Introduction.(I Corinthians 12:1-3) In this text I ask you to notice that Paul declares to us that the claim “Jesus is Lord” is a claim that is so significant that it cannot be made “except by the Holy Spirit.” Why is this claim so significant? What is expressed by this claim? What does it really mean if we say “Jesus is Lord”? This morning I’d like for us to talk about this for a few minutes. We will start by considering some of the ways that the term translated “Lord” is used in Scripture and then consider what this teaches us about this claim.

I. “Sir, we wish to see Jesus” - Polite Address.

1. Greek word kurios. “...a title of honour expressive of respect and reverence...” (Thayer).
2. Common usage in NT (John 12:20-21; John 4:7-19). There is nothing particularly special about this type of usage. It is simply a way that someone expressed respect or was polite to a family member or stranger.
3. Equals modern “sir” or “Mr.” Like this English word it literally means “master” but it is not used in the same sense that one would use to speak to a social superior. It is just a way of being polite.
4. When we express our relationship to God in Christ we should describe this relationship in polite and respectful terms, but there is more to the idea that “Jesus is Lord” than simply politeness.

II. “I go sir” - Familial Respect.

1. “...to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding...” (Thayer).
2. Children to Parents. (Matthew 21:28-30).
3. Wives & Husbands. (I Peter 3:1-6).
4. Jesus, as God in the flesh, the Son of God, Heir and Firstborn over the household of God, is the Kurios (Lord) of the family, that deserves our respect. But there is even more to the idea that “Jesus is Lord.”

III. “Nor a servant above his master” - Mastery.

1. A title “with which servants salute their master” (Thayer).
2. One in authority over a servant. (Matthew 10:23-25).
3. One whom a servant must obey. (Matthew 24:44-51).
4. Jesus as our Kurios (Master) has all authority over us and has the right to expect our obedience. But there is even more to the idea that “Jesus is Lord.”

IV. “I have nothing certain to write to my lord” - Political leaders.

1. “...Of a supreme lord, sovereign, e.g. the Roman emperor...to a person of dignity and authority...” (Zodiates).
2. Kings and Emperors. (Acts 25:26).
3. Officials. (Matthew 27:62-63).
4. This use of the word became more problematic. Christians were taught to respect those in authority over them.
   1. Romans 13:1 - “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.”
   2. I Peter 2:17 - “Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.”
   3. It would not have been sinful (of itself for a Christian to speak of the emperor as kurios (Lord or Master). By itself that just acknowledged respect.
   4. In the early history of the church the emperor adopted a brazen and blasphemous posture which forced Christians to restrict their use of kurios (Lord) in reference to the emperor.
   5. The Roman historian Seutonius says of Domitian, the emperor at the close of the first century, “...he began a letter which his procurators were to circulate, with the words, ÔOur Lord God instructs you!’ and ÔLord God’Ębecame his regular title” (Domitian, 13).
   6. By the second century, emperors continued this practice to such a degree that if a Christian refused to confess “Kurios Kaisar” (i.e. “Caesar is Lord”) they faced execution! (Martyrdom of Polycarp, 8).
5. Christians weren’t troublemakers! They weren’t rebels! But the Christian, in coming to obedience to the gospel not only accepted Jesus as Lord over the household of God, Jesus as their Master, but they acknowledged Jesus as Kurios Kurion “Lord of Lords.” (I Timothy 6:13-16).
1. Revelation (in figurative terms) describes this effort by Rome to exalt the emperor and persecute Christ and His disciples as making war on the Lamb, who is “Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful.” (Revelation 17:14).
2. The vistorious Christ is pictured as a conquerer leading the armies of heaven with a name on His robe and thigh “KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS” (Revelation 19:16).
6. It may well be that these pressures were beginning to be felt in the provinces well before the persecution of Domitian. The provinces worshipped the emperor as a god long before it was ever tolerated in Rome.
1. Paul may well be acknowledging the fact that for someone to acknowledge that “Jesus is Lord” might be a death sentence! No one could say this except with an attitude that was in submission to what the Holy Spirit had revealed about Jesus!
2. Jesus is not simply “Lord” - He is “Lord of Lords.” But there is one final idea that was also connected with this confession - “Jesus is Lord.”

V. “My Lord and My God” - Synonym for the Divine Name.

1. “...Of God as the Supreme Lord and Sovereign of the universe, usually corresponding to Jehovah...” (Zodiates).
2. Jews of Jesus day used the Hebrew word Adon (the equivalent of the Greek word Kurios ) to refer to God. God was not simply a Lord among lords he was “THE Lord” - the source of all authority, and worthy of all reverence, respect and obedience!
1. To speak of Jesus as Lord acknowledged that Jesus was God!
2. The angel who spoke to the shepherds announcing Christ’s birth declared “a savior who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:11).
3. Thomas confession. (John 20:26-28).
3. To confess that Jesus is Lord is to acknowledge Him as God in the flesh, who is worthy of all our worship, obedience and reverence.

Conclusion. Is Jesus your Lord? (Matthew 7:21-23).