Salvation Requires Surrendering to Jesus Christ as Lord

The opposition to the surrendering of sinners to the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation is a hideous attack on the gospel and soteriology. This opposition is almost entirely found in the "free grace" camp, a belief that is found absolutely everywhere in Christendom today, from Neo-Evangelicals to Pentecostals to Protestants to Baptists. It is however a Satanic attack on the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ and His doctrine of salvation. It does not only corrupt who Jesus is, but also the critical doctrine of repentance and even faith itself. They exchange the truth of God’s Word for the “damnable heresies” (2 Pet 2:1) of easy believism and/or quick prayerism.

“Easy-believism” is closely connected to "non-Lordship." Most lost people find it is easy for them to acknowledge that Jesus died for them. Almost no one rejects that truth. They, however, have a very difficult time with Jesus as Lord, because that involves the will. Believing is more than intellectual assent to a group of facts. This is where repentance and Lordship salvation dovetail. Those who know what it means to turn to Jesus Christ, to count the cost, don't find that easy to do. They'd rather hang on to their life for themselves. But Jesus said, "whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it." (Matt 16:25: Mk 8:35; Lk 9:24; Jn 12:25).

The Lord Jesus Christ taught that saving faith involves commitment or surrender (noted in a number of passages such as Mk. 8:34-38; 10:18-21; Lk. 14:7-35; 15:17-32; 19:12-27; Phil. 2:10-11; etc -- covered in this report), which was also described by Him in the necessity for sinners to humble themselves before God as little children (Lk. 18:17) which connotes submission and surrender, such as the publican (Lk. 18:10-14) and Ninevites who surrendered to God and humbled themselves before Him in sackcloth and ashes (Jon. 3:5-10; Matt. 12:41) at Jonahs preaching of God's impending judgment. Surrendering to the Lord is the act of repentance and submission to God, what the rich young ruler wasn’t willing to do (Matt. 19; Mk. 10; Lk. 18).

How do we know that a sinner must surrender to Jesus Christ as Lord to be born again?

Consider some Biblical evidence that points to the necessity of surrendering to Jesus Christ as Lord for salvation.

1. Because of Believe. The word “believe” entails the idea of committal or entrustment in the common NT verb "to believe in/on Him,” (“pisteuein eis auton”) the verb found in texts such as Jn. 3:16, is evident, and is translated in a form including the word “commit” in Lk. 16:11; Jn. 2:24; Rom 3:2; 1 Cor. 9:17; Gal. 2:7; 1 Tim. 1:11 and Ti. 1:3. When John the Baptist said in Jn 3:36, "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him,” the words "believeth not" is the Greek word “apitheho” which literally means, "obeys not" or “disobedient” or “wilfully and perversely disbelieve,” all of which speak of a refusal to submit with the will, which is in part to do with repentance.

2. Because of Lord, His Name. Seen in the much greater emphasis in the Scripture on receiving Jesus as Lord than that of Saviour. Jesus is Saviour no doubt but this specific title of Saviour (“Soter”) is found 39 times in the entire Bible — of which 24 times in the NT but not once in Romans and only twice in Acts (5:31 and 13:23) while the title of "Lord" 675 times in the NT alone. And most of the usages of Saviour are not even related to personal salvation, such as Lk. 2:11: “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” Even when "Saviour" is used, it gets used with "Lord" over one-third of the time. The title "Saviour" in the NT is used almost exclusively on behalf of and directed toward believers, because Jesus is being described as their Saviour. The outcome of salvation. Saviour is never used in a presentation of salvation in the Bible, but Lord is consistently. He becomes our Saviour but He is received as Lord. This is how Scripture reads consisently.

3. Because of Repentance. What repentance means and entails, as defined and described by the four Greek words translated as repentance or it’s principles in the NT, and the three Hebrew words in the OT, and seen in passages such as Ezk. 33:11; Is. 55:6-7; 1 Th. 1:9-10; Phil. 3:3-11; Matt. 10:39; 16:25; Mk. 8:35; Lk. 9:24; 14:25-15:32; 17:33; Jn. 12:24-25. That sinners must turn to Jesus Christ and receive Him as both Lord and Saviour is evident from many texts such as Ezk. 33:11 (not only Israel but every individual, for the same truth is found throughout Scripture):

“Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?”

4. Because of Who Jesus Is. Since Jesus Christ is God (Jn. 20:28), Lord (Phil 2:11), King (Jn. 12:13), and Saviour (2 Pet. 3:18), the lost who want to genuinely be saved will receive Him as God, Lord, King, and Saviour, as both Redeemer and Ruler.

If the entire NT is the gospel, the message is the Lordship of Christ. Sure, we can be saved, but we’re saved to worship. We’re bought with the great price and saved as a love gift to the Son to worship Him forever. Jesus is exalted, why? That every knee would confess that He is Lord. Even Jesus as Saviour is tied into Lordship. How? Man is in rebellion against God and He can’t do what the Lord wants Him to do without being saved. He can’t get into the Kingdom where Jesus is King without being saved. Unless He is born again, He can’t be in the kingdom.

5. Because Surrender for Salvation is Taught in Scripture. Scripture teaches that a sinner must surrender to Jesus Christ as Lord, submitting to Him as King of kings and Lord of lords. Is it possible to “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ” while rejecting the Lord Jesus Christ as Lord? Is it possible to turn from darkness to life unless you acknowledge that your sins separate between you and God? Is it possible to turn to the light unless you turn from darkness? Is it possible to carry on as the enemy of God by your wicked works unless you lay down arms against God and surrender to His Lordship? No is the definitive answer to all these questions, which all tie together. Jesus is both Saviour and Lord. He isn’t the one and “wishes to be the other” or “becomes the Lord sometime during your Christian life.” He is not received in partialities. Either you receive Jesus, or you don’t. If you receive Him at all in truth, you have received the Lord Jesus.

Rom 10:9,

“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”

Rom 14:11,

“For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.”

Bowing the knee to the Lord is surrender language. It is laying down your arms and making peace with the King, which comes by obeying His command: forsaking all for Him (Lk 14:31-33). Rom 14:11 is absolutely referring to salvation, as does Phil 2:10-11, even doubly, speaking not only to the surrender of the sinner to Jesus by acquiescing to His Lordship, but also confessing Him as Lord:

“That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Submission to Jesus as Lord is what these passages are teaching and every person will one day do it, and so how much the more if one desires to be saved, as noted with the Philippians (Phil 2:12).

6. Because we become Slaves. Surrender is noted in the believer's relationship to Jesus as a “slave” — a servant, same word (“doulos”) (seen for e.g. in Lk. 16:13; Matt. 6:24; 1 Cor. 7:22-23). We become servants to God at salvation, not unwilling or involuntary slaves but happy willing slaves to God, bondservants. But a servant isn't a slave I hear? The noun "doulos" occurs 127x in the NT, the verb form "douleuo" 25x. In the inspired Word of God in English, the King James Bible, those two words are almost exclusively translated “servant” and “to serve.” Those are accurate translations. However, people often still miss what "doulos" and "douleuo" are about, which means they miss an important element of relationship to Jesus Christ, which is as a “slave.” A "doulos" is a slave. It always means “slave.” Anyone hearing the word "doulos" in the first century, during NT times, would have thought “slave.” If you were a slave, you were owned. You had a master, an owner. He owned you. You would have forfeited your own personal rights. You would have been expected to obey everything the owner said. The slave-owner relationship is what describes the relationship of the believer, the saved person, to Jesus Christ. When Jesus said that no man can serve two masters, He was saying that no man can be a slave to two owners. The servant of “well done thou good and faithful servant” (Matt 25:21) is a slave. That’s easy to see in the context. His owner is the one who says “well done” to him. Jesus doesn’t become owner at some point into someone’s salvation, but at the point a person repentantly believes and is born again. He believes that Jesus is his new Owner and Master and at the moment of their salvation they willingly enter into the slave relationship with their new Master. Saved people are slaves to Jesus because He bought them. 1 Cor 7:22-23:

"For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord’s freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ’s servant. Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men."

A person who is “called” is saved. “The called” are always saved people. They are all His slaves.“Servant” here is "doulos." They “are bought with a price” (also see 1 Cor 6:19). What was the price? The “precious blood of Jesus” (1 Pet 1:18-19). The companion word to "doulos" in the NT is "kurios." If you have a slave, you have an owner or lord. The lord owns. Christians are called “slaves” all the way through the NT—apostles, pastors, and those with no office. "Kurios" is found 717x in the NT. You get these two words together in the same verse 47x. Consider a few examples:

“The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.” (Matt 24:45)

“Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?” (Matt 10:24)

“Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.” (Lk 12:37)

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.” (Jn 13:16)

“And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word.” (Ac 4:29)

“And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient.” (2 Tim 2:24)

7. Because we become Disciples. Surrender involves discipleship and we become true disciples of Christ at conversion NOT after conversion (e.g. Ac. 11:26; Mk. 6:1; Matt. 8:23; Lk. 14:25–15:32; 22:39; Matt. 10:42; 28:19; Jn. 8:31-35; 13:33; 14:1; 18:15; 21:20). In the Bible, the call to discipleship is a call to salvation (and vice versa), as seen in the NT (see Matt. 10:32-39; 16:24-28; 28:19; Lk. 9:57-62; 14:25-35; 18:21-30; 19:1-10; Mk. 1:14-20; 2:14, 17; 8:34-38; Jn. 12:24-25; etc), and in the OT (e.g. Jos. 22:15; 24:14-15, 18-21; 1 Sam. 12:20-25; 2 Ch. 30:8). Every true born again believer is a disciple of Jesus Christ, for they surrendered to Him when they received Him as their Lord and Saviour.

8. Because of the Salvation Testimonies in Scripture. This is the example of salvation in the NT, lost sinners calling upon Jesus as Lord (e.g. Lk. 5:8; 23:40-42; Jn. 8:11; 9:36-38; 11:27; Ac. 2:21; 9:3-6, 17-18; 22:16; 16:31; Rom. 4:24-25; 10:9-10, 13; I Cor. 1:2, 6-9; Phil. 3:8; etc) and not one example of calling upon Him as Saviour. Jesus must be received for who He is or we are in danger of receiving “another Jesus” (2 Cor. 11:4).

9. Because Salvation Requires Submission and Humbleness. Both submission and humbling oneself before God dovetails with surrender. We see this in the parabale of Lk 14:7-11,

“And he put forth a parable to those which were bidden, when he marked how they chose out the chief rooms; saying unto them, When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room; lest a more honourable man than thou be bidden of him; And he that bade thee and him come and say to thee, Give this man place; and thou begin with shame to take the lowest room. But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee. For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.”

It is also noted in that great salvation passage of Lk 14:25-33 (which extends onward to the end of Luke 15, salvation of the prodigal, a wonderful example of surrendering to the Father):

"And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them, If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace. So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple." (Lk 14:25-33)

The Lord Jesus in teaching the lost multitudes in Luke 14 and 15, on how a man becomes a true disciple of Christ, described the necessity of surrender. Salvation, becoming Christ's disciple, requires “coming to [Christ]” and “hating his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and his own life also,” (Lk 14:26), by “bearing his cross, and coming after [Christ],” (Lk 14:27), by “counting the cost,” (Lk 14:28-30), by seeking after peace with the King of kings (Lk 14:31-32), and by “forsaking . . . all that he hath,” (Lk 14:33). This is describing the necessity of a sinner to surrender to the King, the Lord Jesus Christ, through volitional intent, which occurs at salvation.

Jam 4:7-10,

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.”

10. Because of Historical Christianity. This is the actual historical belief of true Bible believing churches over the last millennia at least (in the years we have record of), who embraced and taught that repentance and faith involved turning from sin and self to Christ as Lord and receiving Him as both Lord and Saviour, and receiving freedom from both the penalty and power of sin at the very moment of their surrender to Christ's Lordship for salvation. Found for example in the Westminster Confession of Faith (1647), The Orthodox Baptist Creed (1679), London Baptist Confession of Faith (1689), Catechism of the Principles of the Christian Religion (1702), Philadelphia Baptist Confession of Faith (1742), New Hampshire Confession of Faith (1833), Baptist Fundamentals of the Faith (1897), etc.

Thus to not believe and teach that surrendering to the Lordship of Christ is required for salvation, is to not only go against the Word of God but also to oppose what Bible believing professing Christians have always believed.

For further reading, please see Lordship Salvation is the Only Salvation.