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Reading: Rom.10:5-21

Text: 1Cor.12:3 "Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit."

Over recent Sunday evenings we have been looking at some of the important ways in which Jesus is described:

·         He is Jesus – "God saves"

·         He is the Saviour – the One by whom God does save us

·         He is the Christ – the anointed One sent from God the Father

This evening we come to another very familiar title – Lord.

In speaking of Jesus the word Lord is used frequently and in a variety of different combinations. We are used to this as we read through the NT of our Bibles but let me just remind how the title is used:

1.       Lord – so often in the NT the word simply stands alone and refers most often to Jesus Christ.

2.       Lord Jesus – 39

3.       Lord Jesus Christ – 63

4.       Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ - 4

5.       Lord Christ – 2

6.       Christ the Lord – 2

7.       Jesus Christ our Lord -  5

8.       Christ Jesus our Lord – 7

9.       Christ Jesus the Lord - 1

10.   Jesus is Lord – 2

11.   Our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ (Jude 4)

The Greek word which lies behind our word Lord is "kyrios" it refers to someone who has power, ownership and an unquestionable right to command. Thus kyrios means something like SOVEREIGN LORD. In the Greek translation of the OT it is used to translate the word YHWH and thus when NT writers apply it so regularly to Jesus Christ there is a clear affirmation of Jesus' deity.  (When the NT wants to refer to God the Father it usually refers to Him simply as God and doesn't normally refer to Him as Lord.)

There is one other word that is sometimes translated Lord – or in my Bible as Master – which is virtually synonymous with kyrios and that is the word despotes (from which we derive our word despot). This word signifies a ruler who possesses and exercises absolute power over his subjects. Thus the word means something like ABSOLUTE LORD.

As we consider the different names and titles that are attributed to Jesus we should not imagine that sometimes He acts as the Saviour and then He acts as the Christ and sometimes He acts as the Lord – He is One person and therefore we cannot and must not try to pick and choose which aspects we like and are happy to accept while rejecting others.

What do I mean by this? Well sometimes people try to make a distinction between accepting Christ as Saviour and recognising Him as Lord and what I am saying to you is that the Christ who saves is the Lord whether we have understood that or not!

We may have heard faulty presentations of the gospel in the past and our understanding may well have been faulty too but that does not change the fact that the answer to our needs is not some impersonal salvation but a relationship with a Mighty Saviour who saves and rules His people.

Now no human presentation of the gospel will be complete and perfect and our understanding is not yet perfect either but salvation is a work of God and He is not limited by human frailties. But that also means that God is not bound by whatever we might like to think. Just because a person calls themselves a Christian does not obligate God to treat him as such – it is a not a person's decision that determines the matter but God's grace and God's grace always accomplishes His purposes!

1.       PETER

In chapter 14 Matthew recounts the well-known story of the feeding of the 5.000. The event over Jesus sent His disciples away in a boat while He dismissed the crowds and then gave Himself to prayer. His disciples were struggling on the sea due to the winds and Jesus came to them in the middle of the night walking on the water.

The disciples were afraid at Jesus' approach but when Jesus spoke calming their fears Peter spoke to Him:

Mt.14:28 "And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.”

Peter thus recognises extraordinary authority in this man Jesus. Not only can He walk with impunity on the water but He can command others to do so too. Jesus did have this authority – He was the Lord as Peter had so rightly addressed Him - He tells Peter to come.

We know what happened don't we? Peter began to set out but takes His eyes off the Lord and begins to sink. Peter is now terrified and certainly can't do anything other than to cry out:

Mt.14:30 "Lord, save me."

What an illustration Peter is of human nature in this episode! He begins with an exaggerated view of his own abilities but finds himself in a mess that he simply can't resolve himself. He is forced to call out for help. He has to cast himself upon the mercy of the Lord

The Lord has the power, the absolute power and authority to save Peter and He loves to exercise it in such saving ways!

2.       An epileptic boy' father

This next example comes later in Jesus' ministry. He has just undergone the experience of the Transfiguration where the Father's encouraging voice heard from heaven approving all that He has done but now descending the mountain He is quickly confronted with human need. An epileptic boy's father had brought his son to the disciples for help but they had been powerless to do anything for him. The father is desperate as Jesus returns from the mountain.

Mt.17:15-16 "Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and he suffers terribly. For often he falls into the fire, and often into the water. And I brought him to your disciples, and they could not heal him."

This father had done what he could and had looked where he could for help but none had been able to help him. Isn't that like us so often too? We try all kinds of solutions before we finally come to the Lord for help.

As with Peter, this father comes to Christ calling out for mercy. His son is in a terrible state, none can do anything about it. Lord, look with compassion and do something for him!

3.       Two blind men

For our last example let's consider those two blind men who were sitting outside Jericho begging. There is no real need to go to great lengths to explain the difficulties of their situation – blindness is still a handicap today but it was far greater then!

Suddenly they're aware of something is happening, the city is astir in an unusual way. So they ask those standing near them what's going on and they're told that Jesus is passing by. Immediately they begin crying out:

Mt.20:30 "Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!

The crowd don't like this and try to silence the two men – they won't have any of it and simply cry out more loudly than before:

Mt.20:31 "Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!"

How desperate they are – they have needs and those needs are serious. This could be the only opportunity they have and so they cry out loudly and persistently to Jesus as the Lord who has the power and authority to help them. Others might well try to pour cold water on their efforts but they will do what they can to interact with the Lord Jesus.

Jesus hears them and stops. He speaks to them and asks what they want. The two men don't hesitate an instant, they know their need and they plead with Him to succour them:

Mt.20:33 "Lord, let our eyes be opened."

Each time they speak to Jesus they address Him as Lord and their persistence is rewarded – Jesus doesn't merely stop and observe, He doesn't merely invite them to share with Him about their problems, He acts in mercy to heal them!

In each of these examples Jesus is addressed as Lord. In each there is a danger or a predicament that others cannot rectify. In each case mercy is looked for.

The story is told of how a mother once approached Napoleon seeking a pardon for her son. The emperor replied that the young man had committed a certain offence twice and justice demanded death. "But I don't ask for justice," the mother explained. "I plead for mercy." "But your son does not deserve mercy," Napoleon replied. "Sir," the woman cried, "It would not be mercy if he deserved it, and mercy is all I ask for." "Well, then," the emperor said, "I will have mercy." And he spared the woman's son. 

This is the essence of mercy. Mercy is compassion on someone based on their need. It is not justice, for mercy extends compassion on others when they don't deserve it.

 The three examples we have been looking at all teach us something of what it is to become a Christian.

·         Recognition of personal danger or personal need

·         Recognition of personal inability to do anything about it

·         Recognition of Jesus' power and authority

·         Recognition of personal unworthiness – mercy is needed

·         Determination to cry out to Him, the Lord, for His mercy

·         Salvation granted freely by the Lord

It all seems so easy and straightforward doesn't it? And yet when it comes to spiritual realities how difficulty men and women and boys and girls find it! How hard we find it!

û  We don't like to think we are in spiritual danger – far nicer to imagine that we're all going to heaven

û  We want to be told what we can do not what we can't – we all like to imagine we can do what's necessary – our best will surely please God we fondly imagine

û  We don't mind if Jesus wants to lend us a helping hand now and again but we don't want this man to reign over us (Lk.19:14)

û  We certainly don't like admitting that we don't deserve the help we need

û  If we have trouble with those points then we won't be likely to persevere in crying out in desperation until He hears and answers!

You see none of these things comes naturally to us. We need the Spirit of God to be at work showing us the truth, showing us how that truth applies to us and quickening us to seek help outside of ourselves.

By the resurrection God the Father has put His seal of approval on all that Jesus has done and confirmed Him to be both Lord and Christ (Acts 2:23) but no man will truly recognise this to be the case unless God is at work by His Spirit!

1Cor.12:3 "no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit"

How we want to be in control – we are all in some respects 'spiritual control freaks' but the Christian faith is not something that any man is in control of. It is not something that we can determine or manipulate. It is no mere philosophy or some series of lifestyle choices. There is a profound divine element about our salvation because it includes – a new birth, a new heart and a new life which only God can give!

All this is simply to underline that salvation is of the Lord and that the terms and conditions are His to determine and ours to accept not negotiate.

In answer to the question "What must I do to be saved?" the apostle Paul replied "Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved."

His reply was given in an emergency situation with no time to lose lest the jailer take his own life. In more leisurely circumstances Paul could fill out what this meant in his letter to the Romans:

Rom.10:9 "if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."

 To this must be added the following words:

Rom.10:13 "For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”"

Did you know that the word Lord applies perfectly to context of the slave market? A "lord" goes down to the slave market and chooses which slaves he wants and buys them. He pays the purchase price and the slave belongs completely and totally to him – there was no charter of slave rights to be respected the "lord" had complete and total authority over his property.

Similarly the Christian is described frequently in the NT as being a slave – the word is doulos – most of our translations try to soften the word as servant but make no mistake this is a servant who has no rights but is totally under the control and dominion of his Master. How glad we should be that our Master exercises His dominion in a kind and loving way and treats us as no slave ever was treated in Roman times – he calls us His friends!

And lest we be tempted to think that this has nothing to do with Jesus own teaching let us remind ourselves that Jesus clearly taught His disciples that He was indeed Lord!

Jn.13:13 "You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am."

 And again:

Jn.15:14 "You are my friends if you do what I command you."

 A lord issues commands which are to be obeyed. It is the believer's joy to demonstrate his love for his Lord by obedience and the true believer will be characterised by such obedience (we're not talking perfection here but the general tenor of his life will now be obedience which is interrupted by occasional blips of disobedience), no true believer is indifferent to matters of obedience. The idea that one can benefit from Jesus Christ as to His saving work yet remain indifferent to His Lordship is an idea that is totally alien to the NT.

Tozer put this very strongly when he wrote:

"The Lord will not save those whom He cannot command. He will not divide His offices. You cannot believe on a half-Christ. We take Him for what He is – the anointed Saviour and Lord who is King of kings and Lord of lords."

 May the Holy Spirit open the eyes of our understanding that we might understand the greatest of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. May He energise us by His own presence to believe Christ, to follow Him and to obey Him as Lord. If our lives are then lived that way we will find that we are living our lives as God intended and we will be living in harmony with the Father's purposes for the entire creation because we will be confessing that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the father!

Amen.