Lordship of Christ, The

 •  2 min. read  •  grade level: 8
Listen from:
• BibleTruthPublishers.com
This is not an actual term in Scripture, but the truth that it conveys is definitely found in God’s Word. Christ’s Lordship is referred to in many places in the New Testament by the phrase—“in the Lord” (Rom. 16:2, 11-13, 192That ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you: for she hath been a succorer of many, and of myself also. (Romans 16:2)
11Salute Herodion my kinsman. Greet them that be of the household of Narcissus, which are in the Lord. 12Salute Tryphena and Tryphosa, who labor in the Lord. Salute the beloved Persis, which labored much in the Lord. 13Salute Rufus chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine. (Romans 16:11‑13)
19For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil. (Romans 16:19); 1 Cor. 7:22, 39; 9:1-2; 11:11; 15:5822For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord's freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ's servant. (1 Corinthians 7:22)
39The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord. (1 Corinthians 7:39)
1Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord? 2If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord. (1 Corinthians 9:1‑2)
11Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord. (1 Corinthians 11:11)
58Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. (1 Corinthians 15:58); 2 Cor. 10:1717But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. (2 Corinthians 10:17); Eph. 2:21; 4:1, 17; 5:8; 6:1, 10, 2121In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: (Ephesians 2:21)
1I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, (Ephesians 4:1)
17This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, (Ephesians 4:17)
8For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (Ephesians 5:8)
1Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. (Ephesians 6:1)
10Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. (Ephesians 6:10)
21But that ye also may know my affairs, and how I do, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, shall make known to you all things: (Ephesians 6:21); Phil. 2:19, 24, 29; 3:1; 4:1-2, 4, 1019But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state. (Philippians 2:19)
24But I trust in the Lord that I also myself shall come shortly. (Philippians 2:24)
29Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness; and hold such in reputation: (Philippians 2:29)
1Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe. (Philippians 3:1)
1Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved. 2I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord. (Philippians 4:1‑2)
4Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. (Philippians 4:4)
10But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity. (Philippians 4:10); Col. 4:77All my state shall Tychicus declare unto you, who is a beloved brother, and a faithful minister and fellowservant in the Lord: (Colossians 4:7), etc.). Lordship has to do with the believer acknowledging Christ’s authority in his life practically.
In the epistles of Paul, “in the Lord” is different from “in Christ”—another expression that he often uses. “In Christ” refers to the believer’s position before God in Christ’s place of acceptance (Eph. 1:66To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. (Ephesians 1:6); 1 John 4:1717Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. (1 John 4:17)). It is an eternally fixed standing in which all Christians are in. (See In Christ.) “In the Lord,” on the other hand, has to do with the believer acknowledging the Lord’s authority in his life in practical matters. Hence, all Christians are “in Christ,” but all Christians may not be living their lives “in the Lord”—that is, as recognizing His Lordship authority over them practically.
Owning Christ’s Lordship in our lives means that we are not to just go out and do whatever we want to do, but to know from principles in the Word of God what the Lord would have us to do. Hence, Lordship applies to doing what He wants us to do in personal matters of conscience (Rom. 14:5-95One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. 6He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks. 7For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. 8For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's. 9For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living. (Romans 14:5‑9)), fellowship (Rom. 16:2, 192That ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you: for she hath been a succorer of many, and of myself also. (Romans 16:2)
19For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil. (Romans 16:19); Phil. 2:2929Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness; and hold such in reputation: (Philippians 2:29)), companionships and marriage (1 Cor. 7:3939The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord. (1 Corinthians 7:39)), the roles of men and women in the assembly (1 Cor. 11:1111Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord. (1 Corinthians 11:11)), walking in a way that would express the truth that the Church is the body of Christ (Eph. 4:1-41I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, 2With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 3Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; (Ephesians 4:1‑4)), children’s obedience (Eph. 6:11Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. (Ephesians 6:1)), travel plans (Phil. 2:2424But I trust in the Lord that I also myself shall come shortly. (Philippians 2:24)), service (Rom. 15:58; 16:11-13; Eph. 6:2121But that ye also may know my affairs, and how I do, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, shall make known to you all things: (Ephesians 6:21); Col. 4:77All my state shall Tychicus declare unto you, who is a beloved brother, and a faithful minister and fellowservant in the Lord: (Colossians 4:7)), etc. Living practically under the Lordship of Christ is the secret of a happy, fruitful Christian life.