Chapter 19 – Jesus is Lord! What does that mean?
Christians like myself tend to use phrases that many non-Christians don’t fully understand. As a matter-of-fact, I’m not sure that we Christians fully understand. We don’t take the time and effort to say to ourselves, what did I mean by what I just said? Perhaps “Jesus is Lord” could be one of those phrases.
Wikipedia defines “Jesus is Lord” as follows:
“Jesus is Lord” is the shortest credal affirmation found in the New Testament, one of several slightly more elaborate variations. It serves as a statement of faith for the majority of Christians who regard Jesus as both fully man and God. It is the motto of the World Council of Churches.
Dr. Roger D. Willmore, Pastor of First Baptist Church, Boaz, Alabama, defines “Jesus is Lord” this way:
“For Jesus to be Lord of your life means that He is the ruler, the boss, the master of your whole life. He cannot be Lord of a part – He must be given control of the entire life – the whole life.” Dr. Roger D. Willmore
That’s good information, but what does the Bible say about “Jesus is Lord?”
Philippians 2:9–11 (NLT)
9Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, 10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Acts 2:36 (NLT)
36“So let everyone in Israel know for certain that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, to be both Lord and Messiah!”
Sometimes I come pretty close to making Jesus Lord of my life; however, most of the time I fall short of that goal. So, does that make me a hypocrite? No… that makes me normal!
Romans 3:23–26 (NLT)
23For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. 24Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. 25For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood.
What distinguishes a hypocrite from a true believer? A genuine believer has an authentic change of the heart, and desires to please the Lord in all they do and say. Even though I am a true believer, I continue to fall short of God’s glorious standard, as Romans chapter 3 above tells us. The Apostle Paul clearly explains this dilemma in Romans 7 and 8 below:
Romans 7:21–25 (NLT)
21I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. 22I love God’s law with all my heart. 23But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. 24Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? 25Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.
Romans 8:1–2 (NLT)
1So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. 2And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.
Our hope and our future are grounded in You Lord! Thank You Jesus for being my LORD and SAVIOR! Amen.
No question we have all fallen short of the Lord standards and don’t feel worthy of his forgiveness, but are made worthy through His son Jesus! We who believe are very normal, (human). We fail every day, but thanks be to God that He forgives and loves us still! And always will! Jesus is Lord! Thanks again, Mike! God bless and keep us all! ❤️🙏🏻🙂