(This is a summary of chapter four of Dr. Kevin McGary’s book, Freed to Be Servant and Slave (available on Amazon).

The Distinction Between Savior and Lord

When we think about our relationship with Jesus, it’s important to understand the difference between accepting Him as our Savior and submitting to Him as our Lord. Many of us are familiar with the idea of Jesus as our Savior – the one who saves us from our sins and offers us eternal life. But there’s more to it than that.

Submitting to Jesus as Lord means giving Him complete control over our lives. It’s like the difference between a servant who works for a reward and someone who offers themselves entirely to their master. As servants, we might do good things to earn God’s favor, but as devoted followers, we surrender everything to Him.

This idea of total surrender might sound scary at first, but here’s the amazing thing: it’s through this submission that we find true freedom and a life full of purpose. Let’s explore this together!

The Overemphasis on Salvation in Modern Christianity

In many churches today, there’s a lot of focus on salvation – and that’s great! We should be excited about the gift of eternal life. But sometimes, we can get so caught up in the idea of salvation as a “get out of hell free” card that we miss out on the deeper parts of our faith.

When we only focus on salvation, we might find ourselves still struggling with the same old problems, feeling stuck in our spiritual growth, or bouncing between victory and defeat in our daily lives. It’s like we’ve been given an amazing gift, but we haven’t fully unwrapped it yet.

This narrow view can leave us still tied to worldly ways of thinking and living, even though we call ourselves Christians. We might go to church on Sundays but struggle to live out our faith the rest of the week. Sound familiar? Don’t worry, you’re not alone!

The Invitation to Be Yoked with Christ

Jesus gives us a beautiful invitation in Matthew 11:28-30. He says, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavily laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me…”

Now, if you’re like me, you might be thinking, “A yoke? Isn’t that the thing they put on oxen to make them work harder? How is that restful?” But here’s the cool part: Jesus is inviting us into a partnership with Him. When we take on His yoke, we’re agreeing to walk alongside Him, to learn from Him, and to let Him guide our steps.

It’s like having the wisest, kindest, most loving friend by your side all the time, helping you navigate life’s challenges. And the best part? Jesus promises that when we do this, we’ll find rest for our souls. It’s not about working harder; it’s about working smarter by letting Jesus lead the way.

The Process of Crucifying the Flesh

Now, this next part might sound a bit intense, but stick with me. The Bible talks about “crucifying the flesh.” Don’t worry, it’s not as scary as it sounds! It’s about letting go of our selfish desires, our pride, and our worldly ambitions.

The Apostle Paul puts it this way in Galatians 2:20: “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.” It’s like saying, “I’m putting my old self aside and letting Christ’s life shine through me.”

This process isn’t always easy, but it’s how we grow and change. It’s like pruning a plant – sometimes we need to cut away the old stuff to make room for new growth. And the result? A life that’s full of purpose and meaning, guided by Jesus.

The Wisdom of Solomon: The Vanity of Worldly Pursuits

Let’s take a moment to learn from one of the wisest guys in the Bible – King Solomon. In the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon talks about how he tried everything the world had to offer: wealth, power, knowledge, pleasure. And you know what he concluded? It was all “meaningless” without God.

Solomon found that true purpose and fulfillment come from living life in harmony with God’s will. It’s like he’s saying, “I’ve been there, done that, and trust me, nothing satisfies like a life lived for God.”

This connects directly to what we’ve been talking about – letting go of our attachment to worldly things and fully embracing life under Christ’s leadership. It’s not about giving up fun or success; it’s about finding a deeper, more lasting joy and purpose.

The Church’s Failure to Emphasize Lordship

Now, let’s talk about something that might be a bit uncomfortable. Many churches today focus a lot on salvation, which is great, but they don’t always emphasize the importance of living under Jesus’ authority in our daily lives.

This can lead to some problems. We might see Christians who don’t act very differently from non-Christians. We might see churches that are divided or that compromise with worldly values. It’s like we’re missing out on the full power of what it means to be followers of Jesus.

But imagine what could happen if we all fully embraced Jesus not just as our Savior, but as the Lord of our lives. We could see the real transformation – in ourselves, in our churches, and in our communities.

Greatness vs. First: Servanthood vs. Slavery

Jesus had some pretty radical ideas about greatness. In Mathew 20:26-27, He says, “Whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave.”

Now, being a servant is one thing – it’s about helping others and putting their needs first. But being a slave? That’s a whole other level of commitment. It’s about totally giving ourselves over to Jesus’ authority.

This might sound extreme, but here’s the amazing part: when we do this, we find freedom. It’s like we’re breaking free from the chains of trying to prove ourselves or live up to the world’s standards. Instead, we find rest and abundance in living for Jesus.

Cultural Bondage vs. Freedom in Christ

Let’s talk about something we see a lot in our world today – cultural trends that can divide us or make us focus on the wrong things. Sometimes, these ideas even creep into our churches. We might find ourselves getting caught up in arguments about race, politics, or social issues, forgetting that our primary identity is in Christ.

When we let these worldly ideas guide us, we can end up feeling angry, divided, or stuck. But when we fully submit to Jesus, we find a different way. We discover a freedom that goes beyond these earthly conflicts. We find unity with other believers, regardless of our differences. We find purity in our motivations and actions.

It’s like stepping out of a noisy, chaotic room into a peaceful garden. When we’re fully surrendered to Jesus, we can see the world and each other through His eyes of love and grace.

The Call to Die to Self and Be Reborn

In John 3:1-6, Jesus has a conversation with a religious leader named Nicodemus. He tells him something pretty surprising: “Unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

What Jesus is talking about here is a complete spiritual makeover. It’s about letting go of our old ways of thinking and living and embracing a new life in Christ. It’s like we’re starting fresh, seeing the world through new eyes.

This process often involves coming to the end of ourselves – realizing that we can’t do it all on our own and that we need Jesus. It’s about fully trusting Him with our lives, our hopes, our dreams, and our fears.

True Freedom Through Submission

So, here’s the big idea we’ve been exploring: accepting Jesus as our Savior and our Lord is the ultimate act of faith. It’s not just about believing in Him for salvation, but about letting Him guide every part of our lives.

When we fully submit to Jesus’ authority, we find something amazing: true freedom. We break free from the world’s pressures and expectations. We find rest for our souls, purpose for our lives, and deep, lasting joy.

Remember, if Jesus isn’t Lord of everything in our lives, can He be Lord? This is a challenging question, but one that can lead us on an incredible journey of faith and transformation.

So, what do you think? Are you ready to accept the Master’s invitation and discover the freedom that comes from fully submitting to Jesus?