Jesus is Lord: Affirming His Divine Authority
Summary
In today's reflection, we delve into the profound declaration that "Jesus is Lord." This statement is not merely a religious cliché or a password to faith; it is a profound assertion of the Christian belief in the deity of Jesus Christ. The term "Lord" in this context is synonymous with "Jehovah," the highest title attributed to God in the Old Testament. This confession, therefore, is a declaration of Jesus as Jehovah, the Lord God, affirming His unique deity and His role as the Savior.
The New Testament was written to establish and confirm the faith of believers, countering false teachings and apocryphal gospels that distorted the truth about Jesus Christ. The apostles emphasized the divine nature of Jesus, asserting that He is not only a man but also God, the eternal Word who was with God from the beginning. This truth is foundational to the Christian faith, as it affirms that Jesus is the Son of God, and through belief in Him, we have life.
The lordship of Jesus extends beyond His divine nature to His relationship with the universe. He is the creator of all things, visible and invisible, and everything was made by Him and for Him. This universe is a gift from the Father to the Son, and Jesus holds all things together. Without His sustaining power, the cosmos would descend into chaos. Furthermore, Jesus is the heir of all things, and through Him, God will restore the universe to its original perfection, uniting all things in Christ.
This understanding of Jesus' lordship is crucial for believers, as it provides a foundation for faith and a perspective on the world that transcends the chaos and disintegration caused by sin. It is a reminder that Jesus is the ultimate authority and that through Him, God will bring about a new creation where everything is unified and glorified.
Key Takeaways:
- The declaration "Jesus is Lord" is a profound affirmation of His deity, equating Him with Jehovah, the highest title for God. This confession is central to the Christian faith, as it acknowledges Jesus as the divine Savior. [24:13]
- The New Testament was written to affirm the truth of Jesus' divine nature and counter false teachings. It emphasizes that Jesus is both fully God and fully man, the eternal Word who brings life to believers. [30:26]
- Jesus' lordship encompasses His role as the creator and sustainer of the universe. Everything was made by Him and for Him, and He holds all things together, preventing chaos and disintegration. [41:11]
- As the heir of all things, Jesus will restore the universe to its original perfection, uniting all things in Him. This future hope is a central aspect of His lordship and the Christian faith. [46:50]
- Understanding Jesus' lordship provides believers with a perspective that transcends the chaos of the world, reminding us of His ultimate authority and the promise of a new creation. [47:58]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [23:57] - Jesus is Lord: A Staggering Statement
- [24:30] - The Meaning of "Lord" as Jehovah
- [25:35] - Confessing Jesus as Jehovah
- [26:29] - The Christian Confession
- [28:25] - Purpose of the New Testament
- [30:11] - Establishing Jesus' Deity
- [31:26] - Jesus as the Image of God
- [32:29] - The Colossian Heresy
- [33:22] - True vs. False Gospels
- [34:44] - Philosophy vs. Faith
- [35:14] - Jesus: The Image of the Invisible God
- [36:22] - Jesus' Relationship to the Universe
- [39:10] - Jesus: Firstborn of All Creation
- [41:11] - Jesus: Creator and Sustainer
- [46:17] - Restoration of the Cosmos
- [48:15] - Jesus' Ultimate Lordship
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Romans 10:9 - "If you declare with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."
2. John 1:1-3 - "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made."
3. Colossians 1:15-17 - "The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together."
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Observation Questions:
1. What does the term "Lord" signify in the context of Romans 10:9, and how does it relate to the Old Testament title "Jehovah"? [24:30]
2. According to John 1:1-3, what role does Jesus play in creation, and how does this affirm His divine nature? [30:11]
3. In Colossians 1:15-17, what are the implications of Jesus being described as the "firstborn over all creation"? [39:10]
4. How does the sermon describe the relationship between Jesus and the universe, particularly in terms of creation and sustenance? [41:11]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the declaration "Jesus is Lord" serve as a foundation for the Christian faith, and why is it essential for salvation according to Romans 10:9? [26:29]
2. What does the sermon suggest about the importance of understanding Jesus' divine nature in countering false teachings and apocryphal gospels? [29:57]
3. How does the concept of Jesus as the "heir of all things" in Hebrews 1:2 enhance our understanding of His lordship and future restoration of the universe? [44:57]
4. In what ways does the sermon emphasize the significance of Jesus' role as the sustainer of the universe, and how does this impact our perspective on the world's chaos? [44:13]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on the statement "Jesus is Lord" in your own life. How does this declaration influence your daily decisions and actions? [24:13]
2. Consider the false teachings mentioned in the sermon. How can you equip yourself to discern and counter such teachings in today's world? [29:57]
3. The sermon highlights Jesus' role as the sustainer of the universe. How can this understanding bring peace and assurance in times of personal or global chaos? [44:13]
4. How does recognizing Jesus as the "heir of all things" shape your view of the future and the hope of restoration in Christ? [44:57]
5. In what practical ways can you live out the truth that Jesus holds all things together, especially in your relationships and community involvement? [41:11]
6. The sermon discusses the unity and order Jesus brings to the universe. How can you contribute to unity and order in your church or community? [47:58]
7. Reflect on a specific area of your life where you need to acknowledge Jesus' lordship more fully. What steps can you take this week to submit that area to His authority? [48:15]
Devotional
Day 1: Jesus as Jehovah, the Divine Savior
The declaration "Jesus is Lord" is a profound affirmation of His deity, equating Him with Jehovah, the highest title for God. This confession is central to the Christian faith, as it acknowledges Jesus as the divine Savior. By recognizing Jesus as Jehovah, believers affirm His unique role in salvation and His divine authority over all creation. This understanding is not just a theological concept but a personal confession that shapes the believer's relationship with God and the world. It calls for a life of worship, obedience, and trust in Jesus as the ultimate authority and Savior. [24:13]
Isaiah 43:11-12 (ESV): "I, I am the Lord, and besides me there is no savior. I declared and saved and proclaimed, when there was no strange god among you; and you are my witnesses," declares the Lord, "and I am God."
Reflection: In what ways can you acknowledge Jesus as Lord in your daily life, and how does this acknowledgment influence your actions and decisions today?
Day 2: Affirming Jesus' Divine Nature
The New Testament was written to affirm the truth of Jesus' divine nature and counter false teachings. It emphasizes that Jesus is both fully God and fully man, the eternal Word who brings life to believers. This dual nature is foundational to the Christian faith, as it assures believers of Jesus' ability to bridge the gap between humanity and God. By understanding Jesus as the eternal Word, believers are invited into a relationship that offers life, hope, and transformation. This truth challenges believers to hold firm to the authentic gospel amidst a world of competing narratives. [30:26]
Colossians 2:9-10 (ESV): "For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority."
Reflection: How does the understanding of Jesus as both fully God and fully man impact your faith and trust in Him today?
Day 3: Jesus, Creator and Sustainer of the Universe
Jesus' lordship encompasses His role as the creator and sustainer of the universe. Everything was made by Him and for Him, and He holds all things together, preventing chaos and disintegration. This understanding of Jesus as the cosmic Lord provides believers with a perspective that transcends the chaos of the world. It reassures them of His ultimate authority and His active involvement in sustaining creation. Believers are called to trust in His power and sovereignty, knowing that He is in control and that His purposes will prevail. [41:11]
Hebrews 1:2-3 (ESV): "But in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power."
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need to trust Jesus as the sustainer and controller of all things, and how can you actively practice this trust today?
Day 4: Jesus, Heir and Restorer of All Things
As the heir of all things, Jesus will restore the universe to its original perfection, uniting all things in Him. This future hope is a central aspect of His lordship and the Christian faith. Believers are encouraged to look forward to the restoration of all things, where Jesus will reign supreme, and creation will be renewed. This hope provides comfort and motivation for believers to live faithfully in the present, knowing that their labor is not in vain and that God's redemptive plan will be fulfilled. [46:50]
Ephesians 1:9-10 (ESV): "Making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth."
Reflection: How does the promise of Jesus' future restoration of all things influence your perspective on current challenges and your role in God's redemptive plan?
Day 5: Transcending Chaos through Jesus' Lordship
Understanding Jesus' lordship provides believers with a perspective that transcends the chaos of the world, reminding us of His ultimate authority and the promise of a new creation. This perspective encourages believers to live with hope and confidence, knowing that Jesus is in control and that His purposes will ultimately prevail. It challenges believers to align their lives with His will, trusting in His guidance and provision amidst life's uncertainties. [47:58]
2 Corinthians 4:17-18 (ESV): "For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal."
Reflection: What specific steps can you take today to align your life with Jesus' lordship, and how can this alignment help you navigate the chaos and uncertainties of the world?
Quotes
The New Testament was rarely written in order to establish and to assert this point. I think that oftentimes we fail to understand many of the things that we are told in the New Testament because we forget the background. Why do you think the New Testament was ever written? Why were the gospels ever written? Why were these Epistles ever written? [00:28:22]
They were written to establish and to confirm the faith of the Believers. Here was the difficulty, as it's always been: the apostles had gone around preaching the gospel, and people had believed, and churches had been formed. But false teachers began to arise, and they began to say things in the name of Christianity and of the church which were not true. [00:28:48]
There were false gospels which were being written, apocryphal gospels claiming to be quite authentic, setting out ostensibly to teach the truth about the Lord Jesus Christ but saying fantastic things, things which were not true. And the result was that the Believers were Disturbed and Confused. Not only that, the message of the church was becoming confused. [00:29:14]
These documents that we have and which we call the New Testament were primarily written to correct that, to show that these apocryphal gospels and others were false and that they mustn't be believed, and that these false teachers were false apostles who were teaching a lie and were misrepresenting the truth concerning our Lord and concerning his great salvation. [00:29:38]
The Apostle writes to them and he puts it like this to them: he thanks God for them, for the Hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the Gospel, which should be translated like this: for the Hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof you heard before in the word of the true gospel. [00:33:03]
He says there is a true gospel, but there are false gospels. He says I know you've been troubled by these people. He mentions them in particular in the second chapter where he warns them in particular against the danger of being misled. Beware, he says in verse 8, lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit. [00:33:28]
Listen, who is the image, the exact likeness of the invisible God? That's who he is, this Jesus. He is the firstborn of every creature, for by him were all things created that are in heaven and that are in Earth, visible and invisible. You see, it's all about this person. It isn't what you feel. [00:35:24]
By him were all things created that are in heaven and that are in Earth, visible and invisible, whether they be Thrones or dominions or principalities or Powers. All things were created by Him and for him, and he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body of the church. [00:36:05]
He is the firstborn of every creature, which means this: that he has the Primacy over all created things, or a better translation would be born before all created things. In other words, he wasn't created; he was born before anything was created, the one, if you like, who has priority to and over all creation. [00:39:17]
It is through him that everything was created, exactly as we get in the first chapter of The Gospel According to St John. The word implies priority and sovereignty. He existed before all created things and all was therefore created by Him and through him. And then this tremendous statement in the 19th verse: it pleased the father that in him should all fullness dwell. [00:39:55]
By him all things consist, which means this: that he holds everything together. Now Hebrews 1:3 is a good commentary on this, where he puts it, you remember, by putting it like upholding All Things by the word of his power. Here it is: all things consist. It's the most interesting term. What does it mean? [00:43:27]
It is through him and by him that God is going to restore this whole Cosmos to the condition in which it was originally when God made it and from which it has fallen as the result of man's sin. Now this is Ephesians 1:10. Or let me read verse 9 first: having made known unto us the mystery of his will. [00:46:17]
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