Jesus Christ IS Lord

Feature 1 – January 2021 – Grace & Truth Magazine

Jesus Christ Is Lord

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven” (Mt. 7:21 NKJV ). The Lord Jesus made this solemn statement toward the end of what is generally called the Sermon on the Mount (Mt. 5–7). This declaration implies that there are only two options: either do what He says, or not.

Saying “Lord, Lord” but not doing what He says is not an option for disciples, even though many people think it is. When we say, “Lord,” it implies doing His will. If we are not doing it, this means that we do not recognize Him as Lord and are disobedient. If we are doing what He says we should do, we realize that this is only possible with His help, as we have no strength in ourselves “apart from Me you can do nothing” (Jn. 15:5 ESV).

The Lord Jesus cast out many demons during His public earthly ministry in Israel. They never ever said “Lord” to Him. Even Judas, one of His disciples and who had performed miracles in the Lord’s name, never said “Lord” to Him. Instead, this disciple who betrayed Jesus said only “Rabbi” (Mt. 26:25), meaning “Teacher.” However, a day will come when all will be forced to confess Him as “Lord,” honor and bow the knee to Him – even the Devil will do so. Writing about the Lord Jesus, the apostle Paul explained that “God ... has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Phil. 2:9-11 NKJV).

In the Epistle to the Romans the apostle Paul was led by God’s Spirit to explain the way of salvation. He clearly showed that all human beings have sinned and are guilty before the holy and righteous God (3:23), with the sole exception of the Lord Jesus, of course. He never sinned, knew no sin, and in Him was no sin (1 Pet. 2:22, 2 Cor. 5:21, 1 Jn. 3:5). In His grace, God provided the way of salvation – through faith – for whoever confesses his sin and puts his trust in Him. “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” (Rom. 10:9 ESV). Dear reader, have you done so? If not, don’t hesitate or argue. Do it now. Don’t delay.

With God, Inward And Outward Go Together
The verse we just quoted shows an intimate link exists between the heart and mouth – what a person believes on the one hand, and says or does on the other, are tied together. If we say “Lord” to Him but do not obey, we should realize that this really is not an option, for God wants the heart to be in tune with what the mouth says and vice versa. That is why the Lord Jesus said, “I am what I say, and I say what I am” (my paraphrase of John 8:28). In other words, there was a perfect harmony in His life between what He said and what He did; His words always agreed with His actions. For us the problem often is that we may say the right things but not do them. This is wrong. God does not allow any discrepancy between confession and actions, as He wants both to agree, so that our inward condition corresponds with what we say and do.

The book of Acts tells us about people who repented and were baptized in/to the name of the Lord Jesus in four completely different scenarios. They are:

• In Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost, 3,000 Jewish men and women got saved and were baptized (2:38).
• In Samaria, many accepted God’s good news presented by Philip, and they were baptized (8:16).
• In Caesarea, Peter was led into a Roman officer’s home where many were gathered to hear God’s Word. They believed, received the Holy Spirit and were baptized (10:48)
• In Ephesus, when Paul visited a few years later, many people from different backgrounds got saved and were baptized as well (19:5).

The inward change through repentance was accompanied by the outward act of baptism, to the name of the Lord. This confirmed the harmony between outward action and inward condition. We distinguish both aspects but should not separate them, such as allowing a long period of time between them. Neither should we think that babies are born again because they have been baptized. By God’s grace these individuals may make a personal decision for Christ later and be saved, but we should not take it for granted.

Lordship And Unity
God the Father, the Holy Spirit, and the Lord Jesus who is God the Son, are inseparable and always agree (see Jn. 13–17). Similarly, a true harmony exists between the Lord Jesus at God’s right hand and the Holy Spirit sent by Him to this earth. That is why Paul wrote: “I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says ‘Jesus is accursed!’ and no one can say ‘Jesus is Lord’ except in the Holy Spirit” (1 Cor. 12:3 ESV). Sadly, there have been situations where people, thinking they were speaking in tongues, were cursing the Lord in a language they did not understand. Obviously, they had allowed an evil spirit to take control – not the Holy Spirit, as the quoted verse shows. If we follow the Lord’s instructions and judge ourselves in His light, He will protect us against such mishaps.

Furthermore, 1 Corinthians teaches that the Lord Jesus, through His Spirit in us, is leading all believers in God’s truth. This is true from Pentecost to the rapture, wherever they live (1:2, 4:17, 7:17, 11:16, 14:33, 16:1,12). The words “so I ordain in all the churches” (7:17 NKJV) are an example of what these Scripture portions show. Namely, God’s basic teachings are the same for all believers throughout the 2,000 years of Church history. The Scriptures are sufficient to settle all matters according to God’s thoughts, because the Word of God explains itself (2 Pet. 1:20-21).

For your further study, look at Paul’s answers to the seven questions the believers at Corinth asked (1 Cor. 7:1,25, 8:1, 12:1, 15:1, 16:1,12). His answers often start with “Now concerning.”

We Are All Under The Same Lord
“There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord” (12:4-5). How blessed we are to have different gifts and how privileged to have received the Holy Spirit to guide and help us understand and practice God’s truth. For this we need obedient hearts and humble spirits, formed and taught in God’s school. Then we will receive God’s thoughts in order to do them.

“If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord” (14:37). This is one of the above-mentioned seven passages in 1 Corinthians, and it shows these instructions have been given by the Lord Himself. They are still valid in our day for every true believer, despite all kinds of objections, counter arguments and various kinds of reasonings.

The next passage in 1 Corinthians shows that Timothy was serving the Lord just as Paul was, although not in the same capacity. “And if Timothy comes, see that he may be with you without fear; for he does the work of the Lord, as I also do” (16:10). Believers today are still under the direct authority of the Lord, even as Apollos was (v.12), but not in a manmade hierarchy, human order, ordination or invented arrangements. That is why all believers are needed, according to God’s plan, and must cultivate and maintain a healthy, personal relationship with the Lord and with each other.

For this reason, Peter taught and prepared the next generation about the need to grow (read 2 Pet. 1:5-12, 3:18). These instructions were needed then and still are needed for our day, but they cannot be obtained or enforced by keeping rules and regulations. Rather, we must cultivate a close relationship with the Lord and with each other, while applying sincere self-judgment (see 1 Cor. 10–11).

Consider, too, the instructions the Lord gave in Mark 7:1-16, which correspond to Paul’s significant words: “I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean” (Rom. 14:14 esv). This sets aside ritualism, legalism and mysticism (Col. 2:16-23).

“In The Name Of The Lord”
The phrase “in the name of the Lord” occurs 14 times in the New Testament (see chart). It implies total submission to His authority, acting and walking in communion with Him. He is Lord and has absolute authority. The following verse gives a beautiful explanation, “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him” (Col. 3:17 NKJV). This means that we are to represent the Lord Jesus in whatever we say and do, which leads to thanksgiving and praise.

Saying to Him “Yes, Lord” is the only option we have as believers, to obey Him and do His bidding. If we say, “No, Lord,” then we have a problem, as Peter had (Mt. 16:22) or Ananias (Acts 9:11-18); yet both were willing to learn and do His will. Saying no to Him is not an option, for if He is not Lord of all, He is not Lord at all, even though we may say, “Lord, Lord.”

“Lord Jesus Christ” is a precious expression that occurs 63 (7x9) times in the New Testament (ESV).1 It is worthwhile and edifying to take a concordance or computer program and go through this list, reading this short phrase in its various contexts. Often, “the” is in front of it, and sometimes “our.” The apostle Peter used it for the first time when he was in Jerusalem defending his actions performed in the house of Cornelius (see Acts 10:36-48). “If therefore God gave them [believers among the Gentiles] the same gift as He gave us [Jewish believers] when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could withstand God?” (11:17 NKJV). The term “Lord” indicates His authority and confirms His control, as Peter honored Him at this occasion and as we may do today, in a scene where the Lord Jesus is not served or respected.

His name Jesus or Yeshua means that He is Jehovah/Yahweh, God and Man in one blessed person (Mt. 1:18-25; Lk. 1:26-38). This is an unsearchable mystery, ever beyond human understanding, yet a true reality; praise God! As Man He is Christ or Messiah, God’s anointed One, first on earth (Mt. 3:17; Acts 10:38) and now in heaven (2:34-36). From there He identified Himself with the new believers on earth through the Holy Spirit, whom He sent to dwell in them (Acts 2). The believers in Cornelius’ home were all Gentiles who, through faith, identified with the rejected Jesus of Nazareth. Their identification with Him was confirmed in water baptism, as Peter ordered (Acts 10:48; see Mt. 16:19). Today, believers from among Jews and Gentiles are one in Christ and may serve and honor Him in the same world that rejects Him (see Eph. 2).

For His Name, Because Of His Name
Acts also tells us about the mission by Barnabas and Saul/Paul. A few years later, it was said about them that they were “men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (15:26). What a beautiful testimony! May we also have this mindset and truly represent the Lord Jesus in this world that is opposed to Him.

Toward the end of his third missionary journey and on his way to Jerusalem, Paul briefly summarized his ministry to the elders from Ephesus who had come to Miletus to see him and bid him farewell. Luke wrote that the apostle said he had been “testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ” (20:21). Besides presenting God’s good news, Paul had proclaimed “the kingdom of God” (v.25) and confirmed the rights of the rejected Lord. He had also declared “the whole counsel of God” (v.27), which included God’s thoughts about “the Church of the living God” (1 Tim. 3:15). Later, Luke concluded his report about Paul saying that he was “teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ, with all freedom unhinderedly” (Acts 28:31 JND), even though he was a prisoner of Rome.

As believers we are all challenged and encouraged to follow such an example. That is why we need to find out “what is acceptable to the Lord” (Eph. 5:10 NKJV). This implies self-judgment and removing hindrances so we are ready to learn what His will is, with a view of doing it and to please Him. In the context of walking in love as a living sacrifice (v.2) and as children of light (vv.8-9), we examine these things with God’s wisdom (vv.15-17) in order to do His will. Thus, we will be able to examine what is pleasing to Him and do it, instead of seeking to please ourselves or others. As we walk in love, light and wisdom, our priority is to use our abilities to please Him (vv.13-21).

The apostle was directed by the Lord to write 1 Corinthians to all the believers wherever they are (1:1-2). This is not just a slogan or something fake – not at all. Every believer is required to hear the Lord’s instructions and respond to them. These teachings are in full agreement with all the apostles (see 1 Jn. 4:6), and all true believers are responsible to practice them. It is not something we can choose and prefer, or leave and reject. No, as faithful bondservants we are all bound to hear and do His instructions.

Dear brothers and sisters, whether we like it or not we are in this world to represent the Lord Jesus, who saved us and to whom we belong forever as those bought with a price (1 Cor. 6:19-20; Gal. 2:20). That is why we cannot select things we like to do for Him and reject other matters even though we know that He wants us to do them. On the contrary, the things we touched upon are not just an option, for we are exhorted “to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 1:3-4 NKJV). We are called “blessed” when we read and hear and do the things our Lord communicates to us through His Word (Rev. 1:3). The Lord Jesus told His disciples that they would be happy, or “blessed,” if they would do the things they knew as taught by Him (Jn. 13:17). This is also for us, as James wrote, “be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves” (Jas. 1:22).

James’ Encouragements, Still Valid For Our Days
Fully in tune with the other New Testament writers, James left us an important legacy in closing his epistle. He wrote: “Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.

“Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins” (5:13-20).

God’s Word is powerful and effective (Heb. 4:12-13). May we let it speak to us and may we be doers of the Word and not merely hearers – until He comes.

ENDNOTE
1. “Lord Jesus Christ” in the ESV: Acts 11:17, 15:26, 20:21, 28:31; Rom. 1:7, 5:1,11, 13:14, 15:6,30, 16:20; 1 Cor. 1:2-3,7-8,10, 6:11, 8:6, 15:57; 2 Cor. 1:2-3, 8:9, 13:14; Gal. 1:3, 6:14,18; Eph. 1:2-3,17, 5:20, 6:23-24; Phil. 1:2, 3:20, 4:23; Col. 1:3; 1 Th. 1:1,3, 5:9,23,28; 2 Th. 1:1-2,12, 2:1,14,16, 3:6,12,18; 1 Tim. 6:3,14; Phile. 1:3,25; Jas. 1:1, 2:1; 1 Pet. 1:3; 2 Pet. 1:8,14,16; Jude 1:4,17,21.

By Alfred Bouter

“The name of the Lord”

Matthew 21:9 And the crowds that went before Him and that followed Him were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!”

Matthew 23:39 For I tell you, you will not see Me again, until you say, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.”

Mark 11:9 And those who went before and those who followed were shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!”

Luke 13:35 Behold, your house is forsaken. And I tell you, you will not see Me until you say, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!”

Luke 19:38 saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”

John 12:13 So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!”

Acts 8:16 for He had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Acts 9:28 So he went in and out among them at Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord.

Acts 19:5 On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

1 Corinthians 5:4 When you are assembled in the name of the Lord Jesus and my spirit is present, with the power of our Lord Jesus ...

1 Corinthians 6:11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

Colossians 3:17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

James 5:10 As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.

James 5:14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.