In the Western Church, grace has become the single biggest focus of our message. Consider what we tell prospective believers: “We have all sinned and fallen short, but Jesus Christ has atoned for our sins through death on the cross. All you need to do is accept this gift of grace that he freely offers you.” Sounds about right, doesn’t it? And it is true. The only problem is, while this is a key part of the gospel message, it’s not the entire message of the gospel.
What’s missing?
Consider these exhortations that Jesus gave those who were considering becoming his disciples:
“Repent, for the kingdom of Heaven is near” (Matt.4:17).
“If anyone will come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will save it” (Mark 8:34).
“If you hold to my teaching then you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free” (John 8:31).
It seems that, at least according to Jesus, having a relationship with him wasn’t simply a matter of accepting his gift of grace. Grace is a crucial part of our relationship with God, because it reminds us that we can’t earn our righteousness in God’s eyes; however, it’s not everything. Jesus desires to be both Savior AND Lord. He is savior through his willingness to die on the cross to pay the penalty of our sins. But he also wants to be Lord of our life. As Lord, he asks us for everything: our hopes and fears, resources and relationships. He offers us an eternity of intimacy with him, but in order to take hold of it we must be wiling to lay down our lives, pick up our cross and follow him.
So is Jesus both Savior and Lord of your life? Or are you holding back parts of your life from His lordship? If so, you should ask yourself what you hope to gain, and what you may be losing in the process. "
