It is obvious that many people don’t understand what it means that “Jesus is Lord”. How can one know this? For the simple reason that if such people did understand the significance of Jesus Christ as Lord they would not do or say the things they do. World political leaders or rulers would not dare suggest some of the changes they are suggesting if they recognized that Jesus is Lord. Our own lives might be radically different if we ourselves really recognized Jesus as Lord and lived in the light of that knowledge.
The Significance Of The Fact That Jesus Is “Lord
The New Testament word for “Lord” is “Kurios”. It was also used as a title of respect in greeting in New Testament times. It can refer to a master or an owner or a person of significance such as an Emperor. But the important difference is seen in its use as the New Testament Greek equivalent for the Old Testament Hebrew word “Jehovah” or “Yahweh” or YHWH. It was used of Jesus in New Testament as “Lord Jesus Christ” some 64 times and as “Lord” or “Lord Jesus” in many other references. Well, in what sense is Jesus Christ, “Lord”? We see it in three main areas. 1. He is Lord of this universe. 2. He is Lord of His church. 3. He is meant to be the Lord of the life of every person. Because it is a massive topic I will set it out under various headings with some verses illustrating these truths. This should make it easier for folk to investigate further these important truths. How important? To say of life and death importance would be to trivialize the situation. Rather these truths are of spiritual (or eternal) life and death significance.
1). JESUS IS LORD OF THE UNIVERSE. He made it. He keeps it going
A). Jesus Sustains The Universe He Created
1Cor 8:6 yet for us there is one …. Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.
Col 1:17 … And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
Heb 1:3 …he upholds the universe by the word of his power.
B). Jesus Controls The Powers Of Darkness
Col 1:13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Col 2:15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.
C). Jesus Is Uniting All Things In His Universe In Himself
Col 1:19, For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
Eph 1:9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. (HCSB,-to bring everything together in the Messiah, both things in heaven and things on earth in Him). “Unite” or “bring together” is ανακεφαλαίομαι (anakephalaiomai) or the process is called (anakephalaiosos) or “recapitulation”. It means to sum up, gather together in one, or literally unite under one head. No matter what governments and peoples of the world may be doing in their ignorance of Jesus as Lord, Jesus is at work establishing His purpose in the world. Uniting all things under His headship.
D). Jesus Is Waiting For People To Repent Before He Returns.
2Pet 3:8 But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. His delay in returning is not a sign of His weakness but rather of His mercy.
E). Jesus Is Returning To This World. “Coming ready or not!” 2Pet 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, … . Such a prospect should lead to holy living, 2Pet 3:11 Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness.
2). JESUS IS LORD OF THE CHURCH
A). The Church Is Built On The Truth That Jesus Is “The Christ, The Son Of The Living God”. (Mat 16:18) … you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
B). The Church Was Established On Jesus’ Sacrifice On The Cross. (Act 20:28) … care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood (Eph 5:23) ..Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Saviour. (Eph 5:25)… as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her
C). Its People Are Committed To Christ As Head Of The Church
Jesus IS the head of the church. (Eph 1:22) And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church. (Col 1:18) And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.
Leaders and all believers must submit to Jesus as the head of the church. (Act 9:31) …. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied. (Act 14:23) And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed. (1Co 1:2) To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours:
3). JESUS IS LORD (AND MUST BECOME LORD) OVER ALL INDIVIDUALS
A). We Must Personally Submit To His Lordship Over Us
2Cor 5:15 and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.
B). That Submission Must Be In Every Area Of Life
Col 3:23 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.
C). Submission To Him As Lord, Transforms Us
As we maintain our focus on Him. 2Cor 3:16 But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
As we present all we are to Him. Rom 12:1 …. present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
As we ask Him to fill us with His Spirit. Eph 5:18 … be filled with the Spirit, 19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, 20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.
So here is a quick summary before Christmas about the Jesus Christ of Christmas. What it shows though is that some politicians who want to force changes on the beliefs and practices of churches are really transgressing into forbidden territory. It is not their prerogative to “call the shots” for believers. The head of the church is Christ Himself. Whenever politicians or rulers suggest things which are in accord with Jesus’ teaching, they need to be obeyed. Whenever they seek to impose beliefs or practices contrary to the revealed will of Jesus in God’s word, they need to be rejected in appropriate ways. It is not that many of these politicians or rulers are megalomaniacs thinking they are superior to Christ. At least one hopes that is not so! Though one does wonder at times! More probably they just don’t know who He is. Nor do they understand their own need to be subservient to Him and to His will for humanity. The Jesus Christ of Christmas is meant to be the Lord of everything in the lives of every person. Jesus is the Creator of the world. Jesus is the Savior of the world. Jesus is the Lord of His universe and of His church. In the next topic we will see that ultimately He is the Judge of all. The privilege of living with our God-given freewill in His world, brings responsibilities before Him as well.
Blog No.102. Jim Holbeck. Posted on Monday 17th December 2012
holbeck 