The Lordship of Christ
By Dee L. McCroskey
"Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God caIIeth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost" (1 Corinthians 12:3).
"Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Ephesians 5:20).
"THESE things we ask in Jesus' name, Amen," intoned the preacher as he closed his prayer. And I knew at once that he was ignorant of the Lordship of Christ, that great truth given to us by God through the unique ministry of the Apostle Paul, for the Church which is the One Body of Christ.
There probably is no vital truth of God's Word more universally denied by professing Christianity today, than this one. As another has said, ''The Apostles would cringe in horror if they could hear how this religious world of today dishonors that precious name that God the Father has put above all names!" Probably the leading reason for it is tradition, the traditions of men which began hundreds of years ago. Another reason is ignorance of "rightly dividing the Word of truth" (II Tim. 2: 15). so that church people have taken their guidelines from the Four Gospels instead of Paul's Epistles. And thirdly. so many of our hymn writers have missed this great truth. It is hard for believers to find hymns that honor the Lordship of Christ.
As our first text above says, no man can acknowledge Jesus as Lord but by the Holy Spirit. A man could learn to say the words; even a parrot could learn them. But neither a parrot nor an unsaved man could speak reverently of Him as "my Lord," in reality and truth. The unsaved just don't speak of Him as their Lord.
Our second text gives the model for the prayers of a Spirit-taught child of God today. We are to pray TO the Father, and IN the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, giving Him His full title and office. But you say, isn't that rather trivial? Is it? Suppose that Queen Elizabeth came to our city. What would you think of me if I mounted the platform, put out my hand, and said, "Good morning, Elizabeth"? And if we show proper honor to men and women in high office, how much more should we honor the Lord of glory?
"But Isn't His Name Jesus!"
Yes, it is. But it is the name of His humanity and of His humiliation while here on earth. It is "Christ after the flesh," or in His earthly ministry. Paul tells us, in II Corinthians 5:16, "Yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we Him so no more" (margin). We know Him now as the RISEN Lord, "Head over all things to the Church, which is. His body" (Ephesians 1:22-23).
Regarding His earthly ministry, we read: "Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision (the Jews) for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers" (Romans 15:8). But His ministry now as the risen Lord is something else. Paul writes in verse 16 of this same chapter, "That I (Paul) should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles."
A Dispensational Change
When He was born into the world, it was written: "And thou shalt call .His name JESUS: for He shall save His people (Israel) from their sins (Matthew 1:21). Thus Jesus was to be His name as their Saviour. But compare that verse with this one:
"Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ" (Acts 2:36).
What occurred in between, that changed the emphasis on "Jesus" to emphasis on His title as "Lord"? Obviously, it was His resurrection. He is now the risen Lord and Messiah. He is not "Jesus" to the Church of today; He is its risen Head, "the Lord Jesus Christ."
In this divine "change-over," there is an interesting phasing out, and phasing in, involving the important fact that the Book of Acts is transitional in character. In numerous ways it is a transition from the Jewish Messianic program in the Old Testament and the Four Gospels, to the great "Mystery" program of the One Body in Paul's Epistles.
Thus we find the name "Jesus" used hundreds of times in the Four Gospels; 29 times in the Book of Acts; down to 10 times in the Prison Epistles; and only 2 times in the Prison Epistles. On the other hand, "the Lord Jesus Christ" is not found at all in the Four Gospels; used 5 times in the Book of Acts; and 32 times in Paul's Church Epistles. And even when the name "Jesus" is used in the Epistles, there is a special reason for each occasion, as in Ephesians 4:21, "as the truth is in Jesus." Here His earthly walk is referred to as an example for us.
An example of how the name "Jesus" changed to "Lord" in the Pauline revelations may be seen in these statements regarding the Lord's supper. In the Gospels (Mark 14: 22) "Jesus took bread." Paul, in I Corinthians 11:23, says, "The Lord Jesus .. took bread." Note also, that he said he received this formula from the Lord Himself! If you go . through Paul's Epistles carefully, you will see how faithfully the Spirit gives the risen Lord His full title of honor, "the Lord Jesus Christ:'
They All Called Him "Lord"
Even in the Four Gospels, the Lordship of Christ was consistantly honored. His name "Jesus" is only used narratively. That is, the Holy Spirit, the divine Author, in recording all the events historically of the Lord Jesus in His humanity, quite properly referred to Him as "Jesus." And being on an equality as a part of the triune Godhead, the Spirit had every right to do this.
Nobody in the Four Gospels, nor anywhere else in the N. T., ever addressed Him as "Jesus." To do so would have been a dishonoring familiarity. They all called Him Lord. Moreover, with but one exception, His disciples never referred to Him as "Jesus" when speaking to others about Him. The one exception is in Luke 24:19, "Jesus of Nazareth." Clearly, this was to idenfy Him to the "stranger." Because of the terrible shock of the crucifixion, they had temporarily lost faith in His Messiahship!
Besides the disciples, Mary, Martha and all the other women called Him "Lord." So did the Gentile centurion in Matthew 8, the dying thief on the cross and even doubting Thomas in John 20:28 - "My Lord and my God." In John 21:7, the disciple was careful to say to Peter, "It is the Lord!" Not, "It is Jesus," as so many careless Christians would say today. Saul of Tarsus was respectful enough to say, "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" Stephen "saw Jesus" at the right hand of God, but he cried out, "Lord Jesus, receive my Spirit" (Acts 7:59).
Those Who Call Him "Jesus"
Now let us look at the crowd that speaks of Him as "Jesus," without the added titles of honor and respect. To every devoted child of God, this aspect should at least be very impressive. First, there is the world around us. As our beginning Scripture shows, only those who know Him personally as Lord can really Own Him as such, because it is only by the Holy Spirit. To men of the world, He is "Jesus," the historic Jesus, the great teacher, philosopher and religious founder and reformer of nearly twenty centuries ago. He is "Jesus" the man also, to the modernist liberals who deny His deity, virgin birth and bodily resurrection. At best they call Him "Jesus Christ," as a man with a first and last name.
The enemies of our Lord, and even demon spirits, refer to Him as "Jesus." For examples of this, see Acts 4:2, 13, 18; 5:40; 17:7; 19:13, 15; 25:19.
The Scriptures teach us that in these last days there will be renewed activity of demonism-I Tim. 4:1. All the various cults today that are characterized by fanaticism, miracle working with signs and wonders, have definite signs of demon activity.
They are all growing by leaps and bounds. They are all famous for their disrespectful use of the name "Jesus," to bring Him down to human level. Perhaps the highest peak of insult and dishonor to His name was reached by the notorious Aimee Semple McPherson back in the 1920s, when she stood on a platform and said, "Dear Jesus, come down and put your big, strong arms around me!" The very thought of such language should make us cringe!
"Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2:9-11).
Why Loved Ones Are Taken
"In the Orient, where the shepherd still leads his sheep, it is said that he is often baffled in his desire to bring them to better pasture beyond-by the timidity of the sheep nature that shrinks from breasting the turbulence of an intervening stream. The shepherd stoops to take one of the Hock, perchance a tender lamb into his arms and carries it across. When the sheep see one of their own on yonder side, they are willing, yes eager, to make the crossing. Thus, the shepherd has his way with them and they are found feeding upon his better pastures.
"It is said with this loving desire and wisdom of purpose that the Shepherd may have reached into your circle and taken to HIMSELF one so dear. He wants to use those endearing ties to draw out your interest in HIS beyond. Knowing how 'far better' it is, HE has taken this means of turning your affections heavenward, to have you think of the Home over there."-Selected.
Asaph the Psalmist wrote: "Whom have I in heaven but Thee?" (Psalm 73:25). It is true that our first attraction should be to the Person rather than to the place. Our first joy should be the glorious prospect of seeing Him who is "altogether lovely," our precious Lord and Saviour. Nevertheless, our loved ones already "over there" do make heaven closer to us. No doubt God uses death to draw our interest heavenward, and away from the affairs, cares and ambitions of this life.
Last Day Messenger
July – August 1975
Recovery Of Truth - O'Hair - YouTube
How
God Saves Men
Believing
Christ DIED, that’s HISTORY.
Believing
Christ DIED for YOU SINS and Rose again that’s SALVATION.
Read
Romans 1:16, Romans 10:9-10 and 1. Corinthians 15:1-4
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By Cecil and Connie Spivey
cspivey1953@gmail.com
cspivey1953@gmail.com
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