Why Call Me Lord?

“And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46)

What does it take to be a follower of Jesus/disciple/Christian? Many have been taught falsely to “accept Jesus in their hearts” or to say a “sinner’s prayer,” while others say that you must follow a certain number of steps and after you have completed these steps you are a Christian. Why is there so much debate regarding answering what it takes to be a Christian? There is only ONE Bible that gives us the answers to everything that pertains to things of this world and to the things settled in heaven (2 Peter 1:3). To answer the question of “What does it take to be a follower of Jesus?” Let’s look at the statement Jesus made in Luke 6:46.

“Why call me Lord and do not do the things I say?” First of all, we need to understand that Jesus is the One that has the authority. Jesus told His apostles that He had “all authority in heaven and in earth” (Matt. 28:18). It is through Jesus that God “hath spoken unto us” (Heb. 1:3). As Peter was with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration and was speaking of building three temples, one for Elijah, one for Moses, and one for Christ, he was interrupted and was told “this is My beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased, Hear ye Him” (Matt.17:5). Jesus has the authority/power to instruct us what we must do to be His follower.

Now that we have established that Jesus instructs us what to do, what does He instruct us to do to be His follower? Jesus demands that we believe that He is the One that is sent by God, the One that was spoken of by the prophets, the One that lived a perfect life, the One that died for our sins, the One that was resurrected from the dead on the third day, the One that ascended into heaven, and the ONLY One that is able to save our souls (John 8:24; John 14:6). Jesus demands that we stop living for sin, make a change of life, and live for Him (Luke 13:3,5). Jesus demands that we live our lives proving ourselves to be doing what He commands (Matt. 10:32). Jesus commands that we be clothed in Him, putting our old man of sin to death in the grave of baptism (Mark 16:16). Jesus commands that we continue each day living for Him, never being persuaded to return to sin, but being faithful to Him every day that we live (Rev. 2:10; Luke 9:23).

The only questions that remain is “Have you done the things which He has said?” Can you call Him “Lord”? Will He call you His “follower”?