Why can only a born again believer sincerely say that Jesus is Lord?
Only a born-again believer can sincerely say Jesus is Lord because the Holy Spirit enables that confession and gives evidence that Jesus is Lord. An unbeliever may say the words, but without the Spirit there is no truth in it; the believer genuinely acknowledges Christ as Lord.
Les explains that no man can say Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit. An unbeliever may say it outwardly, but it amounts to nothing because there is no truth in it. The only person who can genuinely claim Christ as Lord is the believer. Les connects this to Romans chapter 10, verse 9, where confession is made with the mouth that Jesus is Lord. For the believer, this means Jesus is in control of their life, the One in whom they eat, sleep, and move, and without Him they are nothing. Only a true, born-again, saved individual can make this statement with all sincerity of heart, because the Holy Spirit is the evidence that Jesus is indeed Lord.
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.
More Questions
How can a person genuinely say that Jesus is Lord?
No one can say that Jesus is Lord and really mean it except by the Holy Spirit.
Can an unbeliever say that Jesus is Lord, and does it count for anything?
An unbeliever may verbally say that Jesus is Lord, but it does not amount to anything because there is no truth in it; only the believer can genuinely claim Christ as Lord.