If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from death, then you will be saved (Romans 10:9)
What does it mean to make Jesus your Lord?
First, it means assenting
to your deepest, most fervent desire. God created us in His image,
and placed within the innermost recesses of our hearts a yearning to be
like Him (1 John 3:2) – to walk as He walked (1 John 2:6), to be holy as
He is holy (1 Peter 1:15-16).
When we live a natural
life, many transient passions and obsessions take hold of our
hearts and possess us. Most of these passions are distorted
reflections of our innermost desire for Godlikeness. We wish to become
like Him in power, but not in humility; in wealth, but not in generosity;
in passion, but not in purity; in knowledge, but not in love. When
I make Jesus my Lord, I embrace the whole and healthy desires, and
make myself an enemy to those which are perverted.
Second, it means affirming what you already know is pure and right: “… the Law is written in their hearts”(Romans 2:14-15); and “The word is near you, even in your hearts” (Romans 10:8). In this sense, Jesus’ commandments are not new (1 John 2:7). We have heard His word from the beginning, because the Father has already breathed His word into our hearts through His Spirit. When we confess Jesus, we acknowledge the source of this good word.
Third, it means making yourself responsible to God alone, and not man. You must pledge allegiance to God alone. This is exceedingly difficult to carry out fully, because men are visible and audible, while God is not. Men will tell you what the Lord is saying, and interpret the Lord’s will for you. This may be valuable, but it may also be deceiving. Every suggestion or directive from man, be it saint or priest or pastor, must be carefully scrutinized under the light which God has kindled within your own heart. (Matthew 23:8, 1 Thess. 5:21, Heb. 8:10-11)
Finally, It means passing
from acquaintanceship to marriage, in a spiritual sense. Just as Adam and
Eve’s bodies became conjoined into one flesh, so Spirit of Christ
and the believer’s spirit becomes conjoined into one spirit. The Spirit
of God is not just with you, but in you. In effect, you become possessed
– not by a demon, but by the Holy Spirit.
There are two
important consequences of this spiritual marriage, which parallel the consequences
of physical marriage. First, nakedness: we willingly expose
our hearts to Him, and without shame. Second, fruitfulness: The intercourse
of our spirits brings spiritual offspring.
Prayer: Lord, help us to understand the full implications of our surrender to You.
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