Will the unrepentant be forced to declare that Christ is Lord?

I wonder how this is handled by the concept of man's free will(choice)?

 

Jesus Christ is "confessed" Lord because, he will have proven, to every possessor of spiritual tongue and spiritual knee, that he has triumphed over all enemies, even the power of death.

they WILL not confess the truth of HIS AUTHORITY based on what or who they are, but what HE HAS DONE.

 

Only my personal opionion, but I have always believed that EVERYONE will confess him as Lord. It is not a matter of saying uncle but at seeing the glory of the Lord uncloaked (so to speak). They will see clearly like they always have, without their sinful oppression, and the truth is the truth. Now some say they will do so grudegingly (sp), but I don't think that is the point. Surely they will know their own guilt and realize to the fullest their damnation (so will we, but we will be overjoyed by the grace). But I have never studying the passage in detail.

 

Again the confession of every possessor of spiritual tongue and spiritual knee that Jesus Christ is Lord is because of the superior power of his nature which is proven more powerful than all foes and has been proven to be more powerful by overcoming the curse placed on creation by its creator.

the curse being, anything that doesnt equal Gods righteousness cannot exist in the presence of God.

the nature of RIGHTEOUSNESS that was displayed by Jesus was equal to that of the Father. primarily Love forgiveness and mercy. by Jesus displaying before God his willingness to be humble and submissive. The Father displayed through Jesus Christ to Mankind, his Love, forgiveness, and mercy.

by expressing God the fathers ultimate love and forgiveness and mercy for his creation, Jesus endured the sacrifice and death and took on himself the curse which was placed on every human being. Jesus took the place of Judgement for EVERY HUMAN BEING before their creator. again expressing The fathers love for His creation. relying on the mercy of His father. He was raised from death and placed on the right hand of the Father. Proving the nature Jesus Expressed was far superior to all enemies.

that of Love, forgiveness and mercy

Phi 2:9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
Phi 2:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of [things] in heaven, and [things] in earth, and [things] under the earth;
Phi 2:11 And [that] every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ [is] Lord, to the glory of God the Father.


My belief is that every confessor MUST EXPERIENCE this Nature, this Love, and forgiveness and mercy to be able to witness to its TRUTH and REALITY.

 

Phil 2:10...every knee should bow,...every tongue should confess

"Every knee" is every person, not every SAVED person. Saved people have already said this. Paul is telling us that, at some point, EVERY person will finally be convinced that Jesus IS Lord.

"Every tongue" is also every person. No more excuses, no more alibis, no more willfullness, no more self-pride, no more stubborness, just the complete, unreserved, and total acknowledgement of the deserved supremacy of Jesus Christ.

 

I think that in the end when all peoples see just who Jesus is, He really is who He says He is, see Hs power to defeat satan, they are going to have to reconize who He is, and they missed it all along, about the very moment they realize they're going to spend eternity in hell, becasue Jesus was their only way out and they negelected Him.
I don't think it is going to be a declaration of Him being their Lord, but that He is Lord.

 

Revelation 5:5-13 also speaks to this question. Specifically, verse 13 says "And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, "To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!"" This verse and its context have a universal thrust. I understand "every creature" to include saved and unsaved just as in the great commission we are to proclaim the gospel to (every creature) saved and unsaved.

 

I have always beleived that one day everyone will realize he is Lord and bow before him.

This song I used to know called they will never crucify him again and one little part it says(talking about the soldiers who nailed him to the cross) But one day they will bow before him and worship this king , they want drive nails in his hands or his feet and they will proclaim that in the highest he's the Lord of everything and they will never crucify him again.

 

Not to change the topic of the subject, but I think it is noteworthy that in Phil. 2 Paul uses the word should bow. Because of the kenosis, Jesus has been given a name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow. That is how important and highly exalted His name should be. Certainly this is not how most of world uses His name - which is in vain.

But another passage of Scripture does indicate that every knee will bow:

Isa 45:22-25

22 "Turn to me and be saved,
all you ends of the earth;
for I am God, and there is no other.
23 By myself I have sworn,
my mouth has uttered in all integrity
a word that will not be revoked:
Before me every knee will bow;
by me every tongue will swear.
24 They will say of me, 'In the LORD alone
are righteousness and strength.'"
All who have raged against him
will come to him and be put to shame.
25 But in the LORD all the descendants of Israel
will be found righteous and will exult
(NIV)

And I am thankful

Chet