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Sermon #48[i] — Romans Series

 

      Title:                                 “Jesus Our Lord”

 

      Text:                                  Romans 4:24

      Subject:               Christ’s Lordship

      Introduction:

 

In Romans 4:24 God the Holy Spirit tells us that God’s salvation is ours, if we “believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead.” The righteousness of God imputed to Abraham shall be imputed to us, if we “believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead.” The free, complete, absolute justification of grace, justification from all things, perfect salvation, eternal life is ours, if we “believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead.”

 

Jesus our Lord!” What a wonderful statement! “Jesus our Lord!” What a tremendous subject. I take just those three found in Romans 4:24 for my text and my subject. — “Jesus our Lord” — It is my heart’s desire and prayer to God that before I am done preaching every soul hearing my voice may be able to join the vast multitude of sinners saved by the grace of God, on earth and in heaven, in confidently calling the Son of God “Jesus our Lord.

 

Proposition: He who is over all God blessed forever is rightfully called “Jesus our Lord” by every sinner who trusts him.

 

“Jesus”

 

Jesus” is our Savior’s name. The angel said to Joseph, “Thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

 

“There is no name so sweet on earth,

No name so sweet in Heaven,

The Name, before His wondrous birth

To Christ the Savior given.

 

His human name they did proclaim,

When Abram’s son they sealed Him;

The name that still by God’s good will,

Deliverer revealed Him.

 

And when He hung upon the tree,

They wrote this Name above Him;

That all might see the reason we

Forevermore must love Him.

 

So now, upon His Father’s throne,

Almighty to release us

From sin and pain, He gladly reigns,

The Prince and Savior, Jesus.

 

O Jesus, by that matchless Name,

Thy grace shall fail us never;

Today as yesterday the same,

Thou art the same forever.

 

We love to sing of Christ our King,

And hail Him, blessed Jesus;

For there’s no word ear ever heard

So dear, so sweet as “Jesus.”

 

“Lord”

 

Lord” is our great Savior’s position and power as the Monarch of the Universe, the position and power he earned as Jehovah’ Righteous Servant, by his obedience unto death. The Greek word from which this word “Lord” is translated is a much stronger word than its English translation. As it is used in the New Testament, the word “Lord” is a title; but it is much more. It does refer to power; but it is still more. — He who is “Jesus our Lord” is Jesus our Supreme One, our Sovereign, our Controller! He who is David’s son is David’s Lord.

 

But the exact expression used in our text, “Jesus our Lord,” is very unusual. We often see our Savior referred to as “Jesus Christ,” and as “our Lord Jesus Christ,” but this exact phrase is found in only one other passage of Holy Scripture. Peter was inspired to use this phrase in 2nd Peter 1:2, where he gives this pronouncement of goodness and mercy...

 

“Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord.” (2 Peter 1:2)

 

The expression is unusual. Yet, to me, it seems to be inexpressibly delightful. I will be devoutly grateful to God the Holy Spirit if, in this message, he will graciously enable to convey to you even a tithe of the sweetness I have drawn from this expression for my own soul’s enjoyment.

 

Proposition: The man Christ Jesus is our Lord and Lord over all flesh because he earned the right to be Lord (John 17:1-5; Philippians 2:1-11).

 

(John 17:1) These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: (2) As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. (3) And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. (4) I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. (5) And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.

 

(Philippians 2:1) If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, (2) Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. (3) Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. (4) Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. (5) Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: (6) Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: (7) But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: (8) And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. (9) Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: (10) That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; (11) And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

 

“Jesus our Lord”

 

First, let me show you that “Jesus our Lord” is the humble acknowledgement and joyful, confident claim of faith in every heaven-born soul. — Salvation begins in the blessed experience of grace with the surrender of our hearts to Christ Jesus as our Lord (Luke 14:25-33).

 

(Luke 14:25) And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them, (26) If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. (27) And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. (28) For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? (29) Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, (30) Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. (31) Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? (32) Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace. (33) So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.

 

I recall hearing someone, when I was a boy, say that faith should be spelled "Forsaking All I Take Him". That is exactly what faith in Christ involves, giving up all to Christ and for Christ. Our Lord said, “Whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.” That simply means this: Either we will be servants under the dominion of King Jesus, voluntarily giving up all to his claims, or we cannot be saved. We may not be required to give up anything literally. But surrender to Christ must be just as real in our hearts, as if we had actually given up everything, down to life itself. Our Lord demands total, unreserved, unqualified surrender. The rich young ruler did not perish because he would not believe Jesus could save him, but because he would not bow to Christ the Lord as sovereign over him (Luke 18:18-23).

 

The one issue between God and man is the absolute Lordship of Christ. It always has been and always will be. The issue is not whether you want to go to heaven or to hell when you die. Everybody wants to go to heaven. The issue is not do you want to have peace, or do you want to live in turmoil. Everybody wants to live in peace. The issue between you and God is his Son. Will you, or will you not bow to the claims of Christ, your sovereign Lord? Everyone is going to bow, either willingly or unwillingly, either now or at the judgment seat. If you willingly bow to Christ now, that is salvation. But bow you will to Jesus Christ the Lord. God has purposed it. And God will do it. Even if he sends you to hell, God is going to put you in subjection to his Son (Isaiah 9:6-7; Psalm 110:1). This has always been the issue. For the believer the issue has been settled, the Lord Jesus Christ is “Jesus our Lord!

 

God-given faith sees him and embraces him, even before his birth, as the Christ of God and rejoices to “call his name, Jesus, for he shall save His people from their sins.” Faith bows at the manger with the worshipping shepherds and the wise men from the East presenting gifts, realizing that the Infant is the Infinite and that the Babe of Bethlehem is the King of kings and Lord of lords! God-given faith rejoices to call the Nazarene “Jesus our Lord” —

·      In His Humiliation!

·      When He was Tempted!

·      Performing Miracles of Mercy!

·      Befriending Sinners!

·      In Gethsemane!

·      Upon the Cursed Tree!

·      In His Resurrection!

·      In His Exaltation!

 

And now, today, though the name of “Jesus” is bandied about as a byword and the crucified Christ is despised by the world, God-given faith sees the despised Galilean exalted to the highest heavens and acknowledges him as both Lord and God! He who sits on yonder throne is “Jesus our Lord!” This has been faith’s confession of Christ from the beginning (Acts 2:22-36).

 

(Acts 2:22) Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: (23) Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: (24) Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it. (25) For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved: (26) Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope: (27) Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. (28) Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance. (29) Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. (30) Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; (31) He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. (32) This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. (33) Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. (34) For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, (35) Until I make thy foes thy footstool. (36) Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.

 

Faith delights to acknowledge this glorious fact. With adoring reverence we call him “Jesus our Lord!” Unbelief is presumptuous and irreverent. Faith is always humble and reverent. The more you know of Christ as your Savior, saving you from sin, the more you recognize him as your Lord.

 

A Revelation of Grace

 

Second, we know our Savior as “Jesus our Lord” by the revelation of grace (Matthew 16:13-17).

 

(Matthew 16:13) When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? (14) And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. (15) He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? (16) And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. (17) And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

 

We rejoice to call our Savior by this title because he is Man, bone of our bone and flesh of our flesh. — “Jesus our Lord,” says the Apostle, “was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification.” We worship him all the more reverently and affectionately because he is Man as well as God. When we call him “Jesus our Lord,” we distinctly appropriate him to ourselves. We can even say to the angels, “He is your Lord, for he created you and he sustains you. And you delight to do him homage. But Jesus is not one of you (Hebrews 2:16).

 

(Hebrews 2:16) For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.

 

He did not redeem angels with His precious blood. He is no near kinsman to angels. He never called angels his brethren. But the Man Christ Jesus is “Jesus our Lord,” for he was born of a woman and made under the law, became a partaker of our nature, that he might redeem us from the curse of the law and make us “partakers of the divine nature.” Therefore, he is not ashamed to call us brethren!

 

It is delightful to me to mull over the fact that the Kingdom of “Jesus our Lord” has no bounds. How wide, how vast is his dominion! How countless are his subjects! “Jesus our Lord” is Lord over all!

·      All Flesh!

·      All Angels!

·      All Creatures!

·      All Events!

·      All Grace!

·      All Worlds!

 

Yet, he bears a special relationship to our poor race, a special relationship to fallen men and women, a special relationship to you and me, poor, fallen sinners washed in his blood and saved by his grace. We call him ours as no other creatures can, for, just as truly as he is God, so is he also Man. Behold, on the very Throne of God above, there sits a Man like ourselves! — “Jesus our Lord!” — “The Lord is my Shepherd!

 

We call him “Jesus our Lord” with great delight because he loved us and gave himself for us! Every drop of his precious blood is a jewel in his crown, endearing him to our souls.

 

(1 Corinthians 6:19) What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? (20) For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

 

Every scar on his blessed body is to us a token of his true royalty and all that he has endured and suffered — even the wormwood and the gall — all are tokens of the gracious, magnificent Sovereign to whom we gladly bow and submit ourselves!

 

We rejoice to call him “Jesus our Lord” because he has made us to be new creatures by his grace. We are his Church and he is the Head of the Church who is the Savior of the Body! We acknowledge no other head! We are the members of his mystical body. But he is the Head. And we wouldn’t have it otherwise.

·      His Word is our rule!

·      His example is our pattern!

·      His love is our law!

 

He makes some of us to be the under-shepherds of his flock; but he is the Chief Shepherd and when he shall appear, we “shall receive a crown of glory that fades not away.” — He makes us his spiritual house, the house of God; and he dwells in his house as Lord and Master. — By his own infinite love he has united us to himself in the bonds of sacred marriage. He is our Husband. As such, it is our delight to bow to his will and yield ourselves absolutely to his control. — We are dead and buried with him. We expect to rise from the dead with him; but he “is the beginning, the first-born from the dead, that in all things he might have the preeminence.” — We anticipate, with excitement, entering into Glory! When we do, we shall see the Lamb in the midst of the Throne of God and we shall bow before him as Lord of all!

 

When we sit together at the Lord’s Table in sweet communion, we commune with one another and with “Jesus our Lord.” Christ the Lord sits at the head of the table as the king presides in his palace. He is our dearly-beloved Spouse, of whom we may truly say, “My Beloved is mine, and I am his.” Yet he is still the King and we come to the Table to worship the King, to commune with the King, to remember the King, and to show forth the Lord’s death `til he come, who is “Jesus our Lord!

 

A Distinguishing Mercy

 

When I was a very young preacher preaching in a Bible conference with seven other preachers, some of them old enough to be my father and some old enough to be my grandfather, I tried to preach from Lamentations 3:21 — “The Lord is my Portion.” When I finished, one of the men old enough to have been my grandfather (Bro. C. O. Jackson), took my hand, shook it firmly, and said, “My, Bro. Don, how you milked that text and fed my soul.” That old man became an instant friend. He never knew how much he encouraged and helped this preacher. I tell you that because that is precisely what I am trying to do now. I want us to suck all the sweetness we can out of these words — “Jesus our Lord!

 

So, third, I say to you, my brother, my sister, we must never yield this title to any other. Our crucified Redeemer, the Son of God, our precious Savior, and he alone is “Jesus our Lord!

 

(Isaiah 26:13) O LORD our God, other lords beside thee have had dominion over us: but by thee only will we make mention of thy name. (14) They are dead, they shall not live; they are deceased, they shall not rise.

 

Moses was once lord over us. — We were cursed by the law, but foolishly sought to serve the law. —Now we rejoice to know that Moses was but a servant in the house. Christ is Lord of the house! Now, we rejoice to sing…

 

“Free from the law, O happy condition,

Jesus has bled and there is remission,

Cursed by the law and bruised by the fall,

Grace hath redeemed us once for all.

 

Now we are free, there’s no condemnation,

Jesus provides a perfect salvation.

‘Come unto Me,’ O hear His sweet call,

Come, and He saves us once for all.

 

‘Children of God,’ O glorious calling,

Surely His grace will keep us from falling;

Passing from death to life at His call;

Blessed salvation once for all.

 

Once for all, O sinner, receive it,

Once for all, O brother, believe it;

Cling to the cross, the burden will fall,

Christ hath redeemed us once for all.”

Philip Bliss

 

I charge you, children of God, let none be lord of your consciences, except “Jesus our Lord!

·      No Church!

·      No Creed!

·      No Preacher!

·      No Tradition!

Be sensitive to your weaker brothers and sisters in Christ. Do not use your liberty in Christ as a license to offend others. But let none be your Lord but Christ.

 

In all things seek grace to know, and follow, and obey, and honor “Jesus our Lord! Seek to have no will of your own.

 

All to Jesus, I surrender;

All to Him I freely give;

I would ever love and trust Him,

In His presence daily live.

 

All to Jesus I surrender;

Humbly at His feet I bow,

Worldly pleasures all forsaken;

Take me, Jesus, take me now.

 

All to Jesus, I surrender;

Make me, Savior, wholly Thine;

Fill me with Your Holy Spirit,

Let me know that Thou art mine.

 

All to Jesus, I surrender;

Lord, I give myself to Thee;

Fill me with Thy love and power;

Let Thy blessing fall on me.

 

All to Jesus I surrender;

Now I feel the sacred flame.

O the joy of full salvation!

Glory, glory, to His Name!

 

I surrender all, I surrender all,

All to Thee, my blessed Savior,

I surrender all!

 

We want Christ Jesus to be our Lord in everything. — Do we not? Is that not your desire, my brother? Is that not your desire, my sister? Is that not your desire, O my soul? It is indeed! We want “Jesus our Lord” Lord over every part of our being.

·      Use me as you will; but I beg you to use me, my Lord!

·      Use me where you will; but please use me for yourself!

·      Use me in any way you will; but use me for your glory, my Savior!

 

(Philippians 3:8) I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, (9) And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: (10) That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; (11) If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

 

Child of God, redeemed sinner, consecrate yourself, all you are, and all you have to him who loved you and gave himself for you, — “Jesus our Lord!

 

A Cherished Fact

 

Look once more at our text. Read it giving emphasis to the middle word, — “Jesus OUR Lord!” That is my fourth point. Let me say a few words about this cherished fact and I will be done. — The Lord Jesus, the Christ of God, is our Lord! You can never truly say, “Our Lord,” until you have first said, “My Lord.” — “The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.” David claimed his son as his Lord. Do you? Thomas did. He called the Man Christ Jesus, “My Lord and my God.” — Is “Jesus our Lord” your Lord, your very own Lord?

 

This is our uniting point. — “Jesus our Lord.” If Jesus is our Lord we are one with him and one in him. We have “one Lord, one faith, one baptism.” This term, “Jesus our Lord,” draws a circle around God’s elect. All the redeemed are one. All the called are one.

·      They can never be separated.

·      Let us never be divided.

·      Let us never cause division.

 

We may differ greatly in station, in ability, and in a thousand other things, but your Lord is my Lord, so we are brothers and sisters in him. We join hands around him and say, “Jesus our Lord.”

 

(Colossians 3:10) And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: (11) Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. (12) Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; (13) Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. (14) And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. (15) And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. (16) Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. (17) And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

 

The example of “Jesus our Lord” teaches us to love and serve one another. Do you remember what he did on the night he was betrayed?

 

(John 13:4) He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. (5) After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.

 

(John 13:12) So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? (13) Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. (14) If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. (15) For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. (16) Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. (17) If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.

 

What a death-blow this title, “Jesus our Lord,” ought to be to all our insane pride! But, oh, how comfortable we ought to be! Jesus our Lord” is Lord over all! His nail pierced hands hold the reins of the universe. All power is his! And “Jesus our Lord” is our Advocate! — “Thou art a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek!” — That means all is well!

 

Our common joy in “Jesus our Lord” is a sweet token of grace. Have you felt a gracious sweetness stealing over your soul because Jesus Christ is your Lord? Then listen to these words of the Apostle Paul. —

 

(1 Corinthians 12:3) Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.

 

Many, many years ago, an old preacher, who had long and lovingly served Christ and his people, was on his deathbed. Memory was gone. Those he loved and those who loved him, he could not remember. But someone leaned over his bed and whispered in his ear, “Brother, do you know Jesus our Lord?” With a voice of rapture, he exclaimed…

 

“Jesus, my Lord! I know His name;

His name is all my trust;

Nor will He put my hope to shame,

Nor let my soul be lost.”

 

What more could anyone desire? May God the Holy Ghost give you grace to know the Son of God by this sweet title — “Jesus our Lord!

 

Amen.


 

 

 

Don Fortner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[i]    Danville — Sunday Morning — March 22, 2015

 

     Reading:    Psalm 2:1-12 and Psalm 110:1-7