We Serve A Living Savior

Brethren, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation. For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge. For not knowing about God’s righteousness and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. For Moses writes that the man who practices the righteousness which is based on law shall live by that righteousness. But the righteousness based on faith speaks as follows: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ (that is, to bring Christ down), or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).” But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”—that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; for “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

In his autobiography, Col. Harland Sanders of Kentucky Fried Chicken fame, said that he was always a God-fearing man. In every venture he was involved in he said he gave God a tenth of the profits.

Yet, he said, he knew that when he died, God probably wouldn’t take him to heaven.

He was so worried about that that he travelled to Australia to a special church convention to try to find the answer to his uncertainty that God would not have him in heaven.

The result of that trip, for that purpose, was wasted. He did not find the answer. It is obvious to us, I think, as to why he didn’t find the answer. He was looking in the wrong place for his answer.

But, one day, the Colonel was walking down the street in Louisville, Kentucky, when a man named Waymon Rodgers, who was the preacher at the Evangel Tabernacle, invited him to attend the evangelistic services being held there.

Several days later, he went to the service. He said, at the age of 79, he – in his words – “claimed the promises of Romans 10:9.

He said later, “When I walked out of that church that night, I knew I was a different man. All my tithing and good deeds had never given me the sense of God’s presence that I knew then.”

Now, to multitudes of people – who consider themselves to be Christians – that story is filled with heartwarming sentimental feelings and hope.

But there is something missing in the story. Romans 10:9 says in the NASB version:

“…that if you confess with your mouth Jesus Christ as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved…”

Two very distinctly important statements stand out before me as I read that one verse.

It has historically been used to prove that in order to be saved, we must confess Jesus with our mouths. And that is true, but not complete.

It says so much more to us as we examine it more closely.

The verse says our confession is, “Jesus is Lord.” And it really says more than our confession that we believe that Jesus is the Son of the Living God.

Now, I don’t often take the Living Bible as a valid translation of the Holy Bible – simply because it is not that.

But, the way the author of the Living Bible – who, by the way, is not the author of the Holy Bible – writes his commentary on this verse is actually powerful, plain, and truthful.

He says it this way: “…..if you tell others with your own mouth that Jesus Christ is your Lord…..”

That statement does make it personal!

That brings it down to my level!

I know that the confession is not just a general – generic – statement.

It is not a blanket statement, but one that I have to make – individually – because I believe in, Jesus as Lord, and I want Him to be MY Lord.

Now, we need to examine a couple of words in this verse before we go further.

The first of these words is “confess”.

“Confess” , as it is used in Romans 10:9 is from the Greek word: “homologes” which literally means to speak the same thing; to assent together; to be in one accord, to agree with.

In particular, it means, “to declare openly by way of speaking out freely, such confession being the effect of deep conviction of the facts found in Scripture.”

So, if we are convinced and convicted that Jesus is our own Lord, then, and only then, can we confess that fact.

It is then that we can agree, speaking the same thing with Him.

We need to examine the word “confess”, for further insight and understanding. The word translated as “confess” in our English Bible also reveals, as in Matthew 10:32, that there is also involved the significance of the public confession.

That fact is also carried forth in the Living Bible when it says: “…if you tell others.”

In other words, it is not enough just to believe it. It must be told to others!

If you haven’t guessed yet, I love word studies – that simply means not taking for granted that words in the Bible are not always translations of the meaning of the words when the Bible was first penned.

Another word worthy of closer examination is the word, “Lord”.

“Lord” comes from the Greek word, “kurios” – signifying “power, or authority.”

Other words translated from the same word include master, owner, Sir, etc. – all are titles of power and authority.

All indications of ownership – or one who has the administration of anything in his hands.

A master – one to whom service is due, on any basis.

The idea of an emperor or king is included in the word “Lord.”

Also, the respect addressed to a father is another facet of the word “Lord”.

Prior to the Resurrection and before Thomas’ recognition of Jesus as Lord, others were called “Lord” in the New Testament. For instance – rulers, angels, and others.

But, following the resurrection, there is one place where angels are addressed as “Lord” --- Acts10:4 –

And fixing his gaze on him and being much alarmed, he said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and alms have ascended as a memorial before God.

---- Cornelius replies to an angel of God, saying: “What is it, Lord?”

The other Scripture where another person was referred to as Lord is found in Revelation 7:13-14

Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, “These who are clothed in the white robes, who are they, and where have they come from?” I said to him, “My lord, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

From that time, only God our Father and His Son and our Savior Jesus Christ have been called “Lord.”

Our thinking of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior has to rest upon the Resurrection. His coming to earth; His death on the cross, his burial --- all are vital to us in our relationship with Him as Lord.

Think about this ---- if Jesus had remained in the tomb – dead – He could be neither our Lord nor our Savior.

Why? Because our salvation requires and depends upon a Living Lord and a Living Savior!

If a Lord is a Master, or an owner, or an administrator of life, He must be alive in order to be and do those things!

If He is going to have the power to lead us out of our sins – and out of eternal death and into eternal life, He too must be alive!

And, we have a Living Savior --- We have a Living Lord --- we have an inheritance.

Our inheritance can never perish, spoil, or fade – it is kept in heaven for us – 1 Peter 1:2-4

according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,

Philippians 2:9-11

For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.