The following "Question" was asked by a member of the congregation at Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California, and "Answered" by their pastor, John MacArthur Jr. It was transcribed from the tape, GC 1300, titled "Bible Questions and Answers."  A copy of the tape can be obtained by writing, Word of Grace, P.O. Box 4000, Panorama City, CA 91412 or by dialing toll free 1-800-55-GRACE.

Question

Is salvation based on accepting Christ as Savior and Lord or does He become Lord later?

Answer

Very often you hear testimonies and somebody will say, “Well, a long time ago I accepted Christ as Savior, but only recently have I made him Lord of my life.” Have you ever heard that? That’s very common. Or, “I received Christ, I believed in him, but He never was Lord until just recently.”

Well, let me show you what the Scripture says about that. Turn in your Bible, first of all, to Romans 10:9. It says this (and you know the scripture, but I want to point something out): “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth, ‘Jesus as’”-what? “‘Lord,’ and shall believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” Isn’t that interesting? “If thou shalt confess with thy mouth, ‘Jesus as’”-what? “‘Lord.’”

Listen, friends. You don’t make Jesus Lord; He is Lord! That’s who He is! If you receive Jesus at all, you receive him for who He is.

Let me show you another scripture--Philippians 2:9. This is really a simple question… It’s easy to answer. “Wherefore God has highly exalted him and given him a name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow--things in heaven, on earth, and under the earth”--now, watch--“and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is,” what? "Lord!" That’s who He is!

For somebody to say, “I received him as Savior, but just recently I made him Lord,” you didn’t make him Lord at all! He already is Lord! So when you receive him, you receive him as Lord. Salvation is confessing Jesus as Lord of my life!

You say, “But there was a difference in my life. I mean, there was difference between when I received him and just recently.” You know what the difference was? You finally woke up that you ought to obey him. It isn’t a question of who’s Lord; it’s a question of obedience. Right?

He is Lord… He is Lord. There’s no question about that. So, don’t say that “I made Him Lord of my life.” You’re not in the coronation business! God has anointed Him, right? King and Messiah and Lord! You can’t do that. You can’t say, “I just made God Lord.” He is Lord and you just finally woke up to being obedient.

Added to Bible Bulletin Board's "MacArthur’s Questions and Answers" by:

Tony Capoccia
Bible Bulletin Board
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