“The Central Verity”
Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.
1 Corinthians 12:3
Dr. G. Campbell Morgan says Paul is here stating the central verity of the church, the absolute Lordship of Christ. Both the cult of Caesar and the cult of Christ used the term Kurios. It was “Nero Kurios” (Nero Lord) or “Kurios Jesous” spirit of truth. Polycarp the martyr paid with his life because he refused to call Caesar, Lord, and said each time, “Lord, Jesus.”
Of course, it is easy to call Him, Lord, Lord, and not do His commands (Mt. 7:21-23). Only the Spirit of God can make real to the soul of Lordship of Jesus Christ. Just because Nero is dead makes no difference-there is still the cult of Caesar, and a man cannot have two Lords. A day of cheap discipleship, with churches filled by baptized pagans, needs to be startled into taking seriously the battle cry, “Jesus Is Lord.”
There are too many religious Sauls who need to become regenerated Pauls asking, “Lord” what wilt thou have me to do?