Lesson 9

In January, when I began this study in Philippians, I fully expected the need to depart from the series on Easter Sunday. It seems clear that the Holy Spirit has timed our studies in this book so that this text would perfectly intercept with the day when we are most mindful of vicarious death and victorious resurrection of Christ.

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If you were to search for a single text which capsulizes the message of the whole Bible, you probably couldn't do better than Philippians 2:5-11. This passage is one of the most magnificent in all the scriptures. The theme of this passage, and, really, the theme of all of God's Word is stated in four words found in verse 11 ... Jesus Christ is Lord! That is the message of the Bible. Jesus Christ is Lord!

When I say "Lord" what do I mean? It is really very simple. Lord means "Master"; it means "Owner"; it means Commander-In-Chief of all that is seen and all that is unseen; it means "the one in charge", the one in control; it means "the supreme sovereign". That word is found more than 7,700 times in the Bible. And it is used to describe Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is Lord!

That truth was PROMISED IN THE OLD TESTAMENT. David said of speaking prophetically of the Messiah, the Christ who would come, "The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool" (Psalm 110:1). At least 12 times, the New Testament explains that David's words were fulfilled in Jesus Christ (Mt.22:44). David understood that the Christ would be Lord.

That truth is PROVEN IN THE GOSPELS. The heavenly angels gave witness that Jesus Christ is Lord. "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour which is Christ the Lord" (Luke 2:11). With his own words, Jesus announced his Lordship. "Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am" (John 13:13). By his own works Jesus affirmed his Lordship. Jesus demonstrated that he was Lord over disease by curing the sick; that he was Lord over disasters by controlling the winds and the waves; that he was Lord over demons by casting them out; that he was Lord over demands by changing water into wine and feeding thousands with a lad's lunch; that he was Lord over death by conquering it. Christ was one preacher who never preached a funeral service ... rather he performed a resurrection!

The angels stated that he is Lord. Jesus said that he is Lord. And the people saw that he is Lord.

That truth is PROCLAIMED IN THE BOOK OF ACTS. On the day of Pentecost, Peter message was that Jesus Christ is Lord (read Acts 2:31-36). Peter repeated that message at the house of Cornelius (see Acts 10:36).

That truth is PREACHED THROUGHOUT THE EPISTLES. Paul wrote, "For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord ..." (II Cor.4:5).

That truth is PEFORMED IN THE REVELATION. Christ returns to establish his kingdom on earth of King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Revelation 17:14; 19:16).

From beginning to end the message of the Scriptures is that Jesus Christ is Lord. And that is the message of Philippians 2:5-11. Paul gives us a thorough explanation of the idea and the implications of Christ's Lordship.

The word "wherefore" (v.9) is the same as the word "therefore". It means "as a consequence" or "as a result". It always looks back to what has already been said. Paul, then, is connecting what he is going to say (Jesus Christ has been exalted by the Father and is Lord) with what he has already said (vs. 6-8). Remember, these verses tells us of Christ's humiliation. He who existed in the form of and in equality with God, humbled himself to become a servant, yea, beyond that, he became a sacrifice, dying the death of the cross. Wherefore ... therefore ... because of that ... as a result of that ... as a consequence of that ... Christ has been exalted by the Father and is recognized as Lord.

The death and resurrection accomplished two great things. First, He purchased for the believer, redemp tion. Second, by going to the cross, dying and rising again, Jesus earned for himself the right to be recognized as Lord of all, whether dead or alive. *Romans 14:9 states it this way, "For to this end Christ both died and rose ..., that he might be Lord both of the dead and living". His death and resurrection earned him the right to be recognized as Lord. He is "declared to be the Son of God with power by the resurrection" (Rom. 1:4).

Paul explains the Lordship of Christ first by declaring that Jesus Christ has earned the right to be recognized as Lord by his death and resurrection.

What response is there to the truth that Jesus Christ is Lord? Paul reveals two responses. First, he tells of the response by our Creator, God the Father. Then, he goes on to express the response of all creation.

1. Exalted - "highly exalted him".

Christ has not just been exalted, he has been "highly exalted". The Greek word for exalted has been given a prefix which intensifies or magnifies the word. That prefix is "huper" from which we get in English "hyper" and "super". Christ has been super-exalted by God. He is highly exalted. Christ humbled himself to the lowest place, God exalted Christ to the highest place. The Bible speaks of Christ's resurrection, ascension, seated at the right hand of God as the exaltation by God, (see Acts 2:32-33; 5:30-31). His death on the cross was his self-humiliation; his resurrection and ascension were his exaltation by God, Psalm 110:1.

2. Honored - "given him a name which is above every name". Christ has been given a name of unparalleled honor.

Hebrews 1:4 says that Jesus "has obtained a name more excellent than (the angels)"

God the Father's response to the Son is to exalt Him and honor his name. That should be our response as well. Because Jesus Christ is Lord, earning the right to be so recognized by his death and resurrection, we should exalted Christ to highest place and honor his name.

Having given the response of God, the Father, the Creator to the Lordship of Christ, Paul now turns his attention to how all the creation will eventually response to the Lordship of Christ.

a. in heaven - then angels, the redeemed. Rev. 4:4-11.

b. on earth - saved and unsaved; saints and sinners.

c. beneath the earth - demons (Eph.4:9; I Peter 3:19); damned (Lk.16:19-31).

a. contrition - "every knee will bow"

b. confession -"every tongue will confess" open acknowledgement (see Mt. 10:32-33; Rom.10:9-11).

Whether by choice or by compulsion, whether in joy or in judgment, every knee will bend in contrition and every tongue will speak in confession, openly acknowledging that Jesus Christ is Lord. That hasn't happened yet. But it will! Christ will rule with a rod of iron. Even his enemies will be made his footstool! Jesus Christ is Lord!

Jesus Christ is Lord "to the glory of God the Father." There is no confusion or conflict between the Father and the Son. There is no jealousy or envy. When the Son is exalted and honored and creation openly acknowledges that he is Lord, God the Father is glorified. John 5:23 says, "That all men should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He that honoreth not the Son honoreth not the Father which hath sent him." God is glorified when Christ is recognized as Lord.

He is Lord Almighty. Isaiah 45:22-23 "Look unto me and be saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God and there is none else. I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, that unto me every knee shall bow and every tongue shall swear."

He is Lord Already. We do not make him Lord, he is Lord already. When you receive Christ, you receive him as Lord. He owns you (I Cor. 6:19-20), and you obey him (Luke 6:46).

The question is not, Is Jesus Christ Lord. That issue has eternally been put to rest. The question is, Is Jesus Christ my Lord? David's said, "The LORD said to my Lord". Thomas viewed the risen redeemer and said, "My Lord and my God". Jesus Christ is Lord. Is he your Lord. Will you not today, by your choosing, in joy bow your knee and openly acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord? Romans 10:9-11,13 "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the death, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart, man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth, confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, 'Whosoever believth shall not be ashamed.' For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."