Jesus Is Savior and Lord: Unconditional Surrender

The question, “can Jesus be our savior and not our Lord” has often been asked by Christians. When I was first asked this question, I was somewhat at a loss for words. I had always been taught that Jesus is both savior and Lord. Frankly, I had never given much thought to this question. Now, I was being asked this question, and I did not know how to explain something that I had always accepted as truth. I wondered, what brought about this question in the first place? I knew that I believed that Jesus is the Son of God, and I am to obey His teachings. So, what’s the problem? Why is this question being asked? The person who asked me this question told me that some people believe that while Jesus is the Savior, it is not necessary for the saved ones to try to live by His teachings. So, in the next two articles I want to explore this question. In this week’s article, I want to establish that Jesus is Lord because Christians have accepted terms of an unconditional surrender. In next week’s article I want to establish that this unconditional surrender requires us to live by the terms of treaty that our Lord and savior has set before us that are necessary for a lasting peace with God. Before we try to answer this question, I think that it is important that we define the words Lord and Savior as they are used in the New Testament.

In the New Testament the word Lord is translated from the Greek word kurios. Kurios is used of one who is supreme in authority. In the New Testament Jesus is called Lord by every New Testament writer except the writers of the epistles of John and Titus. God made Him Lord because of His death on the cross (Phil. 2:9-11). The church recognizes Him as Lord because He is the creator of the universe, our redeemer, and reconciles us to God (John 1:3; Col.1:13-20) He is the head of all things; especially the church-those who believe in Him and trust Him because they believe that His authority is above every other authority.

This acknowledgement was important to the early Christians. The Roman emperors were given the title Lord. The emperors were said to be the incarnate of gods in Greek mythology. Augustus was Zeus incarnate. Caligula demanded to be worshiped. Nero was the god Apollo incarnate. Domitian took the title “lord and god,” and demanded to be flattered as “master and god.” Those who refused to flatter him risked trouble. Christians were said to be atheist because they claimed that there is only one God made manifest in human flesh in the person Jesus of Nazareth. Thus, when the New Testament writers called Jesus Lord, they were denouncing that the emperor was Lord because Jesus alone is Lord.

In the New Testament the word savior is translated from the Greek word soter meaning “savior,” “deliverer,” “preserver.” The apostle Paul identifies Jesus as the Christ, Lord, and Savior. The apostle Paul writes: “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Phil. 3:20, NASB)

“To Titus, my true child in a common faith: Grace and Peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior” (Titus 1:4, NASB). The New Testament writers did not give us the option of accepting Jesus as our savior without Him being our Lord. Jesus becomes both our savior and Lord when we unconditionally surrender our total being to His supreme authority over our life.

“Unconditional surrender” is a military term. It means to relinquish control of territory, combatants, fortifications, ships, or armament to another power either peacefully without fighting or as the result of defeat in battle. In the New Testament the apostles are not fighting for control of anything in the world. Rather, they often accept defeat at the hands of the world’s rulers and authorities in order to gain citizenship in the kingdom of God. The apostles were sent to proclaim the message that Jesus is Lord of the kingdom of God or as recorded in Matthew’s gospel, the kingdom of heaven. So how does one obtain citizenship in God’s kingdom? Jesus said that we gain citizenship through unconditional surrender.

In the Gospel of Matthew we read: “From that time Jesus began to preach and say, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (4:17, NASB). Jesus tells us to exchange our allegiance to the world and surrender to His authority and His teaching. In chapters 5-7 Jesus tells us the benefits of being a citizen in His kingdom. He tells us His expectations of the citizens, and He clarifies through Scripture that even the religious leaders did not have a good understanding of how to enter God’s kingdom. Jesus said, “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock” (Matt. 7:24, NASB). Can Jesus be our savior and not our Lord? Consider the words of Paul: “that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Rom. 10:9, NASB). Jesus becomes our savior when we confess Him as Lord. Let us examine reasons that we must agree to an unconditional surrender.

First, all persons who have not accepted God’s love gift of Jesus are condemned (John 3:17-18). All humanity, even the whole of creation stands alienated from God since Adam and Eve sinned in the garden. Both humankind and all creation are dependent on the work of the savior to be reconciled to God and thereby reach their God intended full potential (Rom. 8:19-22). Second, Jesus commissioned His apostles to preach the Gospel as the means by which we are to be saved. Those who believe are saved, and those who do not believe are condemned (Mark 16:15-16). Finally, Jesus commissioned His apostles to make disciples and teach them to observe His teachings (Matt. 28: 16-20). Baptism means that they have believed that Jesus is the savior. They agree that Jesus is Lord by obeying His commands.

The terms for our salvation are not negotiable. We have nothing to bargain with. We can either accept the terms of unconditional surrender and be saved or reject them and remain condemned. In next week’s article, “Terms of Peace” we will examine reasons why we must accept Jesus as Lord.