C
cardoctor
Guest
A wealth of great points were made above: I would add that the point that the phrase "Confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord" is way out of context in our culture of free speech and docile police.
To the crowd being addressed in that passage the norm was that upon approach of centurions the proper response was to kneel bow one's head and say "Cesar is lord". Failure to do so would result in some questions. refusal to do so would indicate that you do not respect the authority of Cesar and could, worst case, result in an on the spot execution
Confessing that Jesus is Lord was not a small act to those who heard the message.It meant at total, reckless commitment to a risen savior. it meant that you would risk death inf front of your family before denying the God who renewed you. This is the kind of resolve only possible by grace. Which sheds light on the verse "no man can say Jesus is lord but by The Holy Spirit" (paraphrase)
The Bible doesn't preach cheap grace (see Bonhoeffer)salvation comes by grace through a life changing, world altering, instinct defying FAITH. There is no reduced fat version
To the crowd being addressed in that passage the norm was that upon approach of centurions the proper response was to kneel bow one's head and say "Cesar is lord". Failure to do so would result in some questions. refusal to do so would indicate that you do not respect the authority of Cesar and could, worst case, result in an on the spot execution
Confessing that Jesus is Lord was not a small act to those who heard the message.It meant at total, reckless commitment to a risen savior. it meant that you would risk death inf front of your family before denying the God who renewed you. This is the kind of resolve only possible by grace. Which sheds light on the verse "no man can say Jesus is lord but by The Holy Spirit" (paraphrase)
The Bible doesn't preach cheap grace (see Bonhoeffer)salvation comes by grace through a life changing, world altering, instinct defying FAITH. There is no reduced fat version
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