The Lordship of Jesus Christ

Introduction

Jesus Christ is both Savior and Lord—not just the Lord of His followers but also the Lord of all lords. Not all people presently acknowledge Him as their Lord, but that does not alter the fact of His lordship. Someday in eternity, every single person will acknowledge Christ as Lord. Until then, anyone who is willing to trust Him totally has the privilege of coming under Christ’s influence and obeying His lordship. Christ becomes our Lord first by a decision made through trusting Him and then by the daily practice of willing obedience to His commands. Under the lordship of Jesus, we can have complete confidence in His loving protection.

The Lord Jesus Christ

A person’s title or titles reveals information about the person to whom the titles refer. Some of the titles given to Jesus Christ are listed in the verses below.

13 You call me Teacher and Lord — and you are speaking rightly, since that is what I am. John 13:13 CSB

36 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know with certainty that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” Acts 2:36 CSB

16 And he has a name written on his robe and on his thigh: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. Revelation 19:16 CSB

These titles reveal something about who Jesus Christ is.

  • Teacher
  • Lord
  • Messiah
  • King of Kings
  • Lord of Lords

There are many more titles and names given to Jesus that are not listed here!

Jesus is the Lord of all creation.

16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. Colossians 1:16-17 NKJV

Jesus is the Lord of the living and the dead.

9 For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living. Romans 14:9 NKJV

Jesus is the Lord of all believers.

18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence. Colossians 1:18 NKJV

God the Father exalted Jesus Christ.

9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:9-11 NIV

  • Verse 9 tells us that God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name.
  • Verse 10 tells us how every person will exalt Him.
  • Verse 11 tells us that God will be glorified by every tongue acknowledging that Jesus Christ is Lord.

It is far better to acknowledge the Lordship of Jesus Christ voluntarily than involuntarily while we are on this earth.

The angels acknowledge Christ’s lordship.

11 Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. 12 In a loud voice they were saying:
“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength
and honor and glory and praise!” Revelation 5:11-12 NIV

You are not your own.

19 Or do you not know that your body is a sanctuary of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? 20 For you were bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 LSB

You were bought with a price. Glorify God in your body.

Acknowledge His Lordship By Your Decision

Christ should have the same place in our hearts that He holds in the universe.

18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence. Colossians 1:18 NKJV

Have you considered what your life in Christ would look like if Christ held the same place in your heart that He holds in the universe?

Romans 12:1 tells us to present ourselves to God as a sacrifice as an act of worship.

1 Therefore I exhort you, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a sacrifice—living, holy, and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. Romans 12:1 LSB

Why should we do this?

Do any of the following sentences sound familiar to you? I generally think or feel that…

  • Jesus doesn’t really understand my problems.
  • He may want me to do something I can’t.
  • He may want me to enter a career that I would not enjoy.
  • He has already let me down.
  • He will prevent me from getting married.
  • He will take away my enjoyment of possessions, hobbies, or friends.
  • He can help me in the big things, but He doesn’t care about the little things.

What other fears or emotions have prevented you from giving Christ access to every area of your life? You can dispel every fear you have about giving God your very life. God has revealed His heart toward you in Jeremiah 29:11.

11 For I know the plans I have for you” — this is the LORD’s declaration — “plans for your well-being, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11 CSB

Consider this quote comparing lordship to a marriage covenant.

A clear and definite activity of the will is involved in recognizing his lordship, since he is to be Lord of all. By her “I will” the bride at the marriage altar, ideally, forever enthrones her groom in her affections. In subsequent years she lives out in detail all that was implied in that momentary act of the will. A similar enthronement of Christ can result from a similar act of the will, for the same decision as enthrones Christ automatically dethrones self. J. Oswald Sanders

What similarities do you see between a bride giving herself to her groom in loving, lifelong trust and believers giving themselves to Christ in loving, lifelong trust, for better or for worse?

  • What, if anything, thrills you about surrendering to Christ that way?
  • What, if anything, frightens you about that kind of all-or-nothing surrender to Christ’s lordship?

Consider the following questions and circle the appropriate name.

  • Who knows perfectly what is best for my life? Me Jesus
  • Who is most able to do what is best for my life? Me Jesus
  • Who desires at all times what is truly best for my life? Me Jesus

Even though we know how good God is, why do you think it is still so hard to surrender our lives to God?

Look at what God has given us to help us trust Christ and to obey Him as our Lord in 2 Peter 1:3-4!

3 His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. 2 Peter 1:3-4 NIV

Acknowledge His Lordship in Practice

Good intentions don’t guarantee good results. A good start does not ensure a strong finish. Making a decision is only the beginning. Once you have decided to acknowledge the lordship of Christ, you will prove that He is Lord by submitting to Him moment by moment and by obeying Him in the daily affairs of life, such as those represented in the illustration below.

Take a few moments to evaluate your surrender to the lordship of Jesus Christ in each one of these areas. A good way to determine if Christ is Lord in each area is to ask yourself, “Am I willing to do whatever Christ desires in this area?” or “Will I be able to thank God for whatever may happen in this area?”

Which area or areas in the illustration, if any, are you not allowing Christ to be Lord?

Are there other areas not mentioned that you are not allowing Jesus to be Lord in? Explain what they are and why you hesitate to trust Jesus’ authority in those areas. What can you do in these areas to invite Christ’s lordship? Once you have identified an area or area, search the Scriptures for verses that you can apply and begin to walk in. 

Time for a Reality Check

We should not be concerned about what we would do for the Lord if we only had more money, time, or education. Instead, we must decide what we will do with the things we have now. What really matters is our yielding and surrendering to Christ’s lordship.

Are You Feeling Unhappy and Anxious?

Whenever you assume control of your life, you will soon become unhappy and anxious. 1 Peter 5:6-7 instructs us on what to do with respect to our relationship with the Lord.

6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, 7 casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:6-7 NASB95

Philippians 4:6-8 also tells us what to choose to do.

6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. Philippians 4:6-8 NASB95

If our cares and worries are not committed to the Lord Jesus, we will become unfruitful.

18 Others are like seed sown among thorns; these are the ones who hear the word, 19 but the worries of this age, the deceitfulness of wealth, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. Mark 4:18-19 CSB

How do you think this takes place?

Are You Doing the Four Things Necessary to Follow After Jesus?

23 Then he said to them all, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me. 24 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me will save it. Luke 9:23-24 CSB

  • Do you want to follow after Jesus?
  • Are you choosing to deny yourself?
  • Are you taking up your cross daily?
  • Are following Him?

An Excellent Way to Evaluate if Jesus is Truly Your Lord

46 “Now why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? Luke 6:46 LSB

The Lord’s Promise to Those Who Leave All and Follow Him

28 And Peter said, “Behold, we have left all that is our own and followed You.” 29 And He said to them, “Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, 30 who will not receive many times more at this time and in the age to come, eternal life.” Luke 18:28-30 LSB

Can you describe a particular time or situation when you obeyed this command?
What was the effect on you and others?

Memory Verse

16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. Colossians 1:16-17 NKJV

Points to Remember

  • Jesus Christ is declared to be Lord in the Scriptures. He is worthy to be Lord because of who He is and what He has done.
  • Because Jesus Christ is Lord, the believer’s responsibility is to acknowledge His authority every day in all areas of life.
  • Various areas of a believer’s life may not be subject to the control of Christ. The follower of Jesus should submit these areas to Christ and continue to recognize that Christ’s lordship is for his own welfare and joy.

Points to Ponder

Read and meditate on each verse in Colossians 1:13-22 below, then summarize in your own words what each verse says is true about the Lord Jesus or true about you as His follower.

13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves,

14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.

16 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.

17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.

19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him,

20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

21 Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior.

22 But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation… Colossians 1:13-22 NIV

How do these truths and assurances from God’s Word affect your willingness to surrender joyfully to His lordship?