He is Lord (1 Peter 3:22)

“Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.” (1 Peter 3:22, AV)

One of the first hymns that I learned as a young believer was titled, “He is Lord.” The Lyrics are as follows.

He is Lord, He is Lord
He has risen from the dead
And He is Lord
Every knee shall bow
Every tongue confess
That Jesus Christ is Lord

This hymn popped up anonymously in the 1960’s and drives home a vital truth of which many, even those who profess Christ, struggle today. There is a great debate regarding something that is titled, “Lordship Salvation.” Those on the side of “Lordship Salvation” argue that to be saved a person must receive Christ as both Lord and Savior. Their contention is that true saving faith involves a full surrender. They believe that those who oppose it ride on the edge of “Easy Believism.”

Those that disagree with “Lordship Salvation,” contend that it is a heretical teaching that undermines “Free Grace.” They view that “Lordship Salvation,” adds something for salvation besides grace alone.

Unfortunately, this argument divides believers and can confuse those young in the faith. We just need to look at the facts of Scripture and leave it at that. The hymn “He is Lord” takes its lyrics from Philippians 2:10-11. There is a day when every person shall recognize Jesus Christ as Lord.

Here is what we know. It is by grace that a person is saved apart from any works of righteousness (Eph 2:8-9; Tit 3:5). Our justification comes by faith alone in Christ alone (Rom 3:28; 4:3; 10:10; Gal 3:6). However, several undeniable things accompany salvation.

One of the things that accompanies our salvation is repentance. The verb repentance, metanoeo, is mentioned 34 times in the New Testament and the noun for repent, metanoia, is used 24 times. Repentance refers to a change of mind (Strong G3340, 3341). It is a fact that those who believe have a change of mind towards God and His righteousness. Furthermore, Scripture teaches us, “if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17, AV). We cannot deny that salvation will result in a positive change in in a person’s life that will align their hearts with the will of God.

Moreover, the Scriptures speak of Jesus as both Lord and Savior. The angels announced to the shepherds that Jesus was born “a Savior, which is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11). In Second Peter we see Jesus specifically addressed as “Lord and Savior” four times. There are over a hundred verses in the New Testament that speak of Jesus as Lord. I know that I cannot solve the debate about “Lordship Salvation,” but I do not know how a person would receive Christ as Savior without also receiving Him as Lord. It is a fact that Jesus is both. It is best not to argue the debate but to understand the facts as presented in Scripture. Peter stated that Jesus is sitting at the right hand of God in a position of all authority. Jesus is both Savior and Lord. We