There is One Lord
Ephesians 4:5
Introduction
We are currently studying the seven foundations of Christian unity found in Ephesians 4. So far, we’ve talked about One Body, One Spirit, and One Hope. Today, we turn our attention to perhaps the central theme: One Lord.
The lordship of Jesus Christ is one of the most prominent truths in Scripture. Jesus is called “Lord” over 600 times in the New Testament. In Ephesians alone, Paul refers to the Lord 26 times. The word “Lord” implies a master/servant relationship. Dan Owens once said: “Unfortunately, many people are happy to view Jesus as their Savior, but are not very interested in Him being their Lord. But the truth is: Jesus cannot be our Savior without also being our Lord.”
When Paul says there is One Lord, he is challenging the Christian Family to recognize and yield to the authority and power of Jesus. In context of Ephesians, this is a great source of unity - everyone has the same Commander in Chief! In the contest of Christianity, there are many implications of the Lordship of Jesus.
So today, we ask: What does it mean to have Jesus as Lord of our lives—our choices, priorities, activities, attitudes, words, and everything else?
Romans 14:8 “If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.”
We will spend most of our time seeing what Paul said to the Ephesians about the Lord Jesus and what it means to live for Him!
1. One Lord Provides Spiritual Blessings
Ephesians 1:3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.
What are these spiritual blessings? Through our Lord Jesus we receive:
Grace. Ephesians 2:8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God…
Prayer Access. Ephesians 3:12 In him and through faith in him we may
approach God with freedom and confidence.
Indwelling Presence. Ephesians 3:18 Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.
Unity of Faith. Ephesians 4:13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
Spiritual Defense. Faith shields against the attacks of Satan. Ephesians 6:16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
The Lord who blesses us spiritually also reigns powerfully over His people…
2. One Lord Reigns Over the Church!
Ephesians 1:22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church…
Wisdom Revealed
Ephesians 3:10-11 His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, 11 according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Worship Offered - Glorified for Generations
Ephesians 3:21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
Relationship Formed
Ephesians 5:27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.
His lordship doesn’t stop with our Church — it reaches into our homes…
3. One Lord Reigns Over the Family!
Wives
Ephesians 5:22 Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord.
Husbands
Ephesians 5:24 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her
Children
Ephesians 6:1-3 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”
Fathers
Ephesians 6:4 Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.
Our homes are not outside His jurisdiction. Jesus is Lord there too. But here’s the heart of the matter…
4. Is Jesus the One Lord in Your Life Today?
Has he saved you?
Titus 3:4-7 "But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.”
Has he given you a new identity and purpose?
2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”
Are you living in submission to him?
John 14:15 “If you love me, keep my commands.”
Are you ready for his return?
Acts 17:30-31 “In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. 31 For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.”
Conclusion
To say "Jesus is Lord" is to surrender every corner of our lives to His sovereign will. His Lordship Demands Our Total Allegiance.
Luke 6:46 “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?”
Ephesians 6:10 “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.”
Ephesians 6:24 Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.
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Bible Class Discussion Questions
1. When you hear the phrase “Jesus is Lord,” what practical implications come to your mind?
2. Why do you think some Christians are more comfortable seeing Jesus as Savior than as Lord?
3. What does it mean to receive “every spiritual blessing in Christ”? Which of these spiritual blessings are you most conscious of in your daily walk?
4. What does it mean that Jesus is “head over everything for the church”?
5. How does the lordship of Christ shape the roles of wives, husbands, children, and parents? What does submission to Jesus look like in our family relationships? How do modern ideas about family impact this
teaching?
6. What does it look like to truly live under the Lordship of Jesus in our daily decisions? How do you purposefully do this?
7. Why is obedience to Christ a necessary mark of loving Him?
8. What are some modern “lords” that compete with Jesus for your attention and loyalty?
9. What else did you want to talk about today?
Pray about what specific change you can make this week to live more fully under the authority of Christ.
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Resources
One: Unity in the Spirit - sermon series by Scott Bayles https://sermoncentral.com/sermon-series/one-unity-in-the-spirit-sermon-series-from-scott-bayles-23779
There Is One - sermon series by Roger Hasselquist
https://sermoncentral.com/sermon-series/there-is-one-sermon-series-from-roger-hasselquist-23269
Seven Ones Equal Unity - sermon series by David Owens https://sermoncentral.com/sermon-series/7-ones-equal-unity-sermon-series-from-david-owens-23678
Bruce, F. F. The Epistles to the Colossians, to Philemon, and to the Ephesians. Eerdmans, 1984.
Fox, Michael. Complete in Christ. Xulon Press, 2007.
Liefeld, Walter L. The IVP New Testament Commentary Series: Ephesians. InterVarsity Press, 1997.
Simpson, E. K. Commentary on the Epistle to the Ephesians. Eerdmans, 1977.
Stott, John. the Bible Speaks Today: The Message of Ephesians. InterVarsity Press, 1979.
