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Sermon #146 — Romans Series

Title: Christ is Lord

Text: Romans 14:9

Subject: The Lordship of Christ

Date: Sunday Morning — June 3, 2018

Reading: Acts 2:1-47

(Acts 2:1-47) And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. (2) And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. (3) And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. (4) And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

(5) And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. (6) Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. (7) And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? (8) And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? (9) Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, (10) Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, (11) Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God. (12) And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this? (13) Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.

(14) But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: (15) For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. (16) But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; (17) And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: (18) And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: (19) And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: (20) The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come: (21) And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

(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.

(37) Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? (38) Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. (39) For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. (40) And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.

(41) Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. (42) And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. (43) And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. (44) And all that believed were together, and had all things common; (45) And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. (46) And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, (47) Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

Introduction

I am here today as God’s ambassador. The King of Heaven has sent me to press upon you his sovereign rights as your King. I “pray you, in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God!” My text is Romans 14:9. My subject is of immense importance. It is vital to your soul. I am not here to talk to you about such meaningless trivialities as the shape of the earth, the color of the moon, or the gases of the sun.

Illustration: My Conversation with Two Young Preachers — If you start down that road, that will become your message. Your usefulness will be over. Don’t chase rabbit trails. Preach the gospel. Preach Christ. Leave everything else alone.

(Romans 14:9) For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.

Four Gospel

Revelations

Here are four areas of gospel truth around which the battle for the glory of God and the souls of men is raging. These four gospel revelations are constantly attacked, misrepresented, and ridiculed by the preachers and religious leaders of our day. Nothing under heaven so provokes the wrath of man as the simple declaration of these four things. I have seen church members, deacons, preachers, and theology professors enraged with a hellish fury at the mere mention of them. I know these things cause division. I know that the preaching of these four things will divide churches and families. I have seen it happen.

Yet, it is my solemn determination to go on preaching these four gospel revelations, regardless of cost or consequence. The more they are maliciously attacked by the messengers of Satan, the more fully, freely, frequently, and forcefully they will be proclaimed from this pulpit. Why? Because the glory of God, the gospel of God, and the souls of men are at stake.

· Deny any of these four gospel revelations, and you trample upon the glory of God revealed in the gospel.

· Compromise any of these four truths, and you deny the gospel.

· Refuse to proclaim these four things, and the blood of eternally damned men and women shall be upon your hands.

Apart from these four blessed gospel truths, there is no gospel and no salvation. What are these four gospel revelations which are so vital and yet so offensive to men?

1. Total Depravity — The absolute, total depravity of man (Romans 5:12; Ephesians 2:1-4; Matthew 15:19).

(Romans 5:12) Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.

(Ephesians 2:1-4) You hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; (2) Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: (3) Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. (4) But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us.

All men by nature are spiritually dead.

· A dead man has a principle of decay and corruption in him.

· A dead body is unaware of its condition and unaffected by anything.

· A dead corpse is altogether without ability.

As he is dead, fallen man is corrupt, depraved, and vile in his heart.

(Matthew 15:19) For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.

All men by nature are absolutely depraved. We are all perverse, wicked, and evil at heart. And we have neither the desire nor the ability to change our condition.

Illustration: Fallen man is like a caged lion.

2. Limited Atonement — The absolute, total accomplishment of redemption by Christ.

All professed Christians and all professed preachers acknowledge that Jesus Christ did in fact have something to do with the redemption and salvation of sinners. But they do not know what. And it is universally accepted by religious men that the Lord Jesus Christ did not actually accomplish the redemption of anyone or secure anyone’s salvation by his work on the cross. It is universally accepted that in great measure the Son of God is a failure and that his blood was shed in vain for multitudes, because there are multitudes for whom he died who yet suffer the wrath of God in hell. Men delight to hear and preach such blasphemous heresy, because it leaves the work of salvation in the power of man’s free-will and gives man a reason to glory before God. But the Word of God plainly declares that redemption was fully, completely, perfectly accomplished by the once for all sin-atoning sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ (Hebrews 10:10-14; 9:12).

(Hebrews 10:10-14) By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. (11) And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: (12) But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God; (13) From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. (14) For by one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified.

(Hebrews 9:12) Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

By his obedience in life and by his sacrifice in death, the Son of God actually put away the sins of his people, brought in an everlasting righteousness, and obtained eternal redemption for us (Galatians 3:13; Hebrews 9:12).

(Galatians 3:13-14) Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is everyone that hangeth on a tree: (14) That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

If so much as one soul for whom Christ lived and died as a Substitute were to perish in hell under the wrath of God, then…

· The justice of God would be destroyed.

· The wisdom of God is made foolishness.

· Christ could never see of the travail of his soul and be satisfied.

· It would be a useless thing, indeed a futile mockery of men’s souls, to urge sinners to trust Christ alone and be saved.

3. Irresistible Grace — The absolute, total salvation of sinners by the grace of God alone (Ephesians 2:8-10; 2 Timothy 1:9-10).

(Ephesians 2:8-10) For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (9) Not of works, lest any man should boast. (10) For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

(2 Timothy 1:9-10) Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, (10) But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.

Modern religion has made grace nothing more than a benevolent desire in God, by which he wishes to save men. But it is a helpless, useless desire, unless man, by his free-will or his works, makes it effectual and powerful for himself. Rubbish! Where does God get any praise from that? What is there in this Arminian, free-will heresy for the honor of God? — Nothing!

The Word of God proclaims a gospel of pure, free, absolute, sovereign, unfailing, irresistible, effectual grace. The saving grace of God is in no way determined by or dependent upon the will of man or the works of man (Romans 11:6). We preach down merit and preach up mercy (Romans 9:11-18).

(Romans 11:6) And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

(Romans 9:11-18) (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;) (12) It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. (13) As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. (14) What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. (15) For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. (16) So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy. (17) For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. (18) Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.

· Grace chose us.

· Grace called us.

· Grace regenerated us.

· Grace gave us faith.

· Grace made us accepted in the Beloved.

· Grace has made us fit for heaven.

· Grace preserves us in life.

· Grace will bring us to glory. — “Holy and without blame.”

· And grace compels us to give all praise to God alone (Psalm 115:1).

(Psalm 115:1) Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth's sake.

To make grace dependent on man’s will or man’s work is to deny grace altogether (Galatians 5:1-4).

(Galatians 5:1-4) Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. (2) Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. (3) For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. (4) Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.

4. Divine Sovereignty — The absolute, total sovereign lordship and dominion of Jesus Christ (Romans 14:9).

(Romans 14:9) For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.

Men and women are happy enough to have Jesus as a Savior to keep them out of hell, a Healer to take care of them, a Provider to supply their needs, and a Comforter to use in sickness, sorrow, bereavement, and death. But let a preacher press upon proud man the claims of a sovereign Lord and absolute Monarch, and his proud heart of rebellion swells with rage.

Yet, the Word of God makes this clear. — No one has saving faith in Christ until he willingly bows before his throne, surrendering to his claims, submitting to his rightful dominion, and trusting his sovereign power as absolute Lord and King. Christ is Lord! — As such, he demands a broken, submissive heart, or he will never show mercy.

Proposition: Salvation is nothing less than King Jesus conquering the hearts of his enemies by the gospel. — True faith is the confident, willing submission of my heart to Christ as my rightful, sovereign Lord.

Let me briefly proclaim the lordship of Christ to you. My subject is — Christ Is Lord (Philippians 2:5-11).

(Philippians 2:5-11) 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.

Our Savior’s exaltation and enthronement as Lord is the result of his finished work of righteousness and redemption on the earth as our great Substitute. Paul tells us that all the vast empire of God’s creation has been placed under the dominion of the God-man, our Savior.

(Romans 14:9) For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.

There is no limit to the realm and sphere of our Redeemer’s total sovereignty.

· “He sitteth in the heavens.” (Psalm 2:4)

· “God sitteth upon the throne of his holiness!” (Psalm 29:10)

· “He sitteth upon the circle of the earth.” (Isaiah 40:22) — God our Savior sits upon his throne in heaven and rests his feet upon this little ball called “Earth” as his footstool!

· “The LORD sitteth upon the flood. Yea, the LORD sitteth King forever!” (Psalm 47:8)

· “Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne and the earth is my footstool!” (Isaiah 66:1)

God has given his Son a name which is above every name, and that name is Lord Supreme! And God demands, and shall see to it, that everybody bows to and confesses “that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Divisions: Christ is Lord, absolutely and universally...

1. Over All People.

2. Over All the Powers of Darkness.

3. Over All the Affairs of Providence.

4. Over the Hearts of All His People.

5. Over the Vast Regions of Heaven.

All People

1^st — Jesus Christ, our Savior, our Mediator, is Lord supreme, absolute, sovereign Lord over all people (John 17:1-5).

(John 17:1-5) 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.

In our text, God the Holy Ghost tells us that the object of Christ in his death and resurrection as our Savior was that he might be Lord of all.

(Romans 14:9) For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.

Christ is Lord over all: the righteous and the wicked, the living and the dead, the believing and the unbelieving.

· Believers recognize, acknowledge, and willingly surrender to his lordship. Unbelievers deny it and rebel against it.

· But he is nonetheless Lord.

· All men and all creatures are under his control, do his bidding, perform his will, and accomplish his purpose, always and in all things.

Our blessed Savior bought the right to rule this world; and rule it he does (Psalm 2:8; 2 Peter 2:1-4).

The thoughts and actions of all men are totally governed by Christ the Lord (Proverbs 16:4, 9; 21:1; Psalm 76:10).

· No dog can move his tongue against God’s elect (Exodus 11:7).

· None can lift a hand against God’s own (Acts 18:9).

· None can even curse without Christ’s permission (2 Samuel 16:10-11).

· Christ our Lord is the absolute sovereign of all men. Therefore, we have no reason to fear any man.

All the

Powers of Darkness

2^nd — Jesus Christ is Lord supreme, the absolute, sovereign Lord over all the powers of darkness. Those souls damned in hell, the demons of hell, and Satan himself are under the absolute dominion and control of Christ our Lord. That fact gives me great comfort (John 12:31; Revelation 12:7-11; 20:1-3; Colossians 2:15).

(Revelation 12:7-11) There was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, (8) And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. (9) And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. (10) And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. (11) And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

(Revelation 20:1-3) And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. (2) And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, (3) And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.

Not one of our Lord’s enemies can move or even breathe or wiggle without his permission and, even then, their moves are so sovereignly governed by Christ our Lord that their intended deeds of evil accomplish nothing but good for God’s elect, according to God’s own purpose.

· Satan and Job (Job 1:12; 2:6.

· Stephen and His Persecutors (Acts 7:53-63).

· Every Haman shall hang upon his own gallows!

Satan is a defeated foe!

Illustration: Bunyan – The Lion

All Providence

3^rd — I rejoice to declare to you that Jesus Christ is Lord supreme, absolute and sovereign over all the affairs of providence (Isaiah 53:10-12; Romans 8:28; Hebrews 1:1-3).

(Isaiah 53:10-12) Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. (11) He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. (12) Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

(Romans 8:28-31) And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (29) For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. (30) Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. (31) What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

(Hebrews 1:1-3) God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, (2) Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; (3) Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.

There is no place in this vast universe, from the throne of God in the highest glory to the lowest pit of hell, where Jesus Christ our Lord does not rule in total, absolute sovereignty. God’s creation is not out of control. Nothing is in confusion. Christ is Lord! His purpose is being accomplished, everywhere, at all times, in all things. What is the purpose of this rule?

· The Salvation of His Elect (Romans 8:32; 5:10).

· The Glory of God (John 12:27-29).

· The Glorious Restoration of His Creation.

The Hearts

Of His People

4^th — Jesus Christ is Lord supreme in the hearts of all his people (Luke 14:25-33).

(Luke 14:25-33) 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.

When Christ reveals himself in the hearts of his elect, that revelation of grace always produces two things.

1. Faith – The confident trust of the heart.

2. Submission – The willing surrender of the heart.

Illustrations: The Leper

The Syrophenician Woman

Faith in Christ is nothing short of utter surrender to the claims of the sovereign Lord. — Is Christ your Lord?

Heaven

5^th — Jesus Christ is Lord supreme over the vast regions of heaven’s glory (Hebrews 12:22-24; Revelation 5:5-6).

(Hebrews 12:22-24) Ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, (23) To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, (24) And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

(Revelation 5:5-6) And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. (6) And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.

I do not know exactly what heaven is, or where heaven is. But I do know this: — In heaven Christ is Lord! The King of the City Beautiful is Immanuel, God in our nature. The Light of the blessed land is Christ himself. The reward of Heaven’s glory is Christ our Lord.

· To see him.

· To be with him.

· To be like him.

All the songs of the redeemed in heaven shall be praises to Christ our Lord. — “Worthy is the Lamb!”

Application

Christ, the God-man Mediator must reign until he has put all things under his feet (1 Corinthians 15:25-28).

· All things shall be put under Christ our Lord.

· When will you bow before Christ our Lord? — Bow you will. The only question is — “When?”

· God’s creation must be restored to its original glory.

Then will come the end, the last great act of the covenant of grace. Christ, the God-man Mediator, will deliver the kingdom of his glory up to the eternal Godhead, that God may be all in all (Isaiah 45:20-25).

(Isaiah 45:20-25) Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together, ye that are escaped of the nations: they have no knowledge that set up the wood of their graven image, and pray unto a god that cannot save. (21) Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? Who hath told it from that time? Have not I the LORD? And there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me. (22) Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. (23) I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear. (24) Surely, shall one say, in the LORD have I righteousness and strength: even to him shall men come; and all that are incensed against him shall be ashamed. (25) In the LORD shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory.

(Romans 14:9) For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.

Precious Lord Jesus! What proof is here given of your unparalleled love to our souls! We bless and praise you alone as Lord of all! How we rejoice to know that you, our Savior, reign as sovereign Lord through all the departments of nature, providence, grace, and glory!

Eternal, almighty, and everlasting Monarch, your dead men shall live. You will raise the dead in trespasses and sins to the life of grace here and to the life of glory hereafter.

Blessed, blessed Savior, Lord Jesus, raise our souls now, through all this time-state of temptation, tribulation, and conflict to be above all, walking in the light, joy, and sweet assurance of your absolute, interrupted, universal dominion as “Lord of all!”

Oh, for grace, daily to hear your gracious and all-powerful voice saying, “I am the resurrection and the life! He that believeth in me, though he where dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth, and believeth in me, shall never die!”

Amen.

Don Fortner

Pastor Fortner’s