A Call to the Lordship of Jesus Christ . Although we come to the end of this subject, we must keep this emphasis as we serve Christ until He comes again.
One last time, let’s look at those bullet points from an article by Dr. Vern Poythress, Distinguished Professor of New Testament at Westminster Theological Seminary, entitled 10 Things You Should Know about the Lordship of Christ?
1)Christ is Lord over all because He is God.
2)Christ is Lord over all because in His human nature He has accomplished perfect obedience, has won salvation for us, and has been given universal dominion as a reward.
3)Christ claims authority over both believers and unbelievers.
4)We are to obey Christ in all things.
5)We are to serve Christ all the time, in all of life, with all our heart.
6)The means of grace guide us and equip us to grow in serving Christ.
7)Serving Christ makes a pronounced difference in every area of life.
8)Because of Christ’s lordship over the world, we can sometimes learn and cooperate with unbelievers in short-term projects.
9)Christ gives distinctive authority and responsibilities to people in various spheres of life.
10)Through Christ, God establishes a pronounced distinction between the church and other institutions on earth.
Let’s examine the tenth one:
Through Christ, God establishes a pronounced distinction between the church and other institutions on earth.
Our mission as followers of Jesus Christ is to share God's love with all we meet.
As we look to fulfill this mission, we ask God to open doors so we will be invited to share the Good News that the Lord Jesus Christ, God’s Son, came to rescue us, forgive us, and grant us eternal life by His mercy and grace. We share this message as God opens doors for us. Then we pray, by the power of the Holy Spirit, they will come to faith and receive His precious gift. Our job is not done. We want to see them connected to a local church where they can grow in their faith and become more like Jesus.
So that brings us back to this tenth characteristic of living under the Lordship of Jesus Christ: Through Christ, God establishes a pronounced distinction between the church and other institutions on earth.
Dr. Poythress writes,
The true church is the body of Christ, made holy by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. It is manifested on earth in particular local gatherings of the body of Christ, and it is also enthroned with Christ in heaven. By God’s own appointment, it is distinct from other institutions by being holy and by being uniquely empowered by the Holy Spirit to accomplish God’s will for its role in discipling and nourishing believers.
Other institutions will pass away. There will only be one institution that will last when time is over and there is only eternity—the Church—the Body of Christ.
So, please remember, Church is not a place we go—it is who we are in Christ. The Church is a holy people, serving a holy God—growing to be more like Him and going out to bring others to Him. This is why we want to see the people we serve connected to the local church.
Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. (Ephesians 3:20-21)
One last time, let’s look at those bullet points from an article by Dr. Vern Poythress, Distinguished Professor of New Testament at Westminster Theological Seminary, entitled 10 Things You Should Know about the Lordship of Christ?
1)Christ is Lord over all because He is God.
2)Christ is Lord over all because in His human nature He has accomplished perfect obedience, has won salvation for us, and has been given universal dominion as a reward.
3)Christ claims authority over both believers and unbelievers.
4)We are to obey Christ in all things.
5)We are to serve Christ all the time, in all of life, with all our heart.
6)The means of grace guide us and equip us to grow in serving Christ.
7)Serving Christ makes a pronounced difference in every area of life.
8)Because of Christ’s lordship over the world, we can sometimes learn and cooperate with unbelievers in short-term projects.
9)Christ gives distinctive authority and responsibilities to people in various spheres of life.
10)Through Christ, God establishes a pronounced distinction between the church and other institutions on earth.
Let’s examine the tenth one:
Through Christ, God establishes a pronounced distinction between the church and other institutions on earth.
Our mission as followers of Jesus Christ is to share God's love with all we meet.
As we look to fulfill this mission, we ask God to open doors so we will be invited to share the Good News that the Lord Jesus Christ, God’s Son, came to rescue us, forgive us, and grant us eternal life by His mercy and grace. We share this message as God opens doors for us. Then we pray, by the power of the Holy Spirit, they will come to faith and receive His precious gift. Our job is not done. We want to see them connected to a local church where they can grow in their faith and become more like Jesus.
So that brings us back to this tenth characteristic of living under the Lordship of Jesus Christ: Through Christ, God establishes a pronounced distinction between the church and other institutions on earth.
Dr. Poythress writes,
The true church is the body of Christ, made holy by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. It is manifested on earth in particular local gatherings of the body of Christ, and it is also enthroned with Christ in heaven. By God’s own appointment, it is distinct from other institutions by being holy and by being uniquely empowered by the Holy Spirit to accomplish God’s will for its role in discipling and nourishing believers.
Other institutions will pass away. There will only be one institution that will last when time is over and there is only eternity—the Church—the Body of Christ.
So, please remember, Church is not a place we go—it is who we are in Christ. The Church is a holy people, serving a holy God—growing to be more like Him and going out to bring others to Him. This is why we want to see the people we serve connected to the local church.
Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. (Ephesians 3:20-21)
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