Today’s message is entitled “The Lordship of Jesus.” As we continue in our study of the Gospel of Luke, we’re going to see how Jesus claims an authority above all others. What is the lordship of Jesus all about? The word lordship means supreme power or rule. Jesus was not just another founder of a religion, like Buddha or Muhammad.
Romans 10:9 (ESV) 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.
This verse summarizes salvation as requiring two things. First of all, you must believe in your heart that Jesus rose from the dead and so is alive today. No one can be saved who believes Jesus died on the cross and never rose from the dead. Then secondly, you must confess before others that Jesus is Lord of all and Lord of your life. To confess that Jesus is Lord means that you are committed to obeying everything He commands you to do. To confess that Jesus is Lord means that you will follow no other religion or any other authority that contradicts Jesus.
This simple verse refutes the teaching that you can accept Jesus as your Savior and decide later on if you want to make Him your Lord. Jesus cannot be the Savior of anyone who has not confessed Him as Lord. Now, confessing Jesus as Lord is not just a matter of saying those words.
Matthew 7:21 (ESV) “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
The confession of Jesus is Lord must be backed up with a life of doing God’s will. According to Jesus, many who call Him Lord are not in fact serving Him as Lord and so will not spend eternity with Him. When a person follows Jesus as Lord, they will always encounter opposition.
2 Timothy 3:12 (ESV) Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,
Everyone who follows Jesus as Lord by living a godly life will be persecuted. Persecuted by whom? Persecuted by those who are not following Jesus as Lord, of which there are many. However, being persecuted is not a bad thing. It is a mark that you are doing something right.
Matthew 5:11-12 (ESV) “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
You are blessed when you are persecuted and so should rejoice. As Jesus our Lord was persecuted, so will all His followers be as well. Today, we’re going to learn what following Jesus as Lord is all about. God calls us to …