This is the fourth in our teachings about the seven ones of Ephesians 4. Today we are going to go into depth about one Lord. We will explain who he is, what he does, and how he is relevant to us.
Eph:4:3-6 3: Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4: There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5: One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6: One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
Last week we studied the one hope of our calling. That calling is both present and future, and that calling comes by the Lord Jesus Christ.
1Th:2:19: 16 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?
2Th:2:16: Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,
Ph’p:3:20: For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ
Lets go to two verses that explains who the one Lord is. First of all Jesus tells us that God is one Lord. There are not many lords, but one.
Mark:12:28-30 28: And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all? 29: And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: 30: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
Jesus is quoting from the Old Testament, where Moses told Israel the word of God for them.
Deuteronomy:6:4-5 4: Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: 5: And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
Then Paul tells us there is one God, and one Lord. They are both one. We will go into depth about one God later, but here we will study one Lord. Let’s now read our key verse.
1Co:8:6: But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.
Paul tells us of, “one Lord Jesus Christ.” There is a lot that can be said about that name. We will define all three titles in this study, but will dwell on the name Lord the most. First of all One means that Jesus is the only Lord, and there is no other.
Nehemiah 9:6 Thou, even thou, art LORD alone; thou has made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth thee.
A. What Does Lord Mean?
1. First it means he is in authority or in control of our lives.
In the Greek translation of the Bible that was used in the time of Jesus, the personal name of God, Yahweh, was translated into Greek as kyrios.
“Lord” or kyrios means the one who is in control, the owner. The lord of the manner, the lord of the servant, is the one who has authority. It is by his will and direction that the servant takes action. When lord refers to our Savior, it reflects the relationship we have with Him. When we surrender ourselves to Him in exchange for His salvation, He becomes our Lord – the one to whom we should surrender our wills and our desires. This conveys someone else is a master to us who has the power to decide what we do.
The Hebrew language is much more thorough than the Greek language. There is only one main word used for ‘lord’ in Greek and that is “kyrios”.
The Hebrew language however uses at least 4 main words (actually one word and 3 derivatives of another word) for “lord” therefore minimizing the chance of misunderstanding. Therefore, the Apostles and other Greek-speaking Jewish Christians would have followed which Hebrew equivalent to kyrios.
Adonai (Lord) appears over 400 times in the Old Testament. It is a title of God, not his name. His name is YHVH (pronounced Yahweh or Jehovah) which most English versions substitute LORD (all caps). Adonai is the Supreme Lord God.
Adoni (my lord) is essentially the same Hebrew word “Adon” (lord) with a different vowel pointing which makes it ‘my lord’. It appears over 160 times in the Old Testament. It is used to refer to humans, mostly. David is referred to as “adoni” many times in the Scriptures. Sarah called Abraham “adoni.”
[*Adonai is pronounced “Adon eye.” Adoni is pronounced “Adon nee.”]
Ps 110:1 The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.
This says, Adonai, Yahweh (or Jehovah) said unto adoni (my lord). This is one place both Lord words are used, showing Jesus is LORD, Yahweh. This verse was explained by Jesus in Mark, and Peter in Acts.
Mark:12:35-37 35: And Jesus answered and said, while he taught in the temple, How say the scribes that Christ is the Son of David? 36: For David himself said by the Holy Ghost, The LORD said to my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool. 37: David therefore himself calleth him Lord; and whence is he then his son? And the common people heard him gladly.
Ac:2:34-36 34: For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, 35: Until I make thy foes thy footstool. 36: Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
Lordship is inseparably linked to the name of Jesus.
Philippians 2:9-11 9: Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11: And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Jesus came from heaven to earth, was born in Bethlehem, lived a perfect life and died on a cross an atoning sacrificial death, was buried in a tomb and was raised victoriously, and ascended into heaven to occupy His throne in Glory where God has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name. Lordship was at the very heart of Jesus’ redemptive work on the cross. There is coming a day when every person who has ever lived will bow and acknowledge that Jesus Christ is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. But for the Christian that great confession should be an everyday reality. A Christian should live moment by moment in faithful submission to the lordship of Jesus Christ. That lordship is because of what Jesus did on the cross, and that he was raised from the dead. He triumphed over death, hell, and the grave for us.
Romans 14:8-9 8: For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.9: For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.
Jesus brought us salvation through that lordship which he obtained because of his sacrifice for us.
Ro:5:11: And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.
Ro:10:9-10: That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10: For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Notice in these verses there we not only receive Jesus as Saviour, but also as Lord. Some may say they are saved, but this verse tells us that they are not unless they make Jesus their Lord. In fact Jesus spoke about such people.
Lu:6:46: And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?
Matthew7:21-23 21: Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22: Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23: And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
God has given us the opportunity to choose Him as our Lord. I can choose whether or not Jesus is my Lord; but if I do call Him Lord, then I intend to put myself in the role of servant. Jesus is Lord and it should be known in how I view Him, in my attitude to what He expects of me and in my willingness to yield to what He requires of me. “Jesus is Lord” means also my master. One I should obey and has power over me. Receiving Jesus as Lord means that my constant overriding goal should be to be to obey him. Nothing else should matter.
Let’s remember the three A’s of Christian service: Anywhere, Anytime, and Any cost. The lordship of Jesus Christ in our lives involves our willingness to go where He sends us, when He sends us, regardless of the cost.
Isaiah:6:8: Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.
2. Secondly, it tells us that he is in control of the universe.
Lets read our key verse again.
1Co:8:6: But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.
It tells us here that all things operate through the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus told us that he was given this power after his resurrection. Paul also tells us this same thing in Ephesians.
M’t:28:18: And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
Eph:1:20-23: 20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, 21: Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: 22: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 23: Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
Heb:1:8-10 8: But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. 9: Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. 10: And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands:
Ephesians 1:20-23 (Moffatt) 20 which he exerted in raising Christ from the dead and seating him at his right hand in the heavenly sphere, 21above all the angelic Rulers, Authorities, Powers, and Lords, above every Name that is to be named not only in this age but in the age to come 22 he has put everything under his feet and set him as head over everything for the church, 23 the church which is his Body, filled by him who fills the universe entirely.
Re:19:11-16 11: And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. 12: His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. 13: And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. 14: And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.15: And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.16: And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
B. What does Jesus mean? Let us read the text again.
1Co:8:6: But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.
And the word Jesus means “God is salvation. He is the one and only way to salvation for mankind. By using this title, Paul is both acknowledging Jesus as the Savior, but he is reminding believers of their relationship with Him.
John:14:6: Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Ac:15:11: But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.
Ac:16:31: And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
Ro:5:1: Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
1Th:5:9: For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
1Pe:1:3: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
C. What does Christ mean?
The word Christ in the Greek, or Messiah in Hebrew, means “the anointed”, that is, the one anointed of God, who came to guide the people walking in darkness. The Lord Jesus Christ is the awaited Messiah, whose coming was prophesied by the prophets of the Old Testament. It was known in ancient times that when a king was crowned, or a priest consecrated, he was anointed with oil as a sign of “sovereign power” or “priesthood.” And it is known that Christ was a prophet, priest and king. Christ was not anointed by the people, because He is not an earthly king, but He was anointed of God, because He is a heavenly king who reigns over the hearts of the believers. So the word “Massih” in Arabic, and ” Messiah” in Hebrew, have one meaning, and that is the Anointed One. And Jesus was called “the Christ” (or “Messiah”) because He was “anointed by the Holy Spirit.” This anointing was to appoint and prepare him for ministry. And the Holy Bible is full of references which declare that Jesus is the Messiah, and some of these references even spoke of Christ before His birth in Bethlehem and His appearance in our world, in the flesh.
M’t:16:13-20 13: When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? 14: And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. 15: He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? 16: And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17: And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. 18: And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19: And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 20: Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.
Eph:2:12-13 12: That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:13: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
In conclusion, we can say the same thing Thomas did when he saw Jesus.
John:20:28: And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.
For we know what Deuteronomy says:
De:7:9: Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;
And we can bless him because of his love and his majesty.
Psalms:104:1: Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty.
Goode Christian: learning how to be a good Christian in today's world. 