The first steps of Salvation are explained in Verses 9-13 of our reading today. We can experience the forgiveness of sins and receive salvation, when we declare with our mouths that, “Jesus is Lord” and when we believe in our hearts that God raised Jesus from the dead.

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Let us examine the deeper meaning of these two aspects of salvation:

 

Jesus is LORD: This phrase is easy for us to say without delving deep into its full meaning. God is not calling for us just to say three words for salvation. To testify Jesus as Lord means that we know and accept who Jesus truly is. Jesus is not just an ordinary person, nor is He just a good moral human who gave us some good teachings. He is God! We confess His divinity. 1 Corinthians 8:6 says, “..there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.” John 1:3 says, “All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made.” When we acknowledge Jesus is Lord, we are accepting that He is in charge. Being Lord means He rules! His rule is not just over our lives, but over all rulers and powers. As the King of kings, we are subject to His rule.

If we believe that Jesus is Lord, and the Ruler of our lives, our lives must reflect that truth! We must find out what He wants us to do in our lives. A clear way to know if Jesus is Lord over our lives is to examine ourselves to see if we are conformed to the pattern of this world or if we are being transformed by the renewing of our minds.  Even demons confessed Jesus to be the Holy One of God (Luke 4:34). It is not the mere uttering of words “Jesus is Lord” that saves; it is willfully submitting to his rule. He is to be in charge of our lives—we will act as he wants us; we will do what He says; we will yield our will to His will. If Jesus is Lord, then He is to be Lord over all—our minds, values, relationships, marriage, career…over our whole being! Confessing Jesus is Lord is to live in such a way that Jesus is number one in everything in our life.

Believe in our heart that God raised Jesus from the dead: It is a life changing belief. It means Jesus is who He said He is- He is God. He is alive. One day He will judge the world with righteousness. We are not serving a dead god; we serve a risen Savior! His resurrection means that we can have forgiveness of sins. Jesus experienced death on our behalf so that all who believe in Him could be saved from their sins. His death and resurrection paved the way for our salvation. Believing in the resurrection means trusting in all the promises of life and hope and righteousness for which it stands. It means being confident of God’s power and love that no fear of worldly loss nor greed for worldly gain will lure us to disobey His will.

Friend, if you still haven’t acknowledged Christ Jesus for who He is, may you make that decision today! As you make this sincere confession with your mouth “Jesus is Lord” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, may it transform your life in every way! For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. May the confession of the lordship of Jesus Christ be manifest in our lives through both word and deed, regardless of the cost! May His Name be glorified in and through our lives!

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To Act on: 'for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”'(Romans 10:13)