I was recently given an opportunity to reply to a list of questions asked of a group of pastors. I want to share a few of these this week and I hope these questions and my answers provoke thought and further study of the Word of God.
Here is today's Q & A:
Can a person have Christ as his Savior without submitting to Him as Lord?
No. Jesus is Lord. We do not make Him Lord. He is Lord. And the gospel is an invitation and a command that begins with the word, “Repent”. This was the first message Jesus preached (Mark 1:14-15) and the first John the Baptist (Luke 3:7-8) preached. Peter preached repentance at Pentecost (Acts 2:38). Paul preached repentance (2 Cor 7:10). And in fact, Jesus’ last words to the Church include the necessity of repentance! (see Rev. 2:5, 16; 3:3, 19). So our response in obeying the gospel command to repent and believe starts with our turning from sin and to Christ in faith. Without conviction and repentance there is no conversion. And without obedience and fruit there is no salvation. Jesus says that we know the truth about a man by the fruit we see in his life (Matt 7:20), and the fruit we look for is the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22-23). Jesus makes this all clear when He asks, “Why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46)
Note: This does not mean that our works or fruit save us, but only illustrates the point that saving faith is faith that works.
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