The Lordship of Jesus Christ
The term “lord” or its equivalents, master, rabbi, teacher, is mentioned nearly 700 times in the New Testament. While some of these are a general reference to the position itself in a story or parable, over 150 times the reference is to God Himself as The Sovereign Lord and nearly 250 to Christ as The Lord! This is by far the most commonly used name to refer to God and Christ in all of Scripture. We should pay attention to what it means for Him to be Lord and for us to submit to Him as Lord of every part of our lives.
The Vision Statement of Love & Lordship is: Every life and relationship built on the Love & Lordship of Jesus Christ.
Our Mission Statement: Making disciples who make disciples in Christ’s Love & Lordship in every home, church and beyond for His Kingdom and Glory.
Many of us are so drawn to the Love of God and Christ but want very little, if any, to do with the Lordship of Christ. Scripture makes it very clear that you can’t truly know His Love without making Him Lord. As we mature as disciples of Christ with Him as Lord we come to more fully understand and abide in His Love and then live it out in our love for Him and others.
The Apostle Paul makes it abundantly clear in Philippians 2:9-11 that God has clearly proclaimed that Christ is Lord of all. Peter makes it very clear in the Scripture accompanying our message title above (1 Peter 3:15) that we are called to make Christ Lord of our lives…and both apostles would know the cost of this calling to Christ’s Lordship and our discipleship!
I pray that each of us will take this to heart and walk with Christ as Lord, building relationships in His Love and helping others to know Him as Savior and Lord.
Here are some things to think about as you strive to make Christ Lord of your life and help others do the same…
- Do you have at least one Paul in your life (someone mentoring or discipling you)? Philippians 2:12-17 (immediately following God’s proclaiming Him as Lord of All!
- Do you have at least one Barnabas in your life (an encouraging friend walking in faith alongside you)? 1 Thessalonians 5:11
- Do you have at least one Timothy in your life (someone you’re discipling, encouraging and holding accountable in The Lord)? Philippians 4:9
Faith in Christ is not just being saved; it is life transformation for His Glory! It is more than just head belief in the right things…it is living according to what’s right in God’s eyes because you believe in His righteousness…right things and right living! (Romans 1:16-17; James 2:26)
True faith, according to God’s Word, is always something that you live daily. If your faith is not in the process of transforming your life then it is not true faith. (Romans 12:1-2; 2 Peter 1:1-11)
Preaching and teaching are the few expounding to the many. There is a great need and there are many called to do so but we also must be more and more aware of the false preachers, teachers and prophets as we draw closer to Christ’s return (Ephesians 4:11-13; 1 John 4:1-6). True teachers will build up and equip Christ followers to be disciples who make disciples…not just church converts and/or those who claim Christ but conform to the world.
Discipleship, i.e., disciples of Christ making disciples of Christ is what we are all called and commanded to do (Matthew 28:18-20) as it was Christ’s final command before leaving earth the first time.
In a nutshell, we’ve conformed and relied almost completely on the few preaching and teaching the many with the fruit being very few disciples. This also means there are fewer disciples being made for Christ and many pew sitters and converts claiming Christ just because they show up and hear a message, give some money and serve from time to time. Those are good things but only if they are from hearts set fully on, and maturing in, Christ!
Discipleship is not the one or few teaching the hundreds, thousands and ten thousands (although there is a place for these as they teach the whole Truth…is there any other?). Discipleship is the hundreds, thousands and ten thousands, walking with their Lord, each training one or a few to know Him as Savior and Lord.
The original sin, and the root of every sin ever committed since that time was that, “you will become like God/gods, knowing good and evil.” (Genesis 3:5)
In our free will, which is required for there to be Love, God knew that we would desire to be in control and the serpent played on that. It was extremely appealing and successful then…and it still is to every one of us today. The thing that is conspicuously absent in the serpent’s temptation was something that the rest of Scripture makes very clear…we tend to rationalize and think, “well at least I’m not submitting to satan as lord, so just doing what I want must be OK with God.” Trouble is it’s not (see 1 Peter 3:15 again).
We either make Him Lord, walking with Christ as His disciple, or we worship and serve the things of this world and the flesh. The enemy knows that ultimately when we serve anything of the created order rather than The Creator Himself we are rejecting Christ as Lord, making satan lord of our lives and the result is depravity and destruction. (Romans 1:18-32)
Notice that it’s not the end results alone in the Romans 1 text, it begins with us simply replacing God with ourselves and other created things, suppressing Truth in unrighteousness…just as Adam and Eve did.
We need to realize and accept these Truths and know that when we choose anything but Christ, it leads us down a path where satan is ultimately lord and he deceives us into thinking it’s OK to choose otherwise. In other words, Christ has saved us and we’ve proclaimed that but surely He’s okay with us living our lives as we desire, i.e., “we are like God/gods” and declaring and living by our own “truths.”
He alone is worthy! That’s why nothing else can take His place in any way in our thoughts, hearts or lives. Let’s choose to daily and moment-by-moment make Christ Lord…make Him FIRST above all things!
Love and Lordship…Food for Thought – Christ is either Lord of every part of your life…Lord of all…or He is not Lord at all! What do your motives, thoughts, decisions, actions and relationships say as to who is Lord or lord in your life? It’s either Christ or satan…make sure you know who it is. Again simply put, Christ is either Lord of all or not at all!
Love and Lordship…Action Item(s) –
- Read the Scriptures in this article and ask The Holy Spirit to teach you.
- Who would you say is Lord or lord of your life? What’s the evidence according to His Word and your life?
- List the areas in your life where you struggle to submit to Christ as Lord.
- List ways that you can fully submit to Christ as Lord. Be sure to follow through in the disciplines of His Word and Spirit.