To truly accept Jesus as Lord means far more than just saying a prayer or following religious traditions—it requires a deep, transformative commitment to His teachings, His truth, and His living presence. Many who claim to be "born again" may not fully grasp what that means, as they often conform to cultural norms rather than genuinely ceasing from sin in following Jesus' commands. Sin is not just what society disapproves of or what religious leaders have classified as wrong—Jesus taught what really characterises sin, and he came to free people from it, not just to forgive it. His resurrection was proof of His sonship but also the act by which God made Him the one uniquely qualified to lead and judge humanity, having lived as a true human, suffered without sin, and conquered death. Unlike other great teachers who shaped history but remain dead, Jesus is alive, and the Holy Spirit continues to make Him known, guiding those who truly seek Him. This means being willing to test everything—even long-standing religious teachings, even the doctrines of respected theologians like Augustine or Athanasius—against the pure truth of Jesus Himself. Baptism into Jesus is not baptism into human traditions but into a living relationship with the risen Christ, who alone deserves our ultimate allegiance, and into the one whole body of Christ. To truly follow Him is to live by His words, His works of ministry, His example, His supreme anointing and the truth that is found in Him, rather than the assumptions and expectations of any religious system. A faith that does not transform, that does not free from sin, and that does not truly recognize Jesus as alive and master over us is a faith that must be questioned. The real Gospel is not about empty profession but about real freedom, real truth, and real life in the One whom God has made both Lord and Christ — the Lord Jesus Christ.
