He Is Lord (2 Cor 4:5)

“For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.” (2 Corinthians 4:5, KJV)

I read a passage in a book written by A.W. Tozer some years ago that presented this truth. He indicated that in every Christian’s heart there was a cross and a throne. However, he indicated that most Christians want to keep Christ up on the cross and themselves on the throne. Yet, to experience true victory in the Christian life, believers need to put themselves upon the cross and Jesus on the throne. This is a true problem.

There seems to be a phobia in Christendom surrounding the preaching of Jesus Christ as Lord. Perhaps the problem comes as an over-reaction or a misunderstanding of those who preach Lordship Salvation. We do understand that salvation is something that we have by faith alone in Christ alone. However, we must ask the question. If we receive Christ and Christ is Lord, does not Jesus become lord of our lives? It seems to me that it is a natural result of salvation.

Paul here makes a very important point. He stated that he and his team did not preach themselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord and they as His servants. We should never forget, that Jesus is Lord. One hundred and four times in the ESV, we see Jesus mentioned as “Lord Jesus.” Luke recorded Jesus as saying, “And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46, KJV). When Jesus saved us, He also became Lord. His rightful spot is seated on the throne of our hearts.

In 1983, the Lord saved me while I was sitting in a Minneapolis hotel room reading a Gideon Bible. I knew nothing much of controversy in the church regarding doctrines. I never heard of a controversy regarding what some call “Lordship Salvation.” No, I only knew one thing. I needed Jesus and everything He had to offer. Yes, I needed a Savior, but I also needed a Lord. Why? It is because I understood the folly of driving my own life. I realized that in being my own Lord, I made a tremendous mess of things. I had left a path of destruction in my wake. That night in the hotel room, I made a simple prayer, confessing my sin and asking for Jesus to save me. It was not the prayer that saved, for it was the outward expression of the change in my heart. Yet, my prayer did not end with Jesus save me. I openly asked Him to be Lord of my life and lead me on a better path. That He has done.

The only problem I have and all of us do to some extent, is that we fight to be seated on the throne of our own lives. Yet, the blessings of our Christian walk come when we will quit fighting for the throne and yield our lives to Jesus as Lord, letting Him reign over us.