The Lordship of Christ Confessed
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Christ is Lord … What in the world does that actually mean? Evangelicals love it! But do we truly understand it’s depth, truth, and beauty? What do we confess as we recite it? And what difference does it make in our daily lives? So crucial was it that Augustine said: “Jesus Christ is either Lord of all or not Lord at all”. I hope we can see the core of this truth and the depth of its meaning on this lovely Lord’s Day morning! Hmmm… we can’t even say Lord’s Day without understanding that Christ is Lord!
But before we unpack this creed, we need to understand a competing phrase: Caesar is Lord. This was the context of the NT era of Jesus and his Apostles…
In the 1st century, the land of Israel was ruled by the Romans. And the Romans were polytheists. They believed that their chief earthly rulers, the Emperors and Caesars, were gods, lords, and kings that deserved worship, service, and allegiance in all things. On their coins there was typically inscribed phrases about their emperors that said: ‘Son of God’, ‘our lord and god’, ‘revered one’, and ’chief priest’. And in some formal feasts citizens were required to publically confess ‘Caesar is Lord’:
One scholar says: “The worship of the Emperor was compulsory. Each year a Roman citizen had to burn a pinch of incense on the alter and to acknowledge publicly that Caesar was supreme Lord”.
And it is in this context that the early Christians confessed a radically different message: ‘Christ is Lord’! Jesus alone is the Divine Son of God, Jesus is our Lord and our God, Jesus is the revered One, Jesus is the Chief Priest. Ceasar is but a man—but Christ indeed is Lord of all! And in stating this they were both confessing their faith in the risen and reigning King of kings and Lord of lords, and defying the beastly government of the Roman Empire! This is exactly what we see in Acts 17:
And when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city authorities, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also, and Jason has received them, and they are all acting against the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus.”
How did the early church turn the world upside down? How did they pursue the Great Commission? How did they seek first the Kingdom of God? By proclaiming that Christ alone was Lord. And if Christ is Lord—then Caesar isn’t. And if Christ is Lord—then Caesar must bow the knee. In fact—everyone must bow the knee in the obedience of faith. This is the heart of Christianity, and our most central creed and confession: Jesus Christ is Lord.
Title: The Lordship of Christ Confessed
We need to know what that phrase means—so that we would believe it in sincerity—and obey its royal implications for all of life. Today we’re going to see, as Michael Reeves says:
[Seated on] the throne is death-crushing compassion and royal liberation: our friend, our priest, our king. The more we look, the more our hearts belong there, the more we want him known—and the more we long for his return. - Reeves
So let us look unto Jesus, He who bore the Cross, and now is seated on the throne with His Crown—let us confess that Christ is Lord—and let us bow the knee to the Lord of Glory!
PRAY - PRAY - PRAY - PRAY - PRAY - PRAY - PRAY - PRAY - PRAY
(1) Christ is Lord … means that Jesus is the LORD our God (Deity)!
(1) Christ is Lord … means that Jesus is the LORD our God (Deity)!
To confess Jesus to be Lord is to confess him to be God, the same God who is the God of Israel and who created the world (Rom. 10:9; Joel 2:32). - Poythress
To confess Jesus as Lord is to set him above all other loyalties. It is to make a universal claim. I confess him as my Lord, only because I recognize him as the Lord! - Myers
because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
“You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied,
and praise the name of the Lord your God,
who has dealt wondrously with you.
And my people shall never again be put to shame.
You shall know that I am in the midst of Israel,
and that I am the Lord your God and there is none else.
And my people shall never again be put to shame.
And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape, as the Lord has said, and among the survivors shall be those whom the Lord calls.
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if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.
As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious,
Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!
Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
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1 Peter 3:15 (ESV)
but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy.
But the Lord of hosts, him you shall honor as holy. Let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.
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yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.
“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.
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Who is this King of glory?
The Lord of hosts,
he is the King of glory! Selah
My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.
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According to the teaching of the apostles, confessing Jesus as Lord is the same thing as calling on the Name of the LORD, the God of Israel. So Jesus is Lord means that Jesus is YHWH. The sacred Name of the God of Israel rightly belongs to him. That is the heart of Christian faith and is therefore the heart of the Creeds. - Cary
(1) Christ is Lord … means that Jesus is the LORD our God (Deity)!
But we don’t just confess that Jesus is God … we also confess that He is the Godman … the Incarnate King of kings:
(2) Christ is Lord … means that Jesus is the Reigning King (Conquest)!
(2) Christ is Lord … means that Jesus is the Reigning King (Conquest)!
In addition, we ascribe the name Lord to Jesus because he has been exalted [as king] as a reward for his obedient suffering. His exaltation gives him full authority over all things (Phil. 2:8-11; Eph. 1:19-23). - Poythress
The Christian faith is a public faith. The claims of Jesus Christ are absolute, and we have no authority to diminish the authority that God has given to Him! - Wilson
You are the most handsome of the sons of men;
grace is poured upon your lips;
therefore God has blessed you forever.
Gird your sword on your thigh, O mighty one,
in your splendor and majesty!
In your majesty ride out victoriously
for the cause of truth and meekness and righteousness;
let your right hand teach you awesome deeds!
Your arrows are sharp
in the heart of the king’s enemies;
the peoples fall under you.
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him.
that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death.
Revelation 1:5 (ESV)
and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth.
And I looked, and behold, a white horse! And its rider had a bow, and a crown was given to him, and he came out conquering, and to conquer.
Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.”
Revelation 17:13–14 (ESV)
They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.”
“Indeed, the kingdom of heaven is not of this world. But it does demand that everything in this world serve it! [That everything in the world serve Him, the King of kings] … [Our] faith has the promise of victory over the world” - Herman Bavinck
(2) Christ is Lord … means that Jesus is the Reigning King (Conquest)!
And all of this implies one main obligation upon all of us:
(3) Christ is Lord … means that Jesus must be Truly Obeyed (Allegiance)!
(3) Christ is Lord … means that Jesus must be Truly Obeyed (Allegiance)!
Jesus is worthy of absolute allegiance. - Poythress
"There is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is Sovereign over all, does not cry: 'Mine!'" - Kuyper
As a [kingdom of priests], we are called to work and serve under the sceptre of the Lord of Lords, applying the crown rights of King Jesus in each area of life! - Boot
The scepter shall not depart from Judah,
nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet,
until tribute comes to him;
and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.
“As for me, I have set my King
on Zion, my holy hill.”
I will tell of the decree:
The Lord said to me, “You are my Son;
today I have begotten you.
Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage,
and the ends of the earth your possession.
You shall break them with a rod of iron
and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.”
Now therefore, O kings, be wise;
be warned, O rulers of the earth.
Serve the Lord with fear,
and rejoice with trembling.
Kiss the Son,
lest he be angry, and you perish in the way,
for his wrath is quickly kindled.
Blessed are all who take refuge in him.
Psalm 45:11 (ESV)
Since he is your lord, bow to him.
May he have dominion from sea to sea,
and from the River to the ends of the earth!
May desert tribes bow down before him,
and his enemies lick the dust!
May the kings of Tarshish and of the coastlands
render him tribute;
may the kings of Sheba and Seba
bring gifts!
May all kings fall down before him,
all nations serve him!
The Lord says to my Lord:
“Sit at my right hand,
until I make your enemies your footstool.”
The Lord sends forth from Zion
your mighty scepter.
Rule in the midst of your enemies!
Your people will offer themselves freely
on the day of your power,
in holy garments;
from the womb of the morning,
the dew of your youth will be yours.
“I saw in the night visions,
and behold, with the clouds of heaven
there came one like a son of man,
and he came to the Ancient of Days
and was presented before him.
And to him was given dominion
and glory and a kingdom,
that all peoples, nations, and languages
should serve him;
his dominion is an everlasting dominion,
which shall not pass away,
and his kingdom one
that shall not be destroyed.
Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.
Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,
Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.
Revelation 14:4–5 (ESV)
It is these who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These have been redeemed from mankind as firstfruits for God and the Lamb, and in their mouth no lie was found, for they are blameless.
We are God’s new humanity in Jesus Christ and wherever God’s people are, by the power and mighty workings of his Spirit, the culture of Christ inescapably flourishes around them”- Boot
But you must not seek to serve the King before you belong to the King by grace. The first act of allegiance to Christ is conversion. Trusting in Him for salvation from sin, turning from your sin, submitting to His authority, and swearing allegiance to His throne and crown for all your days. This Jesus is exalted to pour out grace and mercy—and He is the Lord of glory. In Jesus we find both forgiveness and strength—redemption and rule—love and might. And as we come to Jesus—we are signing up for an entire life of obedience to the One who has loved us, washed us, saved us, called us, and who is now ruling over us by His Word and Spirit—that we might live worthy of the Gospel of the Kingdom in royal allegiance!
In our personal devotion & character, in our marriages, in our families, in our hobbies, in our vocations, in our charity, in our political endeavours, in our public conduct, in our church life, in our membership duties, in our officer duties, in our Christian witness, in our evangelism, in our pursuit of justice, in our giving to missions-work and church-planting, in all that we do we must submit all things to King Jesus for the advancement of his kingdom here on earth, as it is in heaven, that his will might be done, to the praise and honour of the name that is above all names!
(3) Christ is Lord … means that Jesus must be Truly Obeyed (Allegiance)!
So hear now our conclusion from all of this for this morning:
(C) Christ is Lord … So Worship Him, Submit to Him, and Serve Him (By Faith)!
(C) Christ is Lord … So Worship Him, Submit to Him, and Serve Him (By Faith)!
Instruction - Know what it means that Christ is LORD, that Jesus is King, and how to serve Him! And know that Ceasar isn’t lord. No one else has all authority in heaven and on earth. We need to know that Christ is Lord means: All of Christ for all of Life!
Comfort - Jesus is in control of all things, and has promised that all things will work together for your good, your safety, your salvation, and your security. Trust in Him as not only the Ruler, but also our Redeemer. He reigns to pour out grace on his people—to redeem, reconcile, restore, and renew!
Conviction - Jesus advancing his Kingdom through His people, and by His Word and Spirit. We are the reason the kingdom isn’t growing to fill the earth. Our disobedience is the demise of the church of Jesus Christ. We need to repent of our laziness, cowardice, fear, and retreat—and march on!
Hope - Jesus is not a feeble King! He is the Lord of glory and He will advance his kingdom-rule in the earth, as it is in heaven. So put your hand to the plow! Christ is building his church and the gates of hell will not prevail against him. Satan will fall. Christ will reign. The nations are promised!
Exhortation - Every area of your life needs to be submitted to the Word of God, in the power of the Spirit of God—that God’s will would be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Be loving and bold in evangelism. Pursue justice in the earth. Bring all things into subjection to the Lordship of Christ Jesus.
Examination - Where are some areas on our lives that we are acting as if Christ is not Lord? Where are we failing to take everything captive to obey our King? Where are we living as if Caesar was lord? Where are we living as if we are lord? We must repent and return to the Lord, to Christ the Lord—and serve Him with all our lives!
Doxology - Stand in awe of the King of glory, His authority, dominion, and majesty—and let your heart run after His glory and honour in the earth! Look upon Him in all His beauty! See Him in all his majesty! And know that He is your Lord, your God, your Friend, your King, and your Redeemer, through faith and repentance. So give Him the glory, great things he has done, is doing, and will do for his royal people!
“Christ Jesus reigns over all! For having been raised from the dead and ascending to sit down at the right hand of majesty and power, all authority and judgment is in his hands, and his royal court is now in session. Those born again by the Spirit of God are now sons and joint heirs with Christ, and are appointed ambassadors of his cosmic dominion. As new creatures through whom the power of the new creation is already at work, God's people are sent out into all the earth to declare the good news of Christ's reign and salvation and to assert his crown rights in every area of life and thought!” - Joe Boot
Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.
(C) Christ is Lord … So Worship him, Submit to Him, and Serve Him (By Faith)!
(C) Christ is Lord … So Worship him, Submit to Him, and Serve Him (By Faith)!
Amen? Let’s pray.
Discussion Questions:
(1) How does the creed: ’Christ is Lord’, prove that Jesus is the Divine YHWH or Jehovah of Scripture?
(2) How does the creed: ‘Christ is Lord’, prove that Jesus is the reigning and ruling King of kings?
(3) Why does the creed: ‘Christ is Lord’, oblige us to serve Jesus in true obedience and allegiance?
(4) Why does the creed: ‘Christ is Lord’, have implications for every single area of our lives?
(5) What do we need to do to better worship, submit to, and serve ‘Christ the Lord’ in true faith?
