: “Therefore, God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of the Father.” Phil 2:9-11
This powerful passage will be fulfilled on Judgment Day. Salvation is in the Name of Jesus Christ alone, and only on that Day will “every” knee bow and every tongue confess the truth that Jesus Christ is Lord.
We already know that confessing the Name of Jesus Christ on Judgment Day will not bring salvation to all mankind. The question we must ask is, “Why?” To simply say, “It’s too late,” fails to give us any understanding of the real reason, even though it is true. And we should want to know the answer because it will teach us something about our own salvation. On the surface, what happened to us the day we were saved will look the same as what happens to the world on Judgment Day: We confessed that Jesus is Lord and Savior.
The difference is the work of the Holy Spirit. He is Lord of the harvest; He alone cultivates the soil and plants the seed. In Bible study this week we read the following passage about the Holy Spirit:
For the Word of God is living and active, sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Heb 4:12
This penetrating, cutting, dividing activity of the Holy Spirit is a description of His work to lead people toward repentance. It is the revealing of sin, cutting through our charade of self-righteousness, and any other lies we held about human goodness compared to God’s glory. In a supernatural way, the Spirit allows us to know something of the depth of our depravity. We could never know or admit these things without His work. If we do not resist being led toward repentance, the Holy Spirit may, according to the Father’s will, give faith as a gift. It is then that our eyes are opened and we know that Jesus Christ is Lord. Confession of His Name is our salvation. As Jesus declared, “For many are invited, but few are chosen.” But regarding many, the Apostle Stephen said, “You stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears! …You always resist the Holy Spirit!” Ac 7:21
Salvation will always be both a mystery and a miracle. It is difficult to explain because it is not of human origin; Salvation is the work of God. Remember, your salvation took place when you were God’s enemy. The final word on salvation is that faith must be received as a gift from the Holy Spirit. Judgement Day takes place when the Spirit’s work is complete.
On Judgment Day, every living thing ever to walk this earth and all that exists in the spiritual realm, will bow at the sight of the glorified Jesus Christ. Unbelievers will be doing so out of fear, not faith; It is a final, desperate act of self-preservation. Revelation tells us that they will call out to the mountains, “Hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb!” Rev 6:16. No one can bypass the Holy Spirit’s work to bring them to repentance and faith in this life, and then choose Jesus. He is not a choice! Salvation is by grace, through faith—not from ourselves. Also, “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Jesus said, “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached to the whole world (by His Spirit) … and then the end will come.” Matt 24:14
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