•I Corinthians 12:1-3
•Jesus is Lord
•1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed. 2 You know that when you were pagans you were led astray to mute idols, however you were led. 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.
(I Corinthians 12:1-3, ESV)
•Main Point
•These verses provide the foundation blocks for things of the Spirit
• It is the same foundation Paul has spoken of throughout the Letter
• Jesus is the Lord to whom we owe our absolute allegiance
•Application Points
•Jesus is Lord
•How can we be sure of our salvation?
•Only from the Spirit can we say, “Jesus is Lord?”
•We encounter so many loved ones that we want a simple formula
•We do not want our friends and family to experience hell
•Thus we take something which has far more significance and simplify it in hopes that it will be enough
•Not long ago at VBS
•The kids were enthused and interested in what we were teaching
•The grandmother, however, looked sour
•Because we did not do an altar call
•Application Points
•Jesus is Lord (2)
•Because we didn’t tell the kids that if they wanted to be saved to pray this prayer…
• She held the belief that if we led them in the sinners prayer that this would cause them to experience salvation
• Why did she believe that?
• Because of a misunderstanding of this verse and Romans
because, 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.
(Romans 10:9, ESV)
•Application Points
•Jesus is Lord (3)
•Sometimes we criticize those who hold such a strong affinity toward the sacraments
• Generally we would chalk this up to superstition than Biblical faith
• We need to point the finger at ourselves
•We cheapen what it means to proclaim “Jesus is Lord” and salvation itself
•It is not merely a statement, but a commitment
•It means giving up oneself to Jesus Christ and entrusting Him and everything He has taught and done
•Application Points
•Jesus is Lord (4)
•By sugarcoating this we have lost all meaning to declare “Jesus is Lord”
•Because of our superstition we have caused a generation to go on believing they are saved because they “done did that”
• One cannot truthfully make the claim that Jesus is Lord and continue to live in a way which undermines His authority and leadership
• Instead of being superstitious…we must bring back what it meant for Jesus to be Lord Biblically
•Application Points
•Jesus is Lord (5)
•If we do not turn course from this deceptive understanding…then we will continue to have the doors closed because of our unfaithfulness
•To be true disciples of Christ
• It is not just that it leads to speaking a new way, it leads to a new life beginning now
• The only way to change is to turn ourselves and trust God in what He has called us to do and be
• In a way this is scary for all of us, because it means we actually have to trust Jesus in all He says
•Application Points
•Jesus is Lord (6)
•It is a far better life with Jesus as Lord than being our own
•It leads to actual purpose, meaning, and value
•To entrust everything to His care
•He has never disappointed
•His steadfastness, love, grace, persistence
•Is there any other Lord who would give us His very life for the least of us?
•We are so scared to tell people what it means for Jesus to be Lord
•Isn’t it so much better with Christ?
•Isn’t it so much more with Christ?
•He is the Perfect Lord worthy of all allegiance
•Application Points
•Jesus is Lord (7)
•If all this resonates with you, then let’s make the promise that we will no longer cheapen what it means for Jesus to be Lord
• Jesus is Lord means He is Lord of all things and demands and deserves our absolute allegiance and trust
• Be encouraged, then, to proclaim the very real truth that Jesus is Lord
•To not only proclaim, but believe it, to live it, and delight in Him
•Application Points
•The Gospel of Christ
•Origins
•Where it begins
•Fall
•What went wrong
•Redemption
•How it is fixed
•Glorification
•Where it at leads
