Mentoring Manna:  “Lord, Lord!”

© 2003 Pastor Keith Hassell

MM00077

Matthew 7:21  “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.”  These words of Jesus stand in stark contrast to the generally held view of salvation today.  Although the Bible teaches that salvation comes through grace by faith and not by works[1], many believe that salvation means the freedom to live a life in sin without consequence.  Many have turned the grace of God into a license for sin.  In addressing this issue, Paul warned, “Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?  Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?”[2] Obviously, a genuine faith in Christ is validated by a genuine obedience to Christ.

Jesus warned us not to find hope in a false salvation by trusting in our confession alone.  Some profess Christ out of a fear of hell and its consequences.  Some profess Christ during a time of pain and crisis.  Others profess Christ because it is the popular.  Some profess Christ because it is expected.  But the saving profession is that which professes Christ not only as Savior but as Lord.  It is not in our profession alone that we are saved; it is in our complete surrender and submission to Him.  It is not in our declaration alone that we are saved; it is in our identification with Christ in life.  Salvation is where our life ends and His life begins in us.  Jesus said, “Whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.”[3]

Sadly, many have accepted a damning counterfeit salvation that ignores the need for repentance from sin and that eliminates the issue of Christ’s lordship in their life.  Jesus made it clear that it is not him who makes the profession of “Lord, Lord,” who will enter the kingdom of heaven, but it is he who does the will of the Father in heaven.  The profession of “Lord, Lord” is empty without submission to His lordship.  Jesus said, “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do the things which I say?”[4]

The title of “Lord” means, “supreme authority.” True lordship is reflected in the life of a person who submits to Christ as the “supreme authority” in their life.  Tragically, this is not what we see in the lives of many “Christians” today. Rather, we see a watered down concept of lordship that is nothing more than lip service.  Some who profess Christ do whatever they want regardless of what God wants. Others profess Christ at the bargaining table. They want God to give them what they want first before they will submit to His will here on this earth.  Still others submit to God believing that He will then give them what they want.  None of these concepts reflect the true nature of lordship. Although God does reward obedience, those who have genuinely submitted to Christ’s lordship are those who do His will unconditionally, regardless of whether He gives them what they want. They cannot conceive of Christ’s lordship in their lives any other way. To them, Jesus is Lord---period!

Application:  Where do you stand on the issue of Christ’s lordship in your life?  Is it a profession or is it a reality in your life?  Do you still consider your life your own or does it belong to Jesus?  Are you the supreme authority in your life or have you given that to Christ?  Are the choices you make based on what you want or on what God wants?  Are your possessions your own, or do they belong to Christ?  Who determines what is right and wrong in your life, your standards in the movies and programs you watch, the standards for how you dress, the career you will pursue, the place you will live, and who you will marry?  These issues all fall under the authority of lordship.  Those who have made Christ their Savior and Lord have given Him this authority in their life.  They do not hold out any area of their life as their own.  They live with the understanding that if Christ is not lord of all, then He is not lord at all.  They not only call Him “Lord, Lord,” but they also do the will of the Father in heaven.

Prayer:  “Heavenly Father, I ask your forgiveness if my life has been inconsistent with my profession of Christ’s lordship.  I not only receive You as Savior but I make you the Lord of my life. Give me the grace and the strength to die to myself daily so that I might live to do Your will in every situation.  I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

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[1] Ephesians 2:8-9

[2] Romans 6:1-2 NKJV

[3] Matthew 16:25 NKJV

[4] Luke 6:46 NKJV