8.13.13 — The Water Is Rising To The Windows

Romans 10:5-13

For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them. But the righteousness based on faith says, “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 that we proclaim); because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “ Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “ everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 

If I confess with my mouth that Jesus is Lord, and then confess with my life that I am lord; will I be saved? Can I confess with my mouth one thing and confess with my life another and truly believe in my heart what came out of my mouth? Jesus said in Luke 6:46 “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?” He says in John 14:15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” 

Obedience to the commands of Jesus is not what gets us to heaven, but those who are going show forth the fruits of an obedient life. “No one can serve two masters” right; that’s what Jesus tells us anyway. So I can not serve Jesus as Master and me as master at the same time and in the same way. If “no one” can do it, then neither can I.

The lordship of Jesus is a hot topic. Many believe that a person can take Jesus as Savior without taking him as Lord. In the verses that follow the Luke 6:46 text that I quoted above, Jesus tells us what will happen to the person who confesses Jesus as Lord but does not obey: “But the one who hears and does not do them (Jesus’ commands) is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great.” 

If “house” equals “life,” then this person who confesses with his mouth Jesus is Lord, but confesses with his life that he is his own lord; this person’s life will be “ruined.”