Burley W. Moore-Bible Teacher

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Volume 16, Number 3 July Summer 2021

The Lordship of Jesus Christ

“Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 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.” (Phil. 2:5-11)

Introduction

The word “Lord” is a term that can be applied to both man and God as it expresses various degrees of honor and recognition. For instance, in some countries there are certain nobles who are referred to as lords. However, when the word is applied to God, it is used as a term of respect for His Superior and Sovereign authority over all people, things, and happenings. It is a title that rightfully belongs to no other person in the same sense like it does to the “Lord Jesus Christ” (Rev. 22:21). Those three words are used together numerous times from Acts through Revelation. “Lord” is His title referring to Him as Master and Sovereign authority over all things. The Septuagint (first Greek translation of the Old Testament) translates the Old Testament words, Yahweh as the revealed name of God and Adonai as Lord. But, in the Greek New Testament it uses the word kurios in referring to His majestic right to rule. A commonly used name in the Old Testament for God is “Jehovah” (Isa. 12:2) which literally means, The Existing One and refers to Him as “Lord.”

“Jesus” is the New Testament name that derives its origin from Yeshua or Yahshua, which is a transliteration of the original Hebrew in the Old Testament, meaning to deliver or rescue. Yeshua is the Old Testament name for Jesus which means Yahweh (the Lord) is salvation. The English spelling of Yeshua is “Joshua.” However, when the Hebrew was translated into Greek, the name Yeshua became Iesous and the English spelling of Iesous is “Jesus.” The Greek alphabet had no "Y" sound, so it used the "I" sound. In Hebrew, the word “Christ” means Messiah and in Greek, it means anointed one. Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah of the Old Testament Who came to fulfill all the prophetic promises of the GodMan who would be man’s only Redeemer from the bondage of sin. There were other men named Jesus during Biblical days, but there was only One “Lord Jesus Christ.”

Before Jesus was born the angel told Joseph that His name was to be “Jesus” (as translated from the Hebrew into Greek) because “he shall save his people from their sins” (Matt. 1:21). Once again, that name, “Jesus” means Jehovah is salvation. Outside of Jesus, there is no salvation from the penalty of our sins. “Christ” is translated from the Hebrew word, Messiah, in the Old Testament into the Greek to mean anointed one or one who is anointed. There is only ONE “Lord Jesus Christ” Who was promised from the very beginning of time to be the Only Anointed One Who could and would save repentant sinners. Therefore, upon Him we will focus our attention in this study.

Sinners are urged to “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ” to be saved (Acts 16:31). Saints (Christians) are invited to look to the “Lord” for victory over sin and doubt (Jh. 20:28). Because of Christ’s Lordship, believers need to submit to His authority (Eph. 5:22), willingly serve Him (Acts 9:6), and joyfully obey His commands (Lk. 6:46). To call Jesus “Lord” is to submissively and reverently address Him for Who He Is! It is acknowledging His ownership over creation and His control over the affairs of men. To personally surrender to His Lordship is to acknowledge Him as the Captain of our Salvation, the absolute authority within our hearts, the Master in charge of our will, and the Supreme Sovereign of our lives all of which He has the absolute right. Jesus Christ is “LORD,” not because men make Him “Lord” or because men accept Him as “Lord.” He is “LORD” regardless of what we say, think, or do. He is “LORD” by the decree of Almighty God (Acts 2:36).

The Lordship of Jesus Christ is Evidenced in His Incarnation (v.5-8)

The Christian is admonished to think like Christ, or in other words, let the virtues of Christ dominate you. Paul presents Jesus as the Supreme Example of Humility. We need to learn how to be yielded, surrendered, and humble vessels like Jesus was to the Father’s will. His humility is beautifully illustrated in His incarnation. The Son of God EMPTIED Himself into humanity to become the Substitutionary atonement for our sin. A clear picture is given portraying the DEITY of Jesus Christ. The SECOND PERSON of the GodHead is declared “equal” with the Father. “Form” is not speaking of shape, but the manner in which God expressed Himself. In the Greek, “form” refers to the OUTWARD EXPRESSION of His divine INMOST NATURE.

Instead of asserting His rights as DEITY, He waivered His rights to become a divine SACRIFICE. “Made of no reputation” is translated from the Greek to mean “emptied Himself.” The big question is, “just what did Jesus empty Himself?” He did not empty Himself of His DEITY, but His recognition of majestic rule while upon earth. He did not cease to be God, but laid aside His glory as God that He knew with the Father before coming to earth as a baby. He laid aside His divine glory, but not His divine nature. He also emptied Himself of SELF in supreme humility. He did not selfishly hold on to His privileges as God in the perfection of paradise. He gave up His throne in Glory for a cross of shame and suffering. He was a worthy King Who put on the garments of a peasant. He emptied Himself of splendor when He clothed Himself in the rages of humanity.

Upon earth, He allowed His characteristics of “servant” (bond-slave) to outweigh His attributes of majesty (Matt. 20:28). An illustration of His Humility is seen in Jesus washing the disciple’s feet (Jh. 13). Just because Jesus knelt on the floor doing the work of a slave, didn’t mean that He relinquished His deity. But it is an example of service for us to follow (Jh. 13:13-16). The reason for Christ’s first coming was to be the SUFFERING SERVANT in paying the price of redemption upon the cross. From the cradle to the cross, witness is given of His Divine Incarnation (Jh. 1:14). If there had been no incarnation, there could be no salvation. Only Sovereign God could make Himself a man. Just as the Sovereign Potter has power to make, He has power to break and remake us anew into His glory so that we might acknowledge His Lordship.

Christ was really a “man,” but He was more than a mere “man.” The coming of Christ into the world was a voluntary adoption of Himself into the family of humanity. Jesus “humbled himself” from His throne to the bottom rung on the ladder of “death” upon “the cross” of Calvary. Verse 7 of our text tells us that He emptied Himself of His privileges of living in the splendor of Glory to become humanity and live in a sin cursed world. Verse 8 goes on to tell us that He emptied Himself of His humanity to die for our sins. He did not become “obedient” to death, but “unto death.” Since Jesus is God, He need only be “obedient” to the Father with Whom He is “equal.” It’s true that Christ died, but He did not die for the same reason we die. He was sinless and did not deserve to die, but willingly took our sin upon Himself “who knew no sin” (II Cor. 5:21) and became “sin for us” to satisfy God’s wrath against our sin. He has always been the Master of death (Jh. 11:25) and always will be. Although His death was one of degradation intended for condemned criminals, He died of His own will as He dismissed His spirit from His human body (Jh. 10:18) in order for there to be a way for sinners like you and me to be saved.

The Lordship of Jesus Christ is Exalted in His Name (v.9-10)

On earth, Christ was crowned with thorns, but in Heaven He is “crowned with glory and honor” (Heb. 2:9). “Wherefore” means that because of Christ’s voluntary humiliation, God “exalted” Him in human glory. Today, at the right hand of God the Father, Jesus has all the majesty and dignity in glorified humanity (Jh. 17:5). What is the NAME “which is above every name?” It is no other than the beautiful and lovely “name of Jesus.” Many famous names are recorded in history, but never has any made the impact on history like the GodMan, the eternal “son of God (I Jh. 5:13) … Jesus Christ.” God took the “name” that had been ridiculed, mocked, shamed, belittled, despised, and rejected by men and “exalted” it “above every name” that has ever been named.

The Lordship of Jesus Christ is Exclaimed in His Creation (v.10-11)

Emphasis is on the word “Lord” which declares the true character and dignity of Jesus Christ Who is the basis and object of our worship. Jesus was not born to become Lord, but He was born “Lord” (Lk. 2:11). Today, we do not worship a babe in a manger or a sacrifice on a cross, but a victorious and risen “Lord.” Unfortunately, the term “Lord” has become one of the most lifeless in the Christian vocabulary. Often, we are guilty of calling Jesus “Lord” without yielding to Him in total ownership over us. The reason for Christ’s coming into the world was not only to “save his people from their sins” (Matt. 1:21), but to exercise His Lordship (Rom. 14:9).

“Every” person must someday acknowledge “that Jesus Christ is Lord.” When Scripture says “every knee” its referring to the day when there will be universal acknowledgment of His majesty and power (Rev. 5:13). “Confess” speaks of when all creation will render homage to “Jesus” as “Lord” and “bow” to Him in absolute submission.” The Lordship of Jesus Christ can be and is often ignored by people in this life, but they will be compelled to acknowledge it in the hereafter. Ultimate recognition of His Lordship at that time will not result in salvation. This passage is not teaching that all lost people will eventually be saved and spend eternity with Christ in Heaven. It’s reminding us that “every” person who scoffs at the “name” of “Jesus” in this life must and will confess Him in eternity.

Some will “confess” His Lordship in restitution, but all will “confess” His Lordship in recognition. Either in this life as one’s divine Substitute for sin, or in eternity before being cast into Hell. The only way to know the Lordship of Christ this side of eternity is by the Holy Spirit (I Cor. 12:3). Only the Holy Spirit can reveal Christ to the heart of man (Matt. 16:13-17, I Cor. 2:10-11). Without the convicting and converting power of the Holy Spirit, no one will ever yield to His Lordship in coming to know Jesus Christ as “Lord and Savior” (Rom. 10:9, II Pet. 1:11, 2:20, 3:2,18). To “confess” Jesus as “Lord” today is to “confess” Him as the Savior Who died in your place for the penalty of your sins. To “confess” Jesus as “Lord” in eternity is to “confess” Him as the Judge over all the earth. But we need to notice why this must be done. It will be “to the glory of God the Father.” God is glorified when Christ is acknowledged as “Lord.” God is glorified today in the life of every person who comes under the convicting power of the Holy Spirit, repents, and believes that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior of his/her eternal soul. You can give “God” the “glory” due His name by bowing before “Jesus” Who is the “Lord of glory” (I Cor. 2:8, Jam. 2:1) and surrendering to His Sovereign right and rule over all things that you claim near and dear.

Closing

The life of Christ proves that the way to be “exalted” is to become humble before God. Personal pride and self-glory will bring no joy and peace to the soul of man. Only when we have the submissive “mind” of “Christ Jesus” can we have His “joy” and “peace” (Gal. 5:22). Until then, there will be an emptiness that only He can fill. Recognition of Christ’s Lordship will kill our spiritual pride and self-centeredness. Jesus must be “exalted” to the throne room of our inward “spirit” (I Thess. 5:23) where the Holy Spirit will dwell upon conversion in the new birth (Jh. 3:3). Christ alone can give hope to the hopeless because He alone is “Lord of lords” (I Tim. 6:15, Rev. 17:14, 19:16).

Jesus always has been, is, and always will be “Lord.” Therefore, He can do something for us that we nor any other mortal person can do. He alone can save our soul, cleanse, and make us spiritually whole (Acts 16:31). Instead of trying to plea-bargain with God, we need to humbly “bow” before Him as “Savior” (Lk. 2:11) of soul and “Lord” of life (Acts 10:36). Can you say today that you have the “mind of Christ?” Have you ever trusted Jesus Christ as your personal “Savior” and acknowledged Him as “Lord” of your life? The problem with many is they want to claim Jesus Christ as Savior, but refuse His Lordship over their lives. That means people want a fire escape from Hell, but refuse the domination and control of Christ over their lives. Authentic saving faith in Jesus Christ will give evidence in submission to His Lordship. “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (II Cor. 5:17). When a person is “born again” (Jh 3:3) it means the Holy Spirit does His work of transformation and regeneration in the sinner’s soul. He has a new Master, meaning that Jesus becomes “Lord” of his/her life. This is Lordship salvation. Whether you like it or not, “Jesus is Lord of all” (Acts 10:36) and you will either “confess” it today in the new birth or when you stand before Him prior to meeting your eternal destiny in Hell. Right now, today, is Jesus Christ your “Lord” and the Holy Spirit indwelling the throne room of your soul? If not trust Him today as your Savior from sin and Lord of your life.

Ministry Update

This is a quick update regarding two of my most recent books. One has already been published and the second is at the publisher as I write this edition of “The Traveling Pulpit.” To begin with “The Tabernacle and Trinity of Man, Spirit & Soul & Body” is perhaps the deepest in spiritual thought that I’ve written. It certainly took me longer to write than any other book. It was over a year from start to finish. Secondly, “The Sick Bride, Lessons to Learn from Yesterday’s Church” will be available within the next few months. In this book, I try to show the difference between the bride of Christ and an institutionalized church. Local churches ought to be a reflection of the bride, but often are not. As is the case with all my books, they are free of charge, just for the asking. It’s part of this ministry which is the manner we’ve chosen to function………Because of His Sovereign Grace…BWM