1.                   Jesus is Lord

Baptists believe that Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, the second person of the Trinity, the Creator of all that exists. John 1:1-3 says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.” (E.S.V.) Verse 14 says, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” Isaiah 9:6-7 says, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.” Jesus was not a mere human being, nor is he some kind of lesser deity. He is fully God, equal with God the Father.

There are other passages that affirm the divinity of Jesus Christ. Colossians 1:15 says, “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. Colossians 2:9 says, “For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.” Because Jesus is our God and our Creator, he is also our Lord. Philippians 2:9-11 says, “Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Jesus also deserves our full allegiance because he is our Savior. By his death and resurrection he purchased our salvation. Philippians 2:5-8 says, “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” Indeed, salvation, forgiveness of sins and eternal can only be found in him. Acts 4:12 says, “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Jesus said in John 11:25-26, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.” John 20:30-31 says, “Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book;  but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”

Because of who Jesus is and what he has done for us, we should obey him above all other authorities. We are to obey our governing authorities as Paul says in Romans 13:1, but Jesus is our ultimate authority, both individually and in the church. Every area of our life should be submitted to him. He is Lord over our business practices, our relationships, our leisure activities and our church life.

Question:            Is the Lordship of Jesus Christ stressed enough in your church?