Submission the Lordship of Jesus Christ is not the cause of salvation; it is the fruit of salvation. Men and women are naturally depraved, corrupt, and totally incapable of bowing to Jesus as Lord. Every man, woman, and child, by nature, completely desires to sit upon God's throne. Only the gospel of God's grace, that glorious grace, which shows God reconciled to sinners through Christ's blood, has power to create a new creation that worships Him.
In Acts 3:16, Peter tells us that through faith in the Name of Christ, a man receives perfect soundness –his soul and spiritual condition is made whole. This wholeness is submission to the Lord Jesus Christ.
Submission to Christ principally involves these 4 things: it is submission to His crown rights, submission to His reign of grace, submission to love believers, and it is submission to His service on behalf of sinful men.
Submitting to His crown rights is submitting to WHY God the Father made Him Lord. Yes, He was born King because this Man is fully and equally God – "And again, when he bringeth in the first begotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him (Heb. 1:6)." Yet, our Lord Jesus Christ is also enthroned because of the merits of His sacrifice. He purchased His throne by the shedding of His own blood. The Lordship of Jesus Christ over all creation is not a matter of speculation; it is His rightful inheritance, given to Him by the Father, for accomplishing all our eternal redemption – "The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. The Lord shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion [the gospel in the power of the Holy Spirit]: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies (Ps. 110:1-2)."
Secondly, submission to the Lordship of Jesus Christ involves submission to His reign of grace. There are no slaves in Christ's kingdom. Every one of His saints is totally free. We are free from all condemnation, free from every obligation to make ourselves righteous, and free from every need to atone for our own sins. Therefore, we walk with Christ our Lord under the dominion of His expected goodness. We are not like the hypocrites, trying to pay off god with good works and tears. We are the blessed children of the Almighty King who simply ASK our Father and receive in His Son's Name (James 4:2). We walk by faith, trusting in His goodness, and believing in the freeness of eternal grace.
Thirdly, submission to the Lordship of Jesus Christ involves loving His saints – "Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and everyone that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him (I John 5:1)." We love the brethren because we love the Savior. It is like the children of a family having the same bond of mother and father. The parents keep the household together; the parents make every individual child recognize their union to the home. Likewise, our Lord Jesus Christ keeps His family together in the "unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace", and in the fellowship of love (Eph. 4:1-6). The children of the flesh use grace to serve their flesh; the children of liberty use grace to serve one another – "For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another (Gal. 5:13)." By the cleansing of your conscience from all guilt and fear, serve your brethren with love.
Lastly, submitting to Christ includes loving sinners. You and I were once enemies in our mind by wicked works. We loved ourselves, our righteousness, and our good works. Yet, someone loved us while we were sinners. Someone prepared the gospel sermon and preached it for the glory of Christ and our benefit. Someone supported that pastor with submission, fellowship, and love. Someone prepared the building; someone cared for the children; and someone encouraged you to come. This someone is the entire church of God working together to serve Christ among unbelievers. We love the brethren particularly, and we love those who have not yet believed (II Pet. 1:5-7). We hope in their salvation – (II Tim. 4:10) "Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory."
YOU are called upon to submit to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Receive the word of His grace until you worship Him.
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