is so willing to do abundantly above all that we ask or think. Shall we not do our best for Him?

Those who refuse to submit to Him for salvation will, nevertheless, eventually “bow the knee” at His name and then be cast out from His presence. “I, even I, am the Lord; and beside Me there is no savior” (Isa. 43:11). “Look unto Me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. I have sworn by Myself, the word is gone out of My mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, that unto Me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear” (Isa. 45:22-23).

It is true that we have a choice whether to look unto Him and be saved or not; but we all will bow the knee and confess that He is Lord. This is repeated in Philippians 2:10-11: “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.” The confession is that He is Lord.

As we submit to His Lordship now and learn of Him, the sweetness of our salvation gives place to His sweetness, and His beauty, and His perfection, and His grace, and His peace, and His mercy, and ... and ...

By Tom Steere