Insights through questions
By Jerry Batson, Th.D.
Special to The Alabama Baptist
This week’s question puts a practical application to the truth of the nature of the lordship of Christ. We commonly refer to Him as Lord in our songs and prayers.
In fact the outset of the Christian life is connected with the confession that Jesus is Lord, according to Romans 10:9: “If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”
Jesus put this question to His disciples: “Why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46)
This probing question suggests confession must be matched by conduct. How often does a Christian’s life say something different from his or her verbal confession?
If He were to appear before us and pose this week’s question how would we answer? What excuses might be forthcoming from many confessing Christians about conduct that does not match their confession of Christ as Lord?
Total obedience
Some might respond by saying, “I am weak and still learning about being a follower of Jesus.” Sadly some believers might have to simply acknowledge ignorance of what Christ commands and expects from His followers. Still others might reply, “I am afraid of others’ opinions” or “I would stand out from my friends if I render total obedience to Christ’s teaching and standard.” Another answer might be of a gentler sort: “I know better but I have simply been careless and unthinking.”
Jesus had a descriptive term for those who are content to live with a mismatch between their confession and their conduct. He used that term in Luke 6:42–45: “Hypocrite!”
Christ also had an illustration of the mismatch of hypocrisy. He drew it from the natural order, saying, “For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. For every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush.” Such mismatches do not occur in nature.
Good and faithful servant
Jesus concluded His teaching with the disciples on a positive note, with an architectural analogy for those whose conduct matches their confession of Him as Lord. Such persons are “like a man building a house who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock.” Sturdy Christians are those who live out their confession that Jesus is Lord. These will one day hear Him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
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