Faith that saves is deeper than just agreeing to facts about God and Christ. Even the demonic enemies of God believe those facts (Mark 1:24; 3:11; Acts 19:15; James 2:19). Calling Jesus “Lord” involves more than mere words. To confess “Jesus is Lord” includes treating Him as Lord (Ruler, Leader). This is the true confession of Romans 10:9-10:
If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
Thus the believer honestly confesses “Jesus is Lord” listens to Jesus’ words and puts them into practice (Matthew 7:24). The true believer takes the attitude of a humble child in readiness to learn and change. The true believer commits to follow Jesus rather than self. The true believer “repents”—commits to follow Jesus and to leave sinful ways. The true believer “is baptized” and so is saved. Notice the Scriptures that address this humble, trusting response.
Then Jesus told His disciples, “If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.“ (Matthew 16:24-25).
Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple… So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple (Luke 14:27, 33).
Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 18:3).
No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish (Luke 13:3).
Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out (Acts 3:19).
“Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned“ (Mark 16:16).
The Person of the Good News is both Savior and Lord. As the loving Savior, He gave Himself fully for you. His commitment was complete, even to sacrificing His life for you. As Lord, He calls you to trust Him fully, placing your whole life into His hands. To “deny” yourself means saying “no” to your own will and selfish desires. His will must lead. He wants complete commitment, which requires the “cross” of self-sacrifice. Here is the Person worth following, with the ultimate life-saving mission, a cause far greater than oneself, and a reward beyond anything ever imagined.
Anyone wanting Jesus must count the cost of becoming a believer (Luke 14:25-33). But no person need shy away, feeling inadequate for such commitment. For the Good News is that Jesus empowers your changes. He provides all that is needed, and He begins by sharing with you the Event of the Good News.