Christians often have a number of misconceptions about Christ. As a result, we present these wrong conceptions of Jesus to others. For instance, some Christians seem to believe that Jesus' last name was Christ. However, "Christ" was simply a Greek name for Messiah. Both mean "the anointed One". So, Jesus' name should be understood as "Jesus the Christ" or "Jesus the Anointed One".
Another misconception is that Jesus came to earth in order to offer you an "invitation". This invitation was to join Him and His Father in a Kingdom and to live forever more. If each person would simply accept Jesus as Savior, they could receive all of the benefits of Salvation will little or no effort. This position, of course, is defended by stating that we are saved by "grace through faith" and that this is a gift from Christ. If only we would accept this gift, we would obtain Salvation.
There is truth in many of these statements but unfortunately they are often misconstrued to present a message of Salvation that is built solely upon acceptance of Jesus as a Savior. The truth is that "Jesus is a slave owner". Jesus came into this world to offer an ultimatum, not just an invitation. Paul, in Romans 10:9 says that "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." (Emphasis mine). You must confess Jesus as Lord to receive Salvation. The statement that "Jesus is Lord" is no different that "Jesus is my master" or that "Jesus is my owner". He's a slave owner. He "owns you". Each person who has accepted Him as Lord must give of their own life to be used for Him and for His purposes.
When Jesus came into this world, He offered each of us an opportunity to receive Eternal Life but that comes through our acknowledgment and confession that He is Lord. The New Testament authors knew this well. None other than Paul, Peter, James, John, and Jude each identified themselves as "bond servants" or "bond slaves" of Christ Jesus. They recognized themselves as slaves and called all men to do the same. This message of an "invitation into slavery" was well-received in the 1st Century in which slavery itself was very, very common. The message of receiving "freedom in Christ" that enables all men and women to be equal to one another was also very pleasant news in the ears of many who were at the time slaves.
When we present the message of the Gospel to a lost and fallen world we must do so in a manner that emphasizes the Lordship of Jesus Christ. He is a King whom has conquered sin, death, and the grave. He has conquered the Prince of this world Satan and demands through an ultimatum that all come to Him, accept Him as Lord, and enter into a form of slavery in which He is the owner, master, or Lord. Thus, the call upon a person's life to be a disciple of Christ is one which demands everything. It is not a simple acceptance of an invitation. Though it is a gift that cannot be earned, we need to be careful to not over-emphasize the gift without also emphasizing the appropriate means of receiving it.
Jesus is a slave owner and I for one am happy to have accepted Him as Lord and to have become His slave.
Joshua
No comments:
Post a Comment