Lord And Christ

by James Brown, Christchurch, New Zealand | Category: The Lord Jesus Christ: His Person And Work | Jul 1953

"God hath made (appointed) Him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus" (Acts 2.36). The Holy Spirit here affirms through Peter what was true of Him at His birth: "For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord " (Luke 2.11). During the days of His flesh upon earth He was both Lord and Christ, but in resurrection this same Jesus was indisputably appointed as such by His God and Father. The One whom men had looked upon as the reputed son of Joseph the carpenter, and whom, in their ignorance and hatred, they crucified, was now seated on high upon His Father's throne. Man gave Him the cross, with all its shame and ignominy. God gave Him the throne, with all its glory and honour. All authority in heaven and on earth is now His. God has seated Him above all principalities and powers, and has given Him the Name which is above every name:

He fills the throne, the throne above,

He fills it without wrong:

The Object of His Father's love,

The Theme of angels' song."

Yes, God has enthroned Him on high! What place do we give Him in these poor hearts of ours? Peter, writing to the scattered, yet together, people of God in the five provinces mentioned in 1 Peter 1.1, urged them to sanctify Christ as Lord in their hearts (3.15). Having given Him the enthroned place on high, God wants us to give Him the enthroned place below. Paul, writing to the saints in Ephesus, prayed that the Father would grant them according to the riches of His glory, that they might be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inward man, that Christ might dwell in their hearts through faith (Ephesians 3.14-19). Do we ever take time to ponder over the great miracle-truth that He, the holy, sinless One, comes to take up His abode in our hearts, which, although redeemed by precious blood, are so apt to wander and forget Him? May our prayer be,-"Lord, help us to keep our hearts by keeping Thy sayings in the midst of them," for, as we read in Proverbs 4.2, "They are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh."

We call Him, Master, and, Lord: and we say well; for so He is. But do we not feel at times the power of His reproaching words:

"Why call ye Me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say"? (Luke 6.46). At the marriage in Cana of Galilee, Mary said to the servants, " Whatsoever He saith unto you, do it" (John 2.5). This one act of obedience brought wonderful blessing. From waterpots which had been filled to the brim with water, there flowed out rich wine, the direct creation of His power. He is Lord of all, and, in absolute authority over every created thing, could readily change the water into wine. Truly, "to obey is better than sacrifice!

Re who is the Master of ocean and earth and skies, the risen and

glorified Lord Jesus Christ, longs to do wonderful things for us He has already done much, but still wants to do much more. May it not be that He is more willing to bless than we are exercised to receive the blessing? Disobedience will surely hinder His working in and through us. Like the Psalmist, may we be able to say, "I made haste, and delayed not, to observe Thy commandments" (Psalm

119.60).

Again, we may be insufficiently concerned about our condition of heart. "In me, that is, in my flesh, dwelleth no good thing," wrote one great bondservant of Christ Jesus (Romans 7.18). The works of the flesh are manifest, and their defilement will come between us and our Lord. Read again Galatians 5.19-21, and notice that "enmities, strife, jealousies, wraths, factions, divisions and heresies are grouped alongside other gross manifestations of the flesh. How can our Lord reveal His sovereign power in blessing us if such things are defiling our hearts? For Him to do so would be to deny Himself. So with fresh force the exhortations come to us

"Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the

flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof" (Romans i3. 14),

Walk by the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh"

(Galatians 5.16).

As our hearts are set to serve the Lord Jesus Christ, we shall quickly learn the truth of His having been rejected by this world. God has exalted Him, and made Him both Lord and Christ: but none of the rulers of this world knew the wisdom of God, for had they known it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory (1 Corinthians 2.8). His claims are still unrecognized by the great majority on earth. So our obedience to Him will often bring upon us criticism and opposition from the world What then should our attitude be? It should be that of rejoicing that we are "counted worthy to suffer dishonour for the Name I "(see Acts 5.41).

At a time when fiery trial had overtaken those who loved the Lord, Peter wrote : " Insomuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings, rejoice; that at the revelation of His glory also ye may rejoice with exceeding joy. If ye are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are ye; ... if a man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God in this name " (1 Peter 4.18-16).

"From the cold world that loveth and knoweth its own, Where Jesus was hated, rejected, unknown, We will cheerfully hasten, rejoicing to be Counted worthy to suffer, Lord Jesus, for Thee."

While loyalty of heart to our soon coming Lord leads to separation from those things of the world which would defile or hinder us, it also draws us together with others who have been exercised to cleanse themselves from every defilement of flesh and spirit (2 Corinthians 7.1).The Lordship of Christ may find delightful expression in the individual experience of the believer. Yet it may find even fuller expression in the unity of believers who are animated by the common desire to give effect to the will of their Lord.

From the history of David we glean a striking illustration of unity resulting from common allegiance to one lord. David was the rightful king of Israel by divine appointment; but at the time to which we refer, his claims were unrecognized by most, and he was a fugitive from King Saul. When David escaped to the Cave of Adullam, there resorted to him " every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented ... and he became captain over them." A little later on, there came others of the children of Benjamin and of Judah to the hold to David, declaring, "Thine are we, David, and on thy side thou son of Jesse." A motley crew indeed! Yet each had been drawn by personal love to David. Under the power of his example and instruction that unpromising band was welded together into a force which became the nucleus of David's mighty kingdom.

So now, should the disciple of the Lord Jesus find himself in an unscriptural church association and become exercised to bow to His authority as Lord, guidance and encouragement in connexion with his course will be found in Paul's letter to Timothy,

"If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto

honour, sanctified, meet for the Master's use, prepared unto every good work" (2 Timothy 2.21).

What an unspeakable honour to be used by such a glorious Master! May we be careful to be humble enough and clean enough for Him to use us freely! Let us say, " Lord, forgive our failures, and fill our hearts until they overflow with Thy love." Psalm 51. 17 tells us that

"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit A broken and a contrite heart,

0 God, Thou wilt not despise."

But it is intended that our service should be rendered in association with others, as Paul's further word to Timothy clearly establishes:

" But flee youthful lusts, and follow after righteousness, faith, love, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart"

(2 Timothy 2.22).

Thus to-day the disciple who loves to obey the Lord Jesus Christ, God's exalted One, will find others who share that same deep concern to please Him. Obedience to the Word of the Lord will weld such believers together in unity of purpose to serve Him. With what result? They will be found carrying out the terms of that wonderful commission, given by Him into whose hands has been placed all authority in heaven and on earth to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them, and teaching them to observe all things, whatsoever He has commanded. Putting this into effect will bring disciples together into the Fellowship of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Within that Fellowship may be expressed the "unity of the Spirit" so preciously spoken of in Ephesians 4.8-6. Let us note well that of seven points mentioned there in connexion with this divine unity, prominence is given to the "ONE LORD." Oh to bow our will in ready subjection to His glorious claims, acknowledging the importance of every jot and tittle of His revealed will as it affects the service of His people in this our day!

James Brown, Christchurch, New Zealand | Jul 1953
The Lord Jesus Christ: His Person And Work