He Is Lord

He is Lord

Selected Passages

January 26, 2003

Morning Service

Introduction

When Queen Victoria had just ascended her throne she went, as is the custom of Royalty, to hear The Messiah rendered. She had been instructed as to her conduct by those who knew, and was told that she must not rise when the others stood at the singing of the Hallelujah Chorus. When that magnificent chorus was being sung and the singers were shouting "Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth," she sat with great difficulty. It seemed as if she would rise in spite of the custom of kings and queens, but finally when they came to that part of the chorus where with a shout they proclaim Him King of kings suddenly the young queen rose and stood with bowed head, as if she would take her own crown from off her head and cast it at His feet.

-- J. Wilbur Chapman

Jesus Christ is not valued at all until He is valued above all. - Augustine

Body

I. The Lord who saves – (Romans 10:9-10)

9 That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

A. Jesus is the Lord of life

1. Jesus died to be your savior

a.) Jesus died a horrible death

1.) Jesus was humiliated: Jesus went through the a mockery of a trial, the mocking of the pagan Roman soldiers, the public display of His execution, the public rejection of those Jesus sought to serve and the ridicule of religious leaders.

2.) Jesus was tortured: Jesus was sent to be flogged, which was a series of severe beatings, the sport beating of a squad of Roman soldiers, forced to wear a crown of thorns and carry His own cross to the place of execution

3.) Jesus was crucified: Jesus was nailed to the cross, the cross was then dropped into the ground, He hung there for three hours and then had a spear ran through His side to be sure that He was dead

b.) Jesus died in your place

1.) Why would Jesus suffer such a miserable death? He died in your place and took the punishment that you rightfully deserved.

2.) Jesus died to demonstrate the boundless love of God. Jesus would rather died than be without you.

2. Jesus lives to be your Lord

a.) Jesus was raised from the dead

1.) We are called to believe that Jesus was raised from the dead and that He was given endless life from God the Father.

2.) Christ has given us a living hope by dying the death that we earned and showing us life through an empty tomb

b.) Jesus is Lord

1.) The meaning of Lord

a.) Jews would have seen the term Lord as referring only to God. If a Jew believed in Jesus and claimed Him as Lord, they were saying that Jesus was God

b.) Gentiles would have seen the term Lord in a different way. Lord was applied to the emperor and was the source of total allegiance and loyalty. If a gentile believed in Jesus and claimed Him as lord, they were proclaiming their commitment and allegiance.

2.) The implications of Jesus being Lord

a.) Jesus is God. Jesus is fully divine and fully human. He is the bridge that spans the gap between God and humanity.

b.) Jesus deserves our full commitment. Jesus is the one who deserves our complete and total loyalty.

B. What you must do to be saved

1. The requirements of salvation

a.) You must confess that Jesus is Lord

1.) To confess means to make a public declaration of give evidence of belief

2.) The confession is more than just a mere knowledge of the mind but is a moving to a belief of the heart

b.) You must believe that He lives

1.) The simple fact is that the resurrection is the cornerstone of salvation and without it there is no reason for faith.

2.) We are called to believe that Jesus was raised from the dead. It is His resurrection that gives us new life.

2. The results of your efforts

a.) Your heart brings justification

1.) Belief is the inward sign of the grace of Christ working in your life

2.) Justification is a legal term that communicates that a person has been made right with the accuser. Literally Christ gave Himself so we could be right with God

b.) Your confession brings salvation

1.) Confession is the outward sign of the inward grace of Christ working in your life. Literally it is the admission that you need Christ.