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Heritage Baptist Bible Church

Dr. Max D. Younce, Pastor                                           Walnut Grove, MN - USA

Bible Questions & Answers

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 Bible Questions & Answers Archive 

Must We Accept Jesus as Savior and Lord?

By Dr. Max D. Younce

Archive 0145

 Question 

I see that your site says that one must accept Jesus as their Savior to get to Heaven.  Others say that you need to ask Him to be your Savior and Lord.  Why the difference?

 Answer 

The difference is between what God says in the Bible and what man adds to the Bible by his own reasoning.  Let us analyze what is meant by those who say “You must ask Jesus to be your Savior and Lord” to have eternal life.  I have asked many what they mean by asking Christ to be their Lord as well as Savior.  Without exception, they mean they will allow Jesus to have complete control of their lives…for the rest of their life.

 In connection with this philosophy is a commonly used phrase which states, “If Christ is not Lord of All, He is not Lord at all.”  In other words, if Christ is not in complete control of every aspect of your life, then you probably are not really saved.  This is untrue, as the Word of God teaches that salvation is a free gift.  A free gift bought and paid for by the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ as payment for our sins.  Ephesians 2:8,9 explains, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”  All the promises and good intentions that a person offers to God, will be rendered void as having any merit in attaining salvation.  (Romans 4:1-5).

Salvation is obtaining by faith, trust, or believing (all three words are used synonymously) in the finished work of Jesus Christ, and not by attaining it with promises and good intentions.  God knows such promises and good intentions will never be kept in their entirety.  I John 1:8 verifies this, “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”  Romans 6:23 says eternal life is a free gift, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”   This gift is received by faith, “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”  (Romans 5:1).  “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life; and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”  (John 3:36).

Only the Christian can lead a christian life; therefore, after we are saved by faith, and faith alone, God wants us to maintain good works.  “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lust,

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