my personal Lord and Saviour?

Have you ever been approached by an evangelist with the question whether or not you have accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior? It is a well known question amongst (evangelical) Christians. However, it is not found in the Bible. What is clearly shown in Scripture is that a believer confesses Jesus as Lord (kurios = owner).

…if ever you should be avowing with your mouth the declaration that Jesus is Lord, and should be believing in your heart that God rouses Him from among the dead, you shall be saved. -Romans 10:9-

Why does one speak about “accepting Jesus as one’s personal Lord and Savior?” It suggests that He is Lord and Saviour of one and not of the other. That is what is being taught: you become the property of the Lord by accepting Him. That is an adder in the grass… . For the proclamation that Jesus is Lord is not an offer, but an announcement. A Good News message! Because Jesus is Lord, He also is Lord of everybody. These two truths are inseparable. If Jesus would only conditionally be Lord, then He is, of course, not Lord of those who do not meet the condition. On the other hand, if it is an announcement, then He is the Lord of everybody; even as God is the Creator of everybody. Whether we accept that, that is a totally unrelated to this issue. It is exactly as Paul writes, three verses later:

For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same One is LORD OF ALL, being rich for all who are invoking Him. -Romans 10:12-

And a few chapters later:

For for this Christ died and lives, that He should be Lord of the dead as well as of the living. -Romans 14:9-

Or as Peter in the house of Cornelius said:

…bringing the evangel of peace through Jesus Christ (He is Lord of all)… -Acts 10:36-

Why is Jesus my Lord? Because I have accepted Him? No! Because He is Lord of all… including me. I’m His property by virtue of the fact that He paid the price for all (1Tim.2: 6). This was done long before I heard about Him, and yes, even long before my birth. Can anyone then, not be lost? Yes, but the owner seeks until He has found the lost (Luke 15:4). It is His property, that’s why. Make no mistake: those who accept Jesus that He would become his or her Lord, denies the fact that He is Lord! There is NOTHING to do – it’s only to be believed. Incidentally, every tongue will someday confess this, to the glory of God the Father (Phil.2:9-11).

Delen: