During His public ministry, Jesus taught a lot about how His disciples should live. Furthermore, as the Great Commission, He told them to go and disciple the nations, “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you…” (Matthew 28:20, KJV).
As Jesus’ modern-day followers of Christ, those are our marching orders as well–to go and make disciples. But how do we make disciples? The verse above answers that question. It is by teaching others to observe everything that Jesus taught.
But today, I hear preachers who tend to make light of those of us who stress obedient Christian living. Their argument is that we are saved by grace so we should not emphasize obedience to the Lord’s commandments. But Jesus is not only our Savior but also our Lord. And Lordship requires obedience, not just lip service.
“Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not what I say?” Jesus asks (Luke 6:46, NASB).
Jesus Is Lord Even under Grace
Based upon the verse above, merely confessing that Jesus is Lord is not acceptable to Him. For Him to be Lord of our life, we must obey Him. Moreover, who are we as preachers to say to the Lord’s servants that they don’t have to obey their Lord?
It appears that many people want a gospel message that lets them live their life free of any accountability to anyone. A gospel that implies that no one is Lord over our life appeals to our human nature. But that is not the gospel our Lord preached or handed down to us.
So, did Jesus not preach salvation by grace? Of course, He did. He is the One who said, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). To a thief on the cross, He said, “Today, you shall be with Me in paradise” (Luke 23:43, NASB).
The grace of God is not incompatible with the Lordship of Christ. The former does not make the latter null and void. Even during this Grace era, Jesus is Lord.
Copyright © 2022 by Frank King. All rights reserved.