Why is it "so" important for Christians to confess Jesus as their Lord?

I been thinking about something. Why is it "so" important for Christians to confess Jesus as their Lord? It seems to me, just based off threads I have been reading here, that there is so much focus put on "Jesus" and not enough on "God." God is the big picture, not Christ. Christ is secondary, but throughout the threads when it comes to Christianity, Jesus seems to be the ultimate focus. Why is this "such" a factor alone?

So if I understand this correctly, if one has God 100% in his life, his head, his heart, and his actions. Has freed himself from the bondage of self, lives a righteous life, is of services to others, carries the word of God not just in his own words, but mainly in his actions, and loves all through God. That when he get's upstairs and meets the Big Man, the Big Man is going to say, "you have lived a very good life, done well, but because you never called Christ your savior, Shepard, etc... I have to send you to hell..." then pulls the big lever and the trap door opens beneath him? This same man has lived as sin free life as he possibly can, but never claimed Christ to be his Lord specifically, and all his focus his whole life was "just" God. This same man, never went around saying that "Jesus" wasn't a factor in anything, never denied him, and honored and respected Jesus for who he is or was, but doesn't specifically say, "Christ is my Lord and/or Savior" but absolutely believes in God and looks to God for these things instead. He doesn't get in?

I am confused as to why there is "so" much focus on Jesus and not enough on "God." Maybe I am wrong, but I am purely basing this off of observations and my perception of things from what I read around here.

I am going to refrain from telling anyone who is right and who is wrong. I am just curious as to what others personal ideas are on this, and I would ask anyone to do the same. We seem to get so caught up in telling each other who is right and wrong on this area of the board, and I would rather just hear opinions instead of debate. If I see any comments that I have additional questions for, I will ask, but I am not going to interject with my opinions to overshadow yours. I would also like to ask to refrain from comments that are "Well yea that's what it wrong with Christians..." kind of talking. Again, it's not about who is wrong or right. It's about trying to understand how Christians look at this and for me to try and understand why Jesus fits so much into the big picture.

Please try to respect that also.

Thanks!

Happy New Year!!!

because it is brainwashed in them from a young age and they are threatened with eternal damnation if they do not True story.

reply to post by Awoken4Ever


Romans 10:9
That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

1 John 4:2
By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God,

Mark 16:15
And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.


With God all things are possible

Romans 2:1-16

1 You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. 2 Now we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. 3 So when you, a mere human being, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment? 4 Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?

5 But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. 6 God “will repay each person according to what they have done.”[a] 7 To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. 8 But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. 9 There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; 10 but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 11 For God does not show favoritism.

12 All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law. 13 For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous. 14 (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15 They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them.) 16 This will take place on the day when God judges people’s secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares.

If someone is not saved they still face judgment. Of course it is better to hear the word and accept it for this is the only way one can know of his salvation. But it does appear that God being a just God still has provided a way for non believers to enter heaven through the judgment of Christ. The New Testament is full of statements about the coming judgment of the Gentiles from the past and the non believers of today. This is why I refuse to judge anyone because I don’t know what is in their heart.

I beleive this verse and a few others point to the judgement of non believers, if non beleivers are going to be judged I beleive that means there is still a chance for them to go to heaven.

I have said many times I don’t know how anyone could stand up to judgment without Christ, but again for man this is impossible but for God all things are possible. I leave myself open to the possibility that the non believer can be saved in the same way that I can be grafted into the tree of Abraham.

This in no way diminishes my faith or my desire that all come to salvation through Christ before the Day of Judgment. For you see even though I believe all things are possible for God, Christ is the only way that I know. And I believe that the bible is the only scripture truly inspired by the Holy Spirit.

My nephew had his big outting proclaiming Jesus saved him from his sins and will save us all if we willing give our selves to him.
My expression could be compared to a deer in headlights.
He is only 18,still in high school.
Little does he know is that the real world works a little more differently than what he knows.

reply to post by Awoken4Ever


Dear Awoken4Ever,

I am a Christian and will answer as such.

I been thinking about something. Why is it "so" important for Christians to confess Jesus as their Lord? It seems to me, just based off threads I have been reading here, that there is so much focus put on "Jesus" and not enough on "God." God is the big picture, not Christ. Christ is secondary, but throughout the threads when it comes to Christianity, Jesus seems to be the ultimate focus. Why is this "such" a factor alone?

There are many Christians who believe that if they believe Christ died for their sins and that he is their Lord then they are saved; but, the bible says differently. It says that many will say Lord, Lord and he will tell them to go away as he never knew them. We are told to have the heart and mind of Christ, that is what saves us. As for Jesus, he is all God; but, he is also human. He experienced life as we experienced it. For many people he is easier to understand than God, they understand his humanness.

I understand you are not a Christian and you might think the whole thing is a myth, you are certainly free to believe whatever you will and I don't seek to change your mind. I am attempting to answer what you asked from a biblical perspective and many Christians will disagree with me. People did not want to deal with God directly as the story of Moses points out. It is hard for people to understand God because he is too powerful for us to control, fear is the first thing people know when they meet God. Not because he wants it; but, because we are so insecure.

I see life as an opportunity to define ourselves using our free will. We can define ourselves by our wants or by our love for one another. For those who understand Jesus as God, it helps them to put a personal face on their creator. I do hope that is responsive. Peace.

Originally posted by AQuestion
reply to post by Awoken4Ever

 

Dear Awoken4Ever,

I am a Christian and will answer as such.


I been thinking about something. Why is it "so" important for Christians to confess Jesus as their Lord? It seems to me, just based off threads I have been reading here, that there is so much focus put on "Jesus" and not enough on "God." God is the big picture, not Christ. Christ is secondary, but throughout the threads when it comes to Christianity, Jesus seems to be the ultimate focus. Why is this "such" a factor alone?

There are many Christians who believe that if they believe Christ died for their sins and that he is their Lord then they are saved; but, the bible says differently. It says that many will say Lord, Lord and he will tell them to go away as he never knew them. We are told to have the heart and mind of Christ, that is what saves us. As for Jesus, he is all God; but, he is also human. He experienced life as we experienced it. For many people he is easier to understand than God, they understand his humanness.

Sometimes I wonder if these people are reading the same bible we are. They base everything on this one verse.

Romans 10:9 That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

But then they completely ignore the following verses or they tell me I don't understand as if these verses aren’t translated into plain English.

2 Peter 2:20 For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first.

Luke 12:47 And that servant who knew his master's will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating.

John 3:3-73 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” 4 “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!” 5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’

John 8:34, 36 Whosoever 34 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35 Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

I John 3:9 No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God.

Rom. 6:16-18 16 Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living. 17 Thank God! Once you were slaves of sin, but now you wholeheartedly obey this teaching we have given you. 18 Now you are free from your slavery to sin, and you have become slaves to righteous living.

I John 5:4 4 For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith.

1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

Hebrews 6:4-6 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, 5And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, 6If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

I am glad you posted sometimes I feel like I’m on an island by myself.

reply to post by sacgamer25


Dear sacgamer25,

You are far from alone; but, most will be deceived. People like short cuts, quick fixes and view God as a cookie rather than as a sentient being that they may someday interact with. It is easier to call on a name then it is to truly learn to love your brother and sisters. The word of God is perverted more by "christians" than by non-christians. The Old Testament says that many will say they didn't know him; but, he will say that he could be seen in everything. Moses was saved and he didn't know Jesus until much later. We are saved by our hearts much more than by our deeds (though if our heart has the love of Jesus it will show in our deeds). Peace.

As a Christian also, I wholeheartedly agree with the previous posts...

It really is simple.
There is an inherent separation between God and man caused by sin.
God provided a single way to solve that problem.
That way is Jesus. Following Jesus, confessing Him as Lord, being regenerated by the Holy Spirit = being "born again".

That is why it is so important... because "there is no other name under heaven by which we may be saved".


This is also the great divide between Christianity and world religion. In Christ, and only in Christ, does God reach out to man to solve the problem of the great divide... while religion does the opposite - tells you to reach a God you can't possibly hope to attain to alone.

Originally posted by kdog1982
My nephew had his big outting proclaiming Jesus saved him from his sins and will save us all if we willing give our selves to him.
My expression could be compared to a deer in headlights.
He is only 18,still in high school.
Little does he know is that the real world works a little more differently than what he knows.

I know most think this way but the Holy Spirit is not as worried about the real world as you may think. If he truly believes this and is indeed filled with the Holy Spirit his faith will only get stronger. I pray for him because one day you may see in him something that it is impossible not to believe in.

I am not asking you to have the faith that he has but I would ask that you try not to hinder his. If you love him tell him if he really believes that he has been saved that he must water this gift by reading the bible regulary. If what he says is true he will find it nearly impossible to put down.

I pray that you have enough faith to let him have faith.

reply to post by sacgamer25


Thanks for your reply. I was wondering if you wouldn't mind taking a moment to discuss this a little bit:

This will take place on the day when God judges people’s secrets through Jesus Christ

I am curious about what "through" means.

I have said many times I don’t know how anyone could stand up to judgment without Christ

Could you expand on this a little for me?

Thank you, happy new year!

reply to post by kdog1982


I am not really sure how this is on topic at all.

reply to post by AllUrChips

I would also like to ask to refrain from comments that are "Well yea that's what it wrong with Christians..." kind of talking. Again, it's not about who is wrong or right. It's about trying to understand how Christians look at this and for me to try and understand why Jesus fits so much into the big picture.

reply to post by sacgamer25

. . . in the same way that I can be grafted into the tree of Abraham.

What book of fairy tales were you reading to get this idea?
God is the source for good things that come to us and we don't have intermediaries who are long dead that these blessings have to come through.
In hell, there are houses, and the house you would go to would be the house of your ancestors. If someone for example was of the house of Abraham, their afterlife would be there and Abraham would be there too.
That would be the old concept of death.
We have a better sort of concept which is not some dreary sort of hell with ancestors but a sort of heaven where we are alive, meaning an afterlife, not death, and that comes through Jesus. Abraham does not offer that, so there is no attaching yourself to something which does not exist for you. There is something that exists which Jesus made which is better, so you need to move on to that newer better thing and leave the dead behind.

reply to post by AQuestion

I understand you are not a Christian and you might think the whole thing is a myth

I am not sure what I am, and I wouldn't claim anything to be a "myth" right now. I certainly can't prove that "I" even exist, so I am not in the business of saying what else does or doesn't exist. Just trying to understand is all.

fear is the first thing people know when they meet God.

This stood out and I found interesting. Why do you think "fear" is what immediately happens? At what point does one "meet God?" If you are full of fear, how do you know you are meeting God? Can one recognize that they are in fear and in fact meeting God? What happens to the fear and how does it get replaced? Anything else you want to add about this would be great.

Thanks...Happy New Year!

reply to post by kdog1982

My nephew had his big outting proclaiming Jesus saved him from his sins . . .

I hope he is able to live without sin.

reply to post by Awen24

There is an inherent separation between God and man caused by sin.

That would be the definition of sin.

reply to post by Awoken4Ever

At what point does one "meet God?"

I think the fact that you are alive means you are with God.
The fear would be the realization that life is not a stable condition.
God would be the stabilizing factor and what you would put your trust in regarding the continued existence of life, meaning your life in particular.

reply to post by Awoken4Ever

I am curious about what "through" means.

Jesus is the metaphorical place of meeting between God and man.

reply to post by AQuestion

. . . to have the heart and mind of Christ . . .

I would interpret that to mean we understand God's mind by the fact that we know the mind of Jesus.

reply to post by sacgamer25


This was truly an awesome post!!! I can't thank you enough for putting those passages up! I read it over and over again, and it makes so much sense to me on so many different levels. I have read the bible a couple of times, the new testament many times. However, I can't put all the pieces together or tell you where certain things are when I need them. I love when people put things together from different places for me. It paints such a different picture instead of getting stuck in one passage.

Thank you for this!

Happy New Year to you!