Confessing Christ: The Urgency of True Lordship

Devotional

Day 1: The Prophetic Fulfillment of Christ's Suffering

Psalm 22 vividly describes the crucifixion of Jesus, emphasizing the fulfillment of prophecy and the purpose of His incarnation. This psalm reminds us of the depth of God's plan for redemption, highlighting the necessity of Christ's suffering for our salvation. The piercing of His hands and feet and the casting of lots for His garments were foretold long before they occurred, underscoring the divine orchestration of these events. This prophetic fulfillment not only confirms the authenticity of Scripture but also deepens our understanding of the sacrificial love of Christ.
Reflecting on this, we are reminded that Jesus' suffering was not in vain but was a crucial part of God's redemptive plan for humanity. His incarnation and subsequent crucifixion were acts of profound love, designed to bring us back into a right relationship with God. As we meditate on this truth, we are called to respond with gratitude and a renewed commitment to live in the light of His sacrifice. [00:37]

Psalm 22:16-18 (ESV): "For dogs encompass me; a company of evildoers encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet—I can count all my bones—they stare and gloat over me; they divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots."

Reflection: How does understanding the prophetic nature of Christ's suffering deepen your appreciation for His sacrifice? How can you live in a way that reflects gratitude for His redemptive work today?

Day 2: The Inevitability of Confession

Every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. This truth, sworn by God Himself, assures us of the certainty of this future event. Acknowledging His lordship now brings salvation, while delaying this confession until judgment results in eternal separation from God. The inevitability of this confession is a powerful reminder of the ultimate authority of Christ and the importance of recognizing His lordship in our lives today.
This acknowledgment is not merely a verbal declaration but a heartfelt submission to His authority. It is an invitation to align our lives with His will, experiencing the peace and joy that come from living under His lordship. As we consider the certainty of this future event, we are encouraged to make this confession a present reality, allowing it to transform our lives and relationships. [10:48]

Isaiah 45:23-24 (ESV): "By myself I have sworn; from my mouth has gone out in righteousness a word that shall not return: 'To me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear allegiance.' Only in the Lord, it shall be said of me, are righteousness and strength; to him shall come and be ashamed all who were incensed against him."

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you struggle to acknowledge Jesus as Lord? How can you begin to submit those areas to His authority today?

Day 3: True Confession and Salvation

A genuine confession of Jesus as Lord involves more than words; it requires a life surrendered to His will. This true confession leads to forgiveness, a clean record, and a life free from condemnation. It is a call to live in obedience and submission to Christ. Many may say "Lord, Lord," but without true submission to His will, it is meaningless.
True confession is evidenced by a life that seeks His guidance and obeys His commands. It is a transformative process that aligns our desires with His, resulting in a life marked by peace, joy, and purpose. As we reflect on the significance of this confession, we are challenged to examine our lives and ensure that our words align with our actions, living out our faith in tangible ways. [19:41]

Matthew 7:21 (ESV): "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven."

Reflection: What steps can you take to ensure that your confession of Jesus as Lord is reflected in your daily actions and decisions?

Day 4: Judgment and Accountability

Believers will stand before the judgment seat of Christ, where their works will be evaluated. This judgment is not for condemnation but for rewards based on faithfulness. In contrast, those who reject Christ will face the great white throne judgment, where their failure to acknowledge Him as Lord will be the central issue.
This understanding of judgment and accountability serves as a sobering reminder of the importance of living a life that honors God. For believers, it is an opportunity to reflect on how we are using our gifts and resources for His glory. For those who have not yet confessed Jesus as Lord, it is a call to consider the eternal consequences of that decision. [32:14]

2 Corinthians 5:10 (ESV): "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil."

Reflection: How are you using your time, talents, and resources to serve God and others? What changes can you make to ensure that you are living a life that will be rewarded at the judgment seat of Christ?

Day 5: The Urgency of Decision

Now is the time to confess Jesus as Lord and surrender to His lordship. This decision determines our eternal destiny, offering a life of peace, love, and fellowship with God. Delaying this choice results in eternal separation, as God honors our decision to reject Him.
The urgency of this decision cannot be overstated. It is a call to action, inviting us to respond to God's love and grace with a willing heart. As we consider the implications of this choice, we are encouraged to make a deliberate decision to follow Christ, experiencing the fullness of life that comes from walking in His ways. [36:22]

Hebrews 3:15 (ESV): "As it is said, 'Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.'"

Reflection: What is holding you back from fully surrendering to Jesus today? How can you take a step of faith to embrace His lordship and experience the abundant life He offers?

Sermon Summary

Psalm 22, often associated with Good Friday, prophetically details the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, highlighting the piercing of His hands and feet and the casting of lots for His garments. This psalm not only speaks of His suffering but also points to the ultimate purpose of His incarnation: to die on the cross for our redemption. The focus today is on the prophecy in verse 28, which declares that all who have died will one day bow before Him. This ties into the theme of every knee bowing and every tongue confessing to God, as echoed in Romans 14:10-12 and Isaiah 45:23.

In Romans, Paul challenges us not to judge one another, reminding us that we will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. The certainty of this event is underscored by God's oath, swearing by Himself that every knee shall bow and every tongue confess. This confession, "Jesus Christ is Lord," is inevitable for all, whether in this life or at the final judgment. However, confessing Him as Lord now, with genuine faith, brings salvation and eternal life.

The sermon emphasizes the importance of making a true confession of Jesus as Lord, not just in words but in life. Many may say "Lord, Lord," but without true submission to His will, it is meaningless. True confession involves living a life surrendered to Him, seeking His guidance, and obeying His commands. This genuine acknowledgment of His lordship leads to a life free from condemnation, as our sins are forgiven and our record is made clean.

The future holds two judgments: one for believers at the judgment seat of Christ, where our works will be evaluated, and another for those who have not confessed Jesus as Lord, at the great white throne judgment. The latter will face the consequence of their rejection of Christ. Therefore, it is crucial to confess Jesus as Lord now, ensuring our place in His eternal kingdom.

Key Takeaways

1. The Prophetic Fulfillment of Psalm 22: Psalm 22 vividly describes the crucifixion of Jesus, emphasizing the fulfillment of prophecy and the purpose of His incarnation. This psalm reminds us of the depth of God's plan for redemption, highlighting the necessity of Christ's suffering for our salvation. [00:37]
2. The Inevitability of Confession: Every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. This truth, sworn by God Himself, assures us of the certainty of this future event. Acknowledging His lordship now brings salvation, while delaying this confession until judgment results in eternal separation from God. [10:48]
3. True Confession and Salvation: A genuine confession of Jesus as Lord involves more than words; it requires a life surrendered to His will. This true confession leads to forgiveness, a clean record, and a life free from condemnation. It is a call to live in obedience and submission to Christ. [19:41]
4. Judgment and Accountability: Believers will stand before the judgment seat of Christ, where their works will be evaluated. This judgment is not for condemnation but for rewards based on faithfulness. In contrast, those who reject Christ will face the great white throne judgment, where their failure to acknowledge Him as Lord will be the central issue. [32:14]
5. The Urgency of Decision: Now is the time to confess Jesus as Lord and surrender to His lordship. This decision determines our eternal destiny, offering a life of peace, love, and fellowship with God. Delaying this choice results in eternal separation, as God honors our decision to reject Him. [36:22]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:18] - Introduction to Psalm 22
[00:53] - The Purpose of the Incarnation
[01:26] - Prophecy of Every Knee Bowing
[02:06] - Scripture Reading: Psalm 22
[06:17] - Declaration of Eternal Truths
[07:55] - Introduction to Romans 14
[08:12] - Judgment Seat of Christ
[09:15] - God's Oath and Assurance
[11:31] - The Incarnation and Humility of Christ
[12:39] - The Confession of Jesus as Lord
[14:26] - The Futility of Delayed Confession
[17:36] - The True Confession of Faith
[22:28] - The Reality of Judgment
[32:14] - The Two Judgments
[36:22] - The Urgency of Confessing Jesus as Lord

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:

Psalm 22
Romans 14:10-12
Isaiah 45:23

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Observation Questions:

What specific events from the crucifixion of Jesus are prophetically described in Psalm 22? How do these events highlight the purpose of His incarnation? [00:37]
According to Romans 14:10-12, what is the significance of every knee bowing and every tongue confessing to God? How does this relate to the judgment seat of Christ? [08:12]
In Isaiah 45:23, God swears by Himself regarding a future event. What is this event, and why is it significant that God swears by Himself? [09:15]
How does the sermon describe the difference between a true confession of Jesus as Lord and a mere verbal acknowledgment? [19:41]

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Interpretation Questions:

What does the prophetic fulfillment of Psalm 22 reveal about God's plan for redemption through Jesus' crucifixion? How does this deepen our understanding of the necessity of Christ's suffering? [00:53]
How does the inevitability of every knee bowing and every tongue confessing impact our understanding of God's sovereignty and the future judgment? [10:48]
What does it mean to make a true confession of Jesus as Lord, according to the sermon? How does this confession affect one's salvation and eternal life? [19:41]
How does the sermon explain the two types of judgments mentioned in the Bible? What are the implications for believers and non-believers? [32:14]

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Application Questions:

Reflect on your own life: Have you made a true confession of Jesus as Lord, not just in words but in your daily actions and decisions? What steps can you take to ensure your life aligns with this confession? [19:41]
The sermon emphasizes the urgency of confessing Jesus as Lord now. What might be holding you back from making this confession, and how can you overcome these barriers? [36:22]
Consider the future judgment described in the sermon. How does the knowledge of standing before the judgment seat of Christ influence your current lifestyle and priorities? [32:14]
How can you actively live a life surrendered to Jesus' will, seeking His guidance and obeying His commands? Identify one area in your life where you can improve in this regard. [19:41]
The sermon discusses the importance of not judging others, as we will all stand before Christ's judgment seat. How can you practice grace and understanding in your interactions with others, especially those with differing beliefs or practices? [16:40]
Reflect on the concept of eternal separation from God for those who delay confessing Jesus as Lord. How does this motivate you to share your faith with others? What specific actions can you take to engage someone in a spiritual conversation this week? [36:22]
The sermon mentions the joy and peace that come from living in fellowship with God. How can you cultivate a deeper relationship with God to experience this joy and peace more fully in your life? [39:32]

Sermon Clips

The prophecy that all who have died will one day bow before him is the portion of the psalm that we're interested in today because we're going to be talking about the subject of every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess unto god. [00:01:56]

Paul here is quoting from the prophet Isaiah chapter 45 verse 23 where God said I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return that unto me every knee shall bow, and every tongue shall confess. [00:08:59]

You can be certain of that, more than anything else in all the world, you can know you can be sure that one day, because God has declared and sworn by himself that it is so, one day every knee shall bow, every tongue shall confess. [00:10:54]

Now it may be that you have not made that confession yet, it may be that you don't want to make that confession. It must be acknowledged that many people have lived and died without ever confessing that Jesus was Lord, but there is a day coming for everyone when that confession will be made. [00:13:17]

The tragedy is that though one day men will make that confession, if you wait until you are standing before God and his holy judgment, though you may confess it then it will not bring to you salvation. It will be meaningless as far as your eternal salvation is concerned. [00:17:27]

A confession must be a true confession if it is to be meaningful. There are a lot of people even today who are saying lord lord, you hear them say oh the good lordy and they use the name of the lord, but it isn't a true confession because Jesus really isn't the lord of their lives. [00:18:41]

If we will confess with our mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord, and believe in our hearts that God has raised him from the dead, we will be saved but again, that has to be a true confession, a confession of what is actual fact. Jesus is the lord of my life. [00:19:38]

The future holds number one death, the statistics concerning death are quite impressive, 100 out of every 100 die, none of us are going to escape it as the scripture says, it is appointed unto man once to die but as we said that's not the end, after that the judgment. [00:31:12]

There are two judgments for men, one for those who have already confessed that Jesus Christ is Lord, Paul said we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ. There is also the judgment seat of God that John describes in Revelation 20. [00:31:48]

If you haven't confessed Jesus as Lord with a true confession, then you will stand before an entirely different judgment. You will stand before the judgment seat of God, Revelation chapter 20. And there the issue will be your failure to acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord. [00:35:04]

The Bible says now is the accepted time, now is the time to make that confession or acknowledgement of the lordship of Jesus, and to surrender your life to him as your lord, not to do your own thing any longer, but now to seek his will and to do his will. [00:36:14]

God sent his son into the world to be the lord overall and one day, sooner or later even you will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father, but oh how important that you confess that sooner than later. [00:37:01]

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Confessing Christ: The Urgency of True Lordship

Devotional

Day 1: The Prophetic Fulfillment of Christ's Suffering

Day 2: The Inevitability of Confession

Day 3: True Confession and Salvation

Day 4: Judgment and Accountability

Day 5: The Urgency of Decision

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Confessing Christ: The Urgency of True Lordship

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