Christ the Lord

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Stained glass at St John the Baptist's Anglica...Image via Wikipedia
The LORD said to my Lord, “sit at My right hand …”
(Ps. 110:1).


One way that we gain a deeper understanding of the God we worship is by knowing the meaning of His various titles or names. We have already briefly looked at Yahweh and its personal implications concerning God’s relationship to His creation. Today we will look at the most frequently used title in the Old Testament, which is Adonai. The Jewish people were acutely conscious of violating the first commandment and abusing the name of God, Yahweh, so they commonly substituted the title Adonai in their worship. Adon means steward, administrator, or Lord. The addition of ai to adon intensifies its meaning, changing it to mean the supreme Lord of all. Adonai, therefore, emphasizes the sovereignty of God.
In the New Testament, the most frequently used title for Jesus is
This is a map of first century Iudaea Province...Image via Wikipedia Kurios, which is the Greek translation of Adonai. The New Testament writers chose this title deliberately, for it had been reserved only for God. The passage most often quoted to prove Jesus’ authority is Psalm 110:1, “The LORD said to my Lord” or “Yahweh said to my Adonai” (Note that most Bibles render Yahweh “LORD”). Using this title for Jesus emphasizes His lordship. Early Christian worship made a point to focus on Jesus’ authority and His lordship not only over the church but over all creation. Our worship, too, must be Christo-centric, recognizing Christ’s supreme authority in nature and grace. It is only in Him, who is Lord of our hearts, that we can approach God in worship. If our focus is man-centered we are not worshiping God as we ought. This was a concern Paul had for the Corinthians. He wanted them to focus on Christ, His glory, and supremacy over the church, not on the flashy rhetoric of false teachers.
Whenever we come before God in worship, we must recognize His sovereignty and His lordship. When Thomas recognized Jesus after the resurrection, he worshiped Him, saying, “My Lord and my God.” We, too, must make this same proclamation. When we recognize God’s sovereignty, we humbly submit our lives to Him and give Him glory for all things. We cannot properly submit to Him if we think anything is outside His control. Christ is the King of kings, and we are commanded to worship Him in all His glory and authority.


Read Isaiah 29:16; 45:9; 64:8. What do these passages say about God’s sovereignty? How should your acknowledgement of God’s sovereignty affect your attitude and worship? Memorize one short verse on God’s sovereignty (using any verse above or below). Meditate on it as your prepare for private and public worship.
For further study: Mark. 12:35–37 • John 20:24–31 • Acts 2:22–36 • 1 Cor. 8:1–6







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