The Lordship of Jesus Christ
Being a disciple implies the recognition of having a master, of allegiance to someone we are willing to follow and serve. Our relationship to others usually finds expression in the manner in which we address them.
What was one of the titles given to Christ by His followers? John 20:28, 1 Cor. 16:22.
The New Testament uses a variety of names for Jesus. He is called the Son of God but also the Son of Man or the Messiah. Hundreds of times Jesus is referred to as the Lord. This word, which initially was quite general in its application, became a highly significant term for the early Christians. The Roman emperor claimed divinity and wanted to be addressed as the Lord. To confess that Christ was their ultimate Lord rather than the Roman Caesar was not just expressing an opinion. It literally could be a matter of life and death. Those who lived in the Roman realm should only have one Kyrios (lord), and to apply this title to any person other than the emperor could well end in torture and death.
Thus, it required faith and dedicated discipleship to call Jesus "Lord." But today it also is no small thing to call Jesus our Lord and truly mean it. If He is our Lord, He is the Sovereign over our whole life, over all that we say and do.
What is the key element that reveals how genuine we are in calling Jesus "Lord"? Matt 7:22, 23; Luke 6:46.
It's one thing to call Jesus our Lord and our God and to profess faith, love, and allegiance to Him. It's quite another to truly live it. Jesus was clear: Our fidelity to Him will be manifested by our obedience to Him and to His commands. In fact, the word for "inquity" in Matthew 7:23 means "lawlessness." No question, a true follower of Jesus, a true disciple, will obey His commandments (John 14:15). Try to imagine how different our church would be if everyone who professed to follow Christ were truly disciples of Jesus. What differences would we see? While you can't change others, what difference could you make were your life one of true conformity to Jesus' will?
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