The beginning of restoration is to confess, “Jesus is Lord” (Romans 10:9; 1 Corinthians 12:3 cf. Acts 2:36; 1 John 4:15). “Lord” refers to the Owner to be served and obeyed. Jesus Himself structured Christianity in terms of obedient faith (Matthew 7:24; Luke 6:46; John 3:16, 21; 36; 8:31; 14:15, 21; 15:10; 17:5; Acts 1:2 cf. Romans 1:5; 16:26).
Jesus came and said to them [the apostles], “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe [obey] all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20)
In this Great Commission, Jesus anticipated all future history: “to the end of the age.” He intended every future disciple to be taught, to be immersed, and to learn to obey “all that I have commanded you [the apostles].” Thus, with “all authority,” Jesus established Himself and His original apostles and prophets as the church’s foundation (1 Corinthians 3:10-11; Ephesians 2:20; Acts 2:42). Those apostles and prophets received Christ’s teachings in person (John 17:8; Galatians 1:12) and from Christ’s Spirit who guided them into “all truth” (John 14:26; 16:13). Through the New Testament, they pass forward “the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 1:3 cf. 2 Peter 1:3, 13; 3:1). Jesus is Lord! Stay (“abide”) in Him and in His teachings to become fruitful disciples (John 8:31; 15:5, 7-8). Stray from Him, and His words will become our judge (John 12:48 cf. John 15:6).
Sadly, many never take Jesus seriously. Jesus looked ahead along the hall of history to the final Judgment. Showing that most travel the broad road to destruction (Matthew 7:13), He predicted,
Not everyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of My Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to Me, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and cast out demons in Your name, and do many mighty works in Your name?” And then will I declare to them, “I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness.” (Matthew 7:21-23)
“I never knew you” indicates these “many” never enter a relationship with Jesus. They believe enough to use His name, to claim miracles, to expect acceptance, but not enough to do His Father’s will. They never “do” what God requires to “enter the kingdom” (Matthew 7:21). Would that include the new birth of water and Spirit which is necessary to “enter the kingdom” (John 3:3-5)? Perhaps they receive some initiation, but not biblical baptism “into Christ” (Romans 6:3; Galatians 3:26- 27). Evidently, they learn ideas about Christianity from somewhere, but not from Jesus (Ephesians 4:20; Colossians 2:19).