Savior and Lord

The Gospel
The Good News
Salvation

We use these words in sharing the work of Jesus, in sharing the gift of life God offers through Jesus.
But, I'm afraid our use and understanding of these words have become diluted.
In an attempt to spread the gospel of Jesus, we have tried to make these concepts "marketable".
We have paired them down to bite-size portions that appeal to a self-serving society.

We've had good intentions with:
"The Sinner's Prayer"
or
"Ask Jesus into your heart"

There is a starting point here, but...

Deep down we know there's more.  We know that God intended more than a "ticket to Heaven". 
We can feel the disconnect, and we search for a hope and a message that's deeper.

Romans
The book of Romans was written by Paul, and he lays out the Good News in a letter to the Christians in Rome.
In the first chapter, Paul dives right in proclaiming the name of Jesus and boldly speaking about the new life he has found.
I am not ashamed of the Good News about Christ. - Romans 1:16a
This statement is a big deal and it exemplifies Paul's character and work.
Remember Paul, formerly known as Saul, was previously shaming the followers of Jesus.  Saul hated Jesus and despised the disciples who were spreading His name.  Saul was capturing and punishing those who believed in the Gospel until the moment of his own conversion.
For Paul, to say "I am not ashamed" was bold.  It represented His new life and commitment to Jesus, and it was also brave, considering others were still persecuting Christians.

Paul goes on to describe our problem with sin.  Sin is what separates us from God, and we have chosen it.  When we choose our own way and selfishness, we are denying God.
But God shows His anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who push the truth away from themselves.  For the truth about God is known to them instinctively.  God has put this knowledge in their hearts....Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn't worship Him as God or even give Him thanks.  And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like.  The result was that their minds became dark and confused. - Romans 1:18-19, 21

Paul goes on to explain to the Jews that their obedience to the law is not enough.  They are still falling short, and God has made a way for all through Jesus.  The law was what previously set the Jewish people apart. (Old to New) Their obedience to the law defined them as God's people, but no one has ever followed it completely - except Jesus.
If you are a Jew, you are relying on God's law for your special relationship with Him.  You boast that all is well between yourself and God.  Yes, you know what He wants; you know right from wrong because you have been taught His law.  You are convinced that you are a guide for the blind and a beacon of light for people who are lost in darkness without God....
You are so proud of knowing the law, but you dishonor God by breaking it. - Romans 2:17-19, 23

There is no longer advantage in being a Jew.  The law won't save you.  Your lineage cannot save you.

There is only one Savior.

But now God has shown us a different way of being right in His sight - not by obeying the law but by the way promised in the Scriptures long ago.  We are made right in God's sight when we trust in Jesus Christ to take away our sins.  And we all can be saved in this same way, no matter who we are or what we have done.
For all have sinned; all fall short of God's glorious standard.  Yet now God in His gracious kindness declares us not guilty.  He has done this through Christ Jesus, who has freed us by taking away our sins.
Can we boast then that we have done anything to be accepted by God?
No, because our acquittal is not based on our good deeds.  It is based on our faith.  So we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law. - Romans 3:21-24, 27-28

Jesus' sacrifice has paid for our sin.  We simply believe.
That is the atonement and justification for our sin,  
but that's not all...

Our typical salvation script tends to stop there.
Jesus died to pay for your sin.  Now, if you believe - you will go to heaven.
We've left out so much!!

Yes, we are now connected back to God.
We can have relationship, because the sin is no longer between us.
Therefore since we have been made right in God's sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.  Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of highest privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God's glory. - Romans 5:1-2

God's big love is revealed and offered-
God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been made right in God's sight by the blood of Christ, He will certainly save us from God's judgement.  For since we were restored to friendship with God by the death of His son while were still His enemies, we will certainly be delivered from eternal punishment by His life.  So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God - all because of what our Lord Jesus Christ has done for us in making us friends of God. -Romans 5:8-11

So, in this big love, this restored relationship - Why would the work of Jesus only be about entrance into heaven? 
No, the restored relationship begins now.
Do we just continue on our way in our own choices, knowing that our mistakes will be forgiven?

Paul quickly addresses some of these thoughts.
Well then should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more kindness and forgiveness?  Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it? Or have you forgotten that when we became Christians and were baptized to become one with Christ Jesus, we died with Him?  For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism.  And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.  - Romans 6:1-4

We have been freed from sin!!  Why would we choose it, after finding the new life offered outside of it?

This brings us to the real definitions of "life" and "death".
Life - is being with God.   God is the source of life, and the only real life is relationship with Him.
Death - is separation from God.  Sin is that separation.

We have physical bodies that will have a physical death, but real life is experienced spiritually.  It can begin now, and He promises it will continue.

Jesus did experience physical death, but the ultimate sacrifice was His separation from God the Father when He took our sins.
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?  -Matthew 27:46

Our sin is the separation, so in choosing salvation in Jesus we are choosing to leave the sin.

Baptism is a representation, a public statement, of that choice.  We choose to die to sin and begin a new life in Christ.

But, that brings us back to the original problem.  We alone are not capable of living without sin.  We have atonement now, but we are still humans attempting to live in our own power.

Now, the Good News really gets good!

So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.  For the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you through Christ Jesus from the power of sin that leads to death.  The law of Moses could not save us, because of our sinful nature.  But God put into effect a different plan to save us.  He sent His own Son in a human body like ours, except that ours are sinful.  God destroyed sin's control over us by giving His Son as a sacrifice for our sins.  He did this so that the requirement of the law would be fully accomplished for us who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit.  
Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit.  If your sinful nature controls your mind, there is death.  But if the Holy Spirit controls your mind, there is life and peace.  For the sinful nature is always hostile to God.  It never did obey God's laws, and it never will. That's why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God.
But  you are not controlled by your sinful nature.  You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you.  Since Christ lives within you, even though your body will die because of sin, your spirit is alive because you have been made right with God.   -Romans 8:1-10

The Holy Spirit!
He is the game changer!
The power of God has come to dwell with us and in us.
Salvation begins now because we have been freed from sin, and the Holy Spirit begins to change us and lead us in a new way.

So, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation whatsoever to do what your sinful nature urges you to do.  For if you keep on following it, you will perish.  But if through the power of the Holy Spirit you turn from it and its evil deeds, you will live.   For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. So you should not be like cowering, fearful slaves.  You should behave instead like God's very own children, adopted into His family - calling Him "Father, dear Father".  For His Holy Spirit speaks to us deep in our hearts and tells us that we are God's children.  And since we are His children, we will share His treasures - for everything God gives to His Son, Christ, is ours, too.  But if we are to share His glory, we must share His suffering. - Romans 8:12-17

Not only are we brought back to God.
We become His children.
His. Children.

Paul is walking us through this change in our life.
First, we are made right through Jesus, and faith (believing) makes it yours.
But, there is also a choosing and a change.  We choose a new way of living.  We choose to follow Christ, to honor God, instead of giving into sin.
Jesus must be Lord.

Choosing salvation means choosing to be rescued.  You are choosing to join the Kingdom of God, and in the Kingdom of God, God is King.

Jesus is our Savior and our Lord.
They are not separate.  You can't have one without the other.

There are no "tickets to Heaven", but there is eternal life - a new life - that begins today.

For if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.  For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved. - Romans 10:9-10