Only Satan would try to lull people into a false assurance of
Salvation in Jesus Christ, by claiming it's summed up in someone's
ability to parrot the second half of a Bible verse. Or that someone's
ability to do so, supposedly proves them to be a genuine Christian.
What you need to know about Satan's little helpers:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UfcEWZceWhI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzNu5bC5hT0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8vK2CHWN5w
Q: Does the Bible say we can tell if someone is or isn't a Christian
by whether or not they will say "Jesus is Lord?"
A: People who teach that this is a litmus test for someone being a
true disciple of Christ, that the person saying the words is saved,
are clearly misunderstanding a certain verse and the context in which
it is being used. The verse is found in 1 Corinthians 12:3 and says,
"Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of
God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except
by the Holy Spirit." (NKJV)
However, I believe the Living Bible, in this instance, actually words
the verse in the way Paul intended. It says, "...no one can say,
"Jesus is Lord", AND REALLY MEAN IT, unless the Holy Spirit is helping
him (emphasis mine).
In context, Paul is speaking about how to recognize FALSE TEACHERS.
He is *not* saying a false teacher is unable to say the words "Jesus
is Lord".
On the contrary, this happens numerous times each day. You would be
amazed at how many times I personally have witnessed false
teachers,false Christians, repeating the words written in 1 Cor 12:3b.
A
cultist for example i.e. Latter Day Saints, will confess "Jesus is
Lord" but, but go on to teach about a Jesus that is totally than the
Jesus of the Bible, as Paul gave warning about in Galatians 1:6-12.
What Paul is saying in 1 Corinthians 12:3b is, that we will recognize
a false teacher, not because he can or can't say the exact words
"Jesus is Lord", but because his teaching will not be consistent with
the teachings in the Bible that tells us who Jesus truly is.
As stated above, "he won't really mean" what he has confessed, because
his false teachings will give him away.
There are thousands (likely millions) of people who have called upon
the Lord while repeating a prayer given to them to repeat to be saved
(Romans 10:13) and said the words "Jesus is Lord", and yet remain
unsaved.
Why?
Because salvation is more than just repeating words. It is about
actually truly believing that Jesus is LORD. It is about believing
that He arose from the dead (Romans 10:9)
It is about confessing that we are sinners who are in need of a
Savior.
It is about trusting in Jesus alone and surrendering our life to Him,
as our Lord.
... Finally it is about REPENTANCE. That is where the problem comes in
for many who are persuaded to say the words "Jesus is Lord". They say
the words, but are unwilling to turn away from the sins they've asked
to be saved from, and to go in an opposite new direction away from
those sins.
Jesus also gave us two parables in the Bible that we need to keep in
mind.
In Matthew 7:21-23, Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord,
Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of
My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord,
have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and
done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them,
I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice
lawlessness!" (NKJV)
Notice, these people who are calling Jesus "Lord". The prophesied,
cast out demons, and did wonderful works using the name of Jesus as
Lord. However, Jesus says, He never knew them, and likewise, they
never knew Him. They called Him Lord, but didn't really surrender to
His Lordship. They were false"Christians".False disciples, teachers,
prophets and apostles, pretending to be of Christ.
The same is true of the "Parable of the Ten Virgins" found in Matthew
25:1-13.
Half of the virgins confessed Jesus as "Lord", but were not allowed
into the wedding banquet. Jesus said to then as well, "I do not know
you." (NKJV)
Friend, I have seen people try over and over to persuade someone to
just repeat after them, the words "Jesus is Lord", to test weather or
not that person is a Christian and has salvation. We should not not be
making that judgement call based on if someone simply repeats the
words. We should be testing their words and actions against everything
the Bible says a Christian is. And it says a lot about it for example,
the books of 1 and 2 John also give you a list of things to look out
for "so that you may know that you have eternal life." (1 John 5:13).
and
http://www.gods-word-first.org/jesus-christ/say-jesus-is-lord.html
and
http://jesusalive.cc/ques76.htm
and
http://biblecommenter.com/1_corinthians/12-3.htm
and
http://www.faithalone.org/news/y1993/93jan3.html
and
http://www.godvine.com/bible/1-Corinthians/12-3
and
http://www.plowcreek.org/meditation04.htm
and
http://gospelway.com/bible/jesus_real_lord.php