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Respecting the roles of Jesus as both:
LORD & SAVIOR The description of Jesus in 2 Peter 2:20 is as follows: “the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." The two words highlighted above are basic and simple, but they contain profound information and lessons. "Savior" identifies Jesus as the one who saves. "Lord" (meaning "master") identifies Jesus as the one to be obeyed. Directly related to these terms are two very important New Testament principles that should be appreciated: (A.) Salvation is by grace, not by our works: "by grace have you been saved ... and that not of yourselves, it is a gift of God; not of works, that no man should glory" [Eph. 2:8-9].It was Jesus who would "save his people from their sins" (Matt. 1:21). He came to "seek and save the lost" (Luke 19:10). He shed his blood for the forgiveness of sins (Mt.26:28), offering up his holy life as a sacrifice for our sins (Rom.5:8; Isa. 53:5-6), after which he was raised from the dead and makes intercession for his saved (Heb. 7:25-27; 10:12). Salvation is "not by works done in righteousness, which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy he saved us" [Titus 3:5].(B.) Though works do not save - they are commanded, expected, and required by Jesus, the Lord. Look again to the two contexts cited above (Eph. & Titus), and notice what the very purpose and character of a Christian is about: "we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works" [Eph. 2:10]."Jesus Christ gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a people for his own possession, zealous of good works." [Titus 2:14; cf. 3:8].Many, however, would look at this and make the assumption that good works are merely what Jesus wishes we would do, and what he would prefer that we do - but not something he requires or demands. Is that assumption correct? Let's the Lord answer it. In Matthew 25:31ff, Jesus himself describes the day of judgment: What does he say? How does He describe it? Are works required? Or just preferred? Are those who refused to walk in good works condemned? Or are they merely denied some heavenly jewel, or such? Let’s listen to the Lord's words: "when the Son of man shall come... before him shall be gathered all nations, and he shall separate them one from another, as the shepherd separateth the sheep and the goats; and he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, 'Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom ... for I was hungry, and ye gave me to eat, I was thirsty, ye gave me to drink ... sick, and ye visited me ... inasmuch as ye did it unto one of these my brethren, ye did it unto me. Then shall he also say unto them on the left hand, 'Depart from me, ye cursed, into the eternal fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels: for I was hungry, and ye did not give me to eat, I was thirsty, ye gave me no drink, ... Inasmuch as ye did it not unot one of these least, ye did it not unto me. And these shall go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life." [Mt.25:31-46]Are good works desired by the Lord? Yes. Are they also required by the Lord? Yes, they are. And note this as well: The Son of man is called "Lord" by people on both the right hand and on the left (see vss. 37 and 44). This illustrates the vital difference between merely calling Him Lord, and actually honoring and obeying Him as Lord (keep in mind that the word "Lord" itself means master, one who is to be obeyed). See this point more explicitly addressed in Matthew 7 & Luke 6: "Why do you call me Lord, Lord, but do not do what I say?" (Luke 6:46)"Not everyone who says to me 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven." (Mt.7:21)Must Jesus be submitted to and obeyed? Yes. He is the Lord. Does that mean I've paid for my own sins? No. He is the Savior. Obedience to Him does not pay for sins, only the blood of Jesus does that (Mt.26.28, Col. 1:19-23). It he who died for my sins, and only he who can redeem me (Isa. 53). But Jesus is also Lord, and he rightfully demands repentance and submission (Luke 13:3; Luke 6:46, Matt. 7:21-27). The idea that we can merit salvation by our own works is: a failure to understand the magnitude of sin a failure to respect Jesus as Savior "you were dead through your trespasses and sins ... but God, being rich in mercy, for the great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ ... by grace have ye been saved ... it is the gift of God; not of works, that no man should glory" (Eph.2:1-9).The idea that since salvation is by grace, then we need not obey is: a failure to understand our obligation to repent a failure to respect Jesus as Lord. Listen to Paul in Romans 6:15-16: "Should we sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one who you obey, either of sin that leads to death, or or odedience which leads to righteousness." Listen to John in 1 John 2:3-4; "hereby we know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, but keepeth not his commandments, is a liar" Listen to Jesus again in Matt. 7:21: "Not everyone who says to me 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven." Let Jesus be honored as both Savior and Lord. Who is the only one through whom we can be saved? Matt. 1:21, 1 Tim. 2:5-6; Acts 4:12 Who is the master whom we must obey? Matt. 7:24-27; Luke 6:46 He is not one or the other. He is both. We close with Hebrews 5:9, where we see both principles tied together: Jesus "became unto all that obey him the author of eternal salvation." No one refusing to obey Christ as Lord should make the mistake of thinking they can accept him only as Savior. Jesus Christ is not divided, and he is not available “for parts.“ He is the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 2:20). -Scott Smelser gettysburgchurchofchrist.org
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