Accept Christ as Savior and Serve Him as Lord

What does it mean to accept Christ?

If you go to various churches and hear various preachers, you may hear multiple phrases during the invitation to salvation. Some of these include, “accept Christ as Lord and Savior of your life”, or “make Christ the Lord and Master of your life to be saved.” Or perhaps, “today, you need to follow Christ and be saved.”

Are these biblical statements? Are we splitting hairs by making a big deal about this? Perhaps, the preacher is just repeating tradition. However, when speaking of salvation, it is of vital importance to be accurate and as biblical as possible. The formula for salvation is to trust Jesus Christ as Savior by believing the Gospel message (Jesus shed His blood, died, and paid your sin debt and you trust Him alone to save you as your substitute payment for sins).

Then after you have been saved, you then should make Him Lord of your life by allowing the Holy Spirit to control your body, soul, and mind by reading and applying the Scriptures.

God is simply asking the unbeliever to trust Him as Savior (not to do any work, but simply believe the Gospel). After salvation is complete, then serve Him as Lord.

There is a group of people mentioned in the Bible that served Christ as Lord but were unsaved (Matthew 7:21-23). Judas Iscariot is another example of an individual who was a disciple of Christ (he walked with Christ/followed Christ and served Him) but was never saved (John 6:70-71). If you attempt to be saved by serving Christ, then you will not be saved. You must stop trying, and simply trust Jesus.

After salvation, then serve Christ as Lord by following Him. Disciples of Christ are learners of Christ. Making Christ the Lord and Master of your life is service to God. This is to be done after salvation. This costs a hefty price of denying our desires and instead choosing to serve Him.

“Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” – Matthew 16:24

M.R. DeHaan (American Bible teacher, Pastor, Medical Physician, and Christian Radio Broadcaster) made the following statement which is biblical and should be reflected upon:

"There is a vast difference between coming to Jesus for salvation, and coming after Jesus for service.  Coming to Christ makes one a believer, while coming after Christ makes one a disciple.  All believers are not disciples.  To become a believer one accepts the invitation of the Gospel.  To be a disciple one obeys the challenge to a life of dedicated service and separation.  Salvation comes through the sacrifice of Christ.  Discipleship comes only by sacrifice of self and surrender to His call for devoted service.  Salvation is free, but discipleship involves paying the price of a separated walk.  Salvation cannot be lost because it depends upon God's faithfulness, but discipleship can be lost because it depends upon our faithfulness."

"Believe (Trust) on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved..." - Acts 16:31