"Jesus Christ is
Lord"
Substance of an Address at
March 12, 2017.
_______
"He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: He that cometh from heaven is above all." John 3:31.
The apostle Paul in the course of exhorting the Philippians to humility unfolds to them the mystery of the Person of Christ concerning His humiliation and exaltation.
The first man Adam was once set up as a lord of the lower creation. He "is of the earth, earthy;" (I Cor. 15), but Jesus Christ, the Last Adam, "the Second Man is the Lord from heaven." (I Cor. 15.) -- "He that cometh from heaven is above all." (John 3.)
As Man, Jesus has been highly exalted in consequent of His accomplished work on the Cross. As the Son of God, He has the glory of God; equal with the Father; because He is God from everlasting to everlasting. Now as Man having accomplished the redemption, the Lord Jesus was exalted to the right hand of the Father. And the Name of Jesus, observe, especially speaks of His blessed Humanity.
The Lordship of Jesus Christ is over all creation --the three realms: heaven, earth, under the earth (infernal). (Phil. 2.) God the Father has decreed "that at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
The early Christians were persecuted and killed because they refused to confess the decree of Emperor which proclaimed "Caesar is Lord." Instead, they boldly confessed that "Jesus Christ is Lord." (Phil. 2:11; Romans 1:3 &c.) They could not deny their faith in Jesus as their Lord (Romans 10:9).
(We must bear in mind that when the Scripture speaks of
Jesus as Lord (kurios), it does not merely intimate a
polite expression of honour as it is sometimes used (in certain societies) to
refer to those that hold lands etc, but always His Deity (Adonai). (See Psalm 110; Acts 2.) So when
The Lordship of Christ intimates the exclusive character of His divine Lordship. (see Col. 1.) And that this present evil scene and order will soon be supplanted by something glorious and stable -- the Millennial kingdom and reign of Christ.
At present, the Name of the Lord Jesus is being dishonoured in the world. But let us examine our own condition to see if there is anything in our own lives that is hindering our acknowledging (practically) of the rightful claims of Christ over us.
Christ will soon exercise His rights over all the created order, at His second coming, as the King of kings and Lord of lords. But, in the meantime, it is our glorious privilege to behold "that same Jesus" Who was once crucified, made "both Lord and Christ" at the right hand of God. (Acts 2:36; Matt. 28:18.)
How we should rejoice, therefore, gazing upon the Son of God and contemplating His most profound sufferings and exaltation as Man as the writer of Hebrews says: "But we see Jesus, Who was made a little (while) lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that He by the grace of God should taste death for every man." (Heb. 2:9.)
It is our immense duty and a glorious privilege as His witnesses to confess at all times "that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Phil. 2.)
L.P.