9. John Flavel, The Works of John Flavel (London: Banner of Truth, reprint), 2:111.
Jesus Explains His Gospel
paradox of those who called Him Lord but did not really believe it (Luke 6:46). Even the demons know and admit who He is (cf. James 2:19). Mark 1:24 records that as Jesus was teaching in the synagogue, a demon-possessed man stood and cried out, "What do we have to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are — the Holy One of God!" Mark 3:11 says that "whenever the unclean spirits beheld Him, they would fall down before Him and cry out, saying, 'You are the Son of God.' " One demon inside a man possessed by legions of unclean spirits called out, "What do I have to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?" (Mark 5:7).
First Corinthians 12:3 cannot refer just to saying the words "Jesus is Lord." It must mean more. It includes acknowledging Him as Lord by obeying Him, by surrendering one's will to His lordship, by affirming Him with one's deeds as well as one's words (cf. Titus 1:16).
This in no way establishes a gospel of human works.8 Notice that it is the Holy Spirit who enables a person to confess Jesus as Lord: "No one can say, 'Jesus is Lord,' except by the Holy Spirit." Surrender to Jesus as Lord is no more a meritorious human work than believing He is Savior. Neither act is a good deed done to earn favor with God. Both are the sovereign work of God in the heart of everyone who believes. And one is impossible without the other. Jesus could not be Savior if He were not Lord. Furthermore, if He were not Lord, He could not be King, or Messiah, or our great High Priest. Apart from His lordship, every aspect of His saving work is impossible.
When we come to Jesus for salvation, we come to the One who is Lord over all. Any message that omits this truth cannot be called the gospel. It is a defective message that presents a savior who is not Lord, a redeemer who does not demonstrate authority over sin, a weakened, sickly messiah who cannot command those he rescues.
The gospel according to Jesus is nothing like that. It represents Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, and demands that those who would receive Him take Him for who He is. In the words of Puritan John Flavel, "The gospel offer of Christ includes all his offices, and gospel faith just so receives him; to submit to him, as well as to be redeemed by him; to imitate him in the holiness of his life, as well as to reap the purchases and fruits of his death. It must be an entire receiving of the Lord Jesus Christ."9
8. Cf. Wager, "Th is So-Called 'Lordship Salvation,' " 54: "But the lordship of Christ as a prerequisite for salvation places the emphasis on works rather than grace. God does not need anything from man. His salvation is an unconditional gift . Man's role can be no more than that of a recipient who believes the gift to be suffi cient payment for his sins."
9. John Flavel, Th e Works of John Flavel (London: Banner of Truth, reprint), 2:111.