In an effort to effect unity among the professing children of God, Paul sets forth God’s unity platform: seven items of which there is one of each. The first three of these were, one body. Spirit and hope. Each has been discussed in earlier articles. The purpose of this article is to identify and amplify on the fourth of these seven ones: “one Lord”.
The word “Lord” signifies one possessing power or authority. A synonym for “Lord” is “Master.” The word does not inherently mean one possessing Deity; it is used to describe men who were properly called “lord.” However, in Ephesians 4:4-6, the reference to “one Lord” is a reference to Jesus who is God, described as “King of kings and Lord of Lords” for in both 1 Corinthians 8:5 and 1 Timothy 6:15, Jesus is identified as “Lord.” Perhaps the most familiar text of His Lordship is Psalms 110:1: “The Lord said unto my Lord, sit thou at my right hand till I make thine enemies the footstool of thy feet.” The passage is quoted in the gospels, Acts and Hebrews, and hints of the passage are found in 1 Corinthians 15. Jesus was made Lord by His Father. Peter stated in Acts 2:36, “Let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God hath made him both Lord and Christ …” God gave unto His Son all authority in heaven and earth (Mt. 28:18). He elevated Him to His right hand “far above all rule, and authority and power, and dominion and every name that is named …” (Eph. 1:10ff). God gave Christ a name above every name, a name far greater even than angels (Phil. 2:5-8; Heb. 1:4). To Him every enemy shall be subdued under His feet, and every rebellious one will be cast off from among the people (1 Cor. 15:22; Acts 3:23).
Because Christ is Lord and has all authority, everything must be done by His authority. “And whatsoever ye do, in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to the God and Father through him” (Col. 3:17). God’s warnings are clear: “Except the Lord build the house, thy labor in vain that build it” (Psa. 127:1). “Whoso goeth onward and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ hath not God; he that abideth in the doctrine hath both the father and the son” (2 John 9).
We must be careful to do all things by the teaching of Christ, to “make all things according to the pattern” (Heb. 8:5). To act upon one’s own authority is deadly. Because Moses spake presumptuously with his lips, he was not allowed to enter Canaan (Psa. 106:33). Nadab and Abihu were burned to death because they offered incense with strange fire, which the “Lord had not commanded” (Lev. 10:1). Recognizing Jesus as Lord means that we do the things He commands (Lk. 6:46).
Those who call on the Lord’s name shall be saved. This was Joel’s prophecy and was repeated both by Peter and Paul (Joel 2:28; Acts 2:21; Rom. 10:13-15). Calling on the name of the Lord does not mean, as some seem to think, just calling out His name for Jesus asks, “Why call ye me Lord, Lord and do not the things which I say” (Lk. 6:46)? Calling on the name of the Lord means one believes in Him, but it means more than just believing. When Paul wrote, “For whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. But, how shall they call on him in whom they have not believed, and how shall they believe in him whom they have not heard,” he showed that hearing comes before, and is not, but produces faith; and also that faith comes before, and is not, yet produces calling on the Lord’s name. There is one Lord. Those who are the Lord’s sheep, hear His voice (Jn. 10:16). He who does not hear the Lord’s voice (does not do what He commands) is not the Lord’s sheep. It is that simple!
Jim McDonald
