It has become fashionable for Christians to tell their neighbors and friends to “make Jesus Lord.” They say a person must accept Jesus as their personal savior and make Him Lord of their life.
I am not opposed to using phrases and words which are not directly found in the Bible if they capture a true biblical concept. For instance, I teach that God is omniscient, omnipresent, and omnipotent, words which are not directly found in Scripture, but which express biblically defensible truths. Though I cannot find the word “trinity,” I preach one God in three Persons.
No inspired writer used the phrases “personal savior” or “make Jesus Lord.” I can defend the first, but the second is unbiblical, and I’ll tell you why.
God the Father Made Jesus Lord
“Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified” (Acts 2.36). As he taught Cornelius, Peter said God had preached the good news of peace through Jesus Christ to Israel, and he added the parenthetical “He is Lord of all” (Acts 10.36), declaring Jesus to be Lord of all nations, not just Israel. Everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name (Acts 10.43).
In Antioch, some Christians began speaking to their Hellenistic (Greek) neighbors, “preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord” (Acts 11.20–21). They did not tell the Greeks to make Jesus Lord; they preached Him as Lord.
Time after time, the early Christians told people to believe and be baptized “in the name of the Lord Jesus” (i.e., Acts 2.36–38; 8.16; 11.17; 16.31; 19.5; 20.24).
My simple point is that mere mortal men in no way, shape, or form can make Jesus Lord of their lives because Jesus already is Lord of their lives whether they realize it or not and whether they accept it or not.
The Gospel IS NOT “You Must Make Jesus Lord”
I struggle with the language of one of our songs, “We Bow Down,” because in the second verse it reads, “We bow down and we crown You the King…King of all kings You will be!” I realize the poetic license and the figure of speech is saying, “We recognize You as King; we glorify You as King.” It’s submission language, and so I can sing it that way. But I don’t want to leave anyone with the idea that they can make Jesus Lord or King of their lives—He already is Lord and King over all men. I’d rather sing, “Rejoice! The Lord is King! Your Lord and King adore; Mortals give thanks and sing, And triumph ever more.”
The Gospel IS “Jesus Is Lord”
God made Him Lord, set Him on His throne, and gave Him the everlasting kingdom. This is good news for those who love the Lord and who submit to His rule but bad news for those who refuse and resist. Gospel preachers “are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life” (2 Cor. 2.15–16).
He Is Lord of All Nations
“O kingdoms of the earth, sing to God; sing praises to the Lord, to Him who rides in the heavens, the ancient heavens; behold, He sends out His voice, His mighty voice.”
Psalm 68.32–33
“Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise You! Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for You judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon earth.”
Psalm 67.3–4
“All the earth worships You and sings praises to You; they sing praises to Your name.”
Psalm 66.4
“As for Me, I have set My King on Zion, my holy hill.” I will tell of the decree: The Lord said to me, “You are My Son; today I have begotten You. Ask of Me, and I will make the nations Your heritage, and the ends of the earth Your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.” Now, therefore, O Kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and you perish in the way, for His wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in Him.
Psalm 2.6–12
Let us stop characterizing the gospel as a call to “make Jesus Lord of your life.” Instead, let us speak and write biblically and call men to bow their knee to Jesus Christ who is Lord of all. Repent before it is too late, because when Jesus comes again, He will come to eternally save His faithful ones and eternally condemn the unfaithful wicked (Matt. 25.31–46). The gospel includes judgment on those who refuse to submit to Lord Jesus (Rom. 2.1–16), which is good news for the faithful because the wicked who afflict us now will eventually be punished by the Just One (2 Thes. 1.7–10).
Jesus Is Your Lord
The idea of a dictator running your life may repulse you, but Jesus is good, righteous, and full of grace and truth. His kingdom flows with milk and honey. His pantries bulge and His fields burst with provision and fruit. Even this often-miserable earthly life is a thousand percent sweeter because we reap the first fruits of His kingdom now. But we eagerly await the redemption of our bodies and the entrance into the new heavens and new earth which will never pass away and in which we will never grow old! I love His plan, and I say, “Come, Lord Jesus!”
However, those who spit in His face, refuse to bow the knee, and not kiss the Son have cast their lot in with the great red dragon. You can read about what will happen to the dragon and to his followers in Revelation 20.7–15. Be warned! Choose this day whom you will serve: the Lord of all nations or the other side. God has drawn the lines, He has pitched the battle, and He has guaranteed the outcome. Do you trust that He is Lord and will win?
Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.