We are called to make Disciples, not Decisions.
If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.”For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” - Romans 10:9-13
I’ve often heard Romans 10:9 used for altar calls. With some good reasons, pastors encourage people to just profess with their lips, and believe in their hearts, that Jesus is Lord. The impression is that this one-time proclamation will secure them a golden ticket to the pearly gates. I think more is going on here.
In Paul’s context, the term “Jesus is Lord“ was a loaded political statement. The normal proclamation would be that "Caesar is Lord". To admit that Cesar is Lord is to say that he has absolute control over his territories. People in Galatea, Ephesus, Jerusalem, and beyond, all the way to Scotland at one point, would have to admit that Caesar was the ultimate controller of their destiny. It did not matter what their local leader said. It didn’t matter what they wanted. Cesar was Lord, not them, not their long-term liege Lord.
The confession that "Jesus is Lord" is far more than a one-time ticket to salvation, although it is that. It is an admission that the powers of this world are not the ultimate authority over our lives or of the world.Cesar is not Lord. Neither is Biden or Trump or Putin or anyone else. The hard truth of it is you are not Lord. Jesus is Lord.
The life of a Christian is a life of constant fighting to keep that allegiance in mind. Everything about our society tells us that we are Lord. Our bank accounts, our Lord. Our sexuality is Lord. But none of this is the case. If we put any of these on the throne, we see how bad they are at ruling. Only Jesus on the throne of our lives can steer us clear of the many perils of this world and steer us into the kingdom of God.
Our goal is not to make decisions, asking people to make a one-time profession of faith, that "Jesus is Lord", and then go on with their lives, as if nothing changed. Our calling is to help people build a life that shows that Jesus truly is the Lord over everything.
With You;
Pastor Tim
