That the World May Know: Jesus Christ is Lord
We preach Christ, as Lord, because the world is ignorant of the fact, He is Lord (Acts 10:36). Herein lies the tomfoolery of those on the wrong side of the Lordship salvation debate. Jesus Christ is Lord, and the Bible makes that perfectly clear (Phil 2:11). In fact, the apostle Paul goes out of his way to employ three words in his writings: 1. Jesus; 2. Christ; 3. Lord. He is Lord, and to preach anything other than that biblical truth, is to misrepresent our Lord.
“Our Lord” is a precious combination of words for teaching a point, too. Jesus Christ is Lord of all, but when a possessive pronoun is used, there is a greater understanding of what it means when someone claims, “Christianity is not a religion. It is a relationship.” There is a group of people, “our,” who corporately love this fact: Jesus Christ is Lord.
The eternal Son of God was sent from God the Father to redeem God’s chosen people (Rom 5:8; Eph 1:7; 1 Cor 1:30). He came into the world, as it were, incognito. The second person of the Godhead took on flesh (Jn 1:14). He dwelt among us. He came to His own, the Jews, but they did not receive Him (Jn 1:11). They had embraced their own view of Messiah, the anointed deliverer of God’s people (Jer 23; Dan 9:24–26). The Jews had concocted a humanistic view of deliverance. Their minds were set on the flesh, and they had no love for God in them (Jn 5:42), for if they did, they would have loved Jesus Christ. Some did love Him, those He loved, first (1 Jn 4:19).
Christians love the Lord Jesus Christ because His love toward them is very active (Rom 5:5). He employs irresistible grace in pursuing the ones who are lost, but who remain ignorant that He is Lord. Nothing can change or thwart His Lordship. He is the eternal Lord of all (2 Pet 1:11). God has highly exalted Jesus Christ, our Lord, to the highest heaven (Ex 15:1, 21; Ps 47:9; Phil 2:9). God has seated His Son at His right hand (Ps 110:1), and He has given Him all authority in heaven and on earth (Mt 28:18).
Unbelievers do not need allures to come to church. No, rather, Christians simply need to speak of the Lord in the flow of everyday conversations with others. Their speech needs to be seasoned with submission to the One who has been given the Name above all other names (Eph 1:21). Every Christian tongue should be freely stating the simple fact, “Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of the Father (Phil 2:11).” If you are hiding your relationship with the King of glory (Ps 24), it is quite reasonable for you to examine yourself, and whether you truly have a relationship with Him, who is Lord (2 Cor 13:5).
The Lord of one’s heart reigns within that person’s heart. The Bible teaches us that what comes out of the mouth is what occupies the heart (Mt 12:34). This is why people talk about politics. It is the interest of their hearts. It is why people talk up their favorite sports team. It is the love of their hearts. When a man fancies a woman to be his wife, he speaks of her to others with terms of endearment. We say, “Love has captured his heart.” When Jesus Christ is on a person’s mind, and dwelling in her heart, then you will hear His praises from her lips (read Song of Solomon). Sarah called Abraham, “Lord,” because she loved him.
Having the love of Christ in one’s heart means Christ’s love dwells in one’s heart by grace (Rom 5:5). God has graced that person’s heart with His love. Not just His love, but every attribute that is perfect about Him (2 Cor 4:6). The Spirit is in the heart of the objects of His love (2 Cor 5:5); and the Spirit is the Lord (2 Cor 3:17). A person does not “let” God into her heart, nor does she allow Him to work His works of grace. Why? He is Lord. God sits in the heavens and does as He pleases (Ps 115:3; 135:6), but His sovereign rule is also found in the hearts of His people, again, by grace (Rom 8:9, 11).
Grace irresistibly drags a slave of sin (Rom 6:6), chosen by God (Eph 1:4; 1 Pet 2:9), to freedom in Christ (Gal 5:1). Why does God drag (Gk. elkuse) His people out of the pit of looming destruction? Because they are dead in their trespasses and sins (Eph 2:1)! It is His reconnaissance love that brings them to life (Eph 2:5; Col 2:13). His light shines, as He awakens them from their spiritual deadness, now finding themselves in the kingdom of Light, which is the kingdom of God’s beloved Son (Col 1:13). The Son of God is Lord of the kingdom of God (2 Pet 1:11).
It behooves every Christian to live with an “other-world” mindset (Col 3:2). In fact, each Christian is instructed to set her mind on things above, where Christ is seated on the throne of His Father (Col 3:2). Our thoughts, words, affections, and actions should always, only be of Christ, on whom we have set our focus (Heb 12:2). Christian do not be distracted. Keep your eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of your faith. Pray to God the Father, in the name of the Lord Jesus, and in His Spirit, whenever you feel the allure for the world returning. He that is in you is greater than he that is in the world, that menace who is trying to hinder grace (1 Jn 4:4).
Rejoice in the Lord Jesus Christ, always, and you can be assured of your salvation, because God’s people are always praising Him (Phil 4:4). Is that you? He loves His own, and He has the sovereign right to do with His own, as He pleases. His grace is sufficient for them (2 Cor 12:9).
Christian, you live in a world of sin, and something is frustrating you at every turn. Stop. Wait on the Lord in perfect submission, praying, “Not my will but Your will be done.” In His providence, toward His people, His grace will abound where sin is vying to be lord, again. Sin will ultimately fail, for one reason: Jesus Christ is Lord.
David Norczyk
Spokane Valley, Washington
November 13, 2021
