Is Jesus Really Lord?

by Sebastian R Fama

According to Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible, “’Lord’ as a title for God, is analogous to its use for human rulers; it connotes superiority and authority.” So, if Jesus is Lord, and He is, it means He runs the show. Many of my “Bible Only” friends will choose a church based on their personal preferences. If they do not like what the pastor is saying at one church, they “church hop” until they find one who does. The Bible addresses this in 2 Timothy 4:3-4: “For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own likings, and will turn away from listening to the truth.”

Today, people are fond of talking about “what works for them.” They never stop to think that what “works for them” might not work for God. After all, if you are the one deciding what works for you, then Jesus is not the Lord of your life, you are. Thus, we should never seek out a church that caters to our personal desires. We should seek out a Church that teaches the truth. A Church that loves us enough to preach the hard sayings of Scripture and is not guided by contemporary whims.

The good news is that no one needs to figure it out for themselves. Jesus did it all. And, He got it right the first time. He does not need anyone to correct him. As the Scripture says: “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been His councilor?” (Romans 11:34).

Jesus established one church, not thousands. And the Bible says, this Church is “the pillar and foundation of truth” (1 Timothy 3:15). The words “pillar and foundation” signify doctrinal assurance and stability, not division and confusion. And to the leaders of his church Jesus said: “He who listens to you listens to me. He who rejects you rejects me” (Luke 10:16). If you reject Jesus, He is not your Lord.

The Church is hierarchical. Peter and the council of Jerusalem taught by the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 15:28). The Churches were to abide by their decision (Acts 16:4). Bishops were in authority over congregations (Titus 1:5). Presbyters (priests) would oversee individual congregations (Acts 20:17, 28-30).

The practice of the early church reflected the Scriptural model. In the year 110, Ignatius of Antioch wrote: “You must be made holy in all things by being united in perfect obedience, in submission to the bishop and priests” (Letter to Polycarp). And what Church was he talking about? Once again, Ignatius of Antioch: “Wherever the bishop shall appear, there let the multitude [of the people] also be; even as, wherever Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church (Epistle to the Smyrnaeans 8). Both passages were written only fifteen years after the death of the last apostle (John).

Is Jesus really the Lord of your life? Or did you come up with your own plan and just assume He signed off on it?