Jesus Christ…is Lord of all
William MacDonald emphasizes that Jesus Christ must be recognized and surrendered to as Lord of all, calling believers to a total, ongoing commitment to His sovereign rule in every aspect of life.
In this sermon, William MacDonald explores the vital New Testament theme of Jesus Christ's lordship. He challenges believers to fully surrender their lives to Jesus, emphasizing that true discipleship involves recognizing Jesus as Lord above all else. Through clear biblical teaching and practical application, MacDonald encourages a deep, ongoing commitment to living under Christ’s sovereign rule.
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“Jesus Christ…is Lord of all “(Acts 10:36)
One of the great themes of the New Testament is the lordship of Jesus Christ. Over and over we are reminded that He is Lord and that we should give Him that place in our lives.
To crown Jesus as Lord means to surrender our lives to Him. It means to have no will of our own, but to want His will supremely. It means the willingness to go anywhere, do anything, and say whatever He desires. When Joshua asked the captain of the Lord’s army, “Are you for us or against us?” the captain replied, in effect, “I didn’t come either to assist or hinder you. I came to take over” (see Josh. 5:14). So the Lord doesn’t come as sort of a glorified assistant; He comes to take supreme command of our lives.
The importance of lordship can be seen in the fact that whereas the word “Savior” occurs only 24 times in the New Testament, the word “Lord” occurs 522 times. It is also significant that whereas men invariably say “Savior and Lord,” in that order, the Scriptures always say “Lord and Savior.”
To make Jesus our Lord is the most reasonable, logical thing we can do. He died for us; the least we can do is live for Him. He bought us; we are no longer our own. “Love so amazing, so divine, demands our souls, our lives, our all.”
If we can trust Him for our eternal salvation, can we not trust Him for the management of our lives? “There is a lack of sincerity about committing the eternal soul to God and holding back the mortal life—professing to give Him the greater and withholding the lesser” (R. A. Laidlaw).
How then, do we crown Jesus as Lord? There must be a crisis experience when for the first time we turn over the controls to Him, when every area of our life is placed under His sovereign sway. It is a total commitment with “no reserve, no retreat, no regrets.”
From then on it becomes a matter of moment by moment yielding to His guidance, presenting our bodies to Him so that He can live His life through us. The crisis becomes a process.
It makes good sense! With His wisdom, love and power, He can do a far better job of running our lives than we can.
Sermon Outline
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I. The Biblical Emphasis on Jesus as Lord
- The New Testament frequently calls Jesus 'Lord' over 500 times
- Scriptures place 'Lord' before 'Savior' to show priority
- Lordship is central to Christian faith and life
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II. What It Means to Crown Jesus as Lord
- Surrendering personal will to His supreme will
- Willingness to obey and follow anywhere He leads
- No reserve, no retreat, no regrets in commitment
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III. The Crisis and Process of Lordship
- Initial crisis experience of surrendering control
- Ongoing moment-by-moment yielding to His guidance
- Presenting our bodies so He can live through us
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IV. The Reasonableness of Jesus’ Lordship
- He died for us and bought us, so we belong to Him
- Trusting Him with life management as with salvation
- His wisdom, love, and power exceed our own
Key Quotes
“To crown Jesus as Lord means to surrender our lives to Him.” — William MacDonald
“There must be a crisis experience when for the first time we turn over the controls to Him, when every area of our life is placed under His sovereign sway.” — William MacDonald
“With His wisdom, love and power, He can do a far better job of running our lives than we can.” — William MacDonald
Application Points
- Make a personal decision to surrender every area of your life to Jesus’ lordship.
- Practice daily yielding to Jesus’ guidance through prayer and Scripture.
- Trust Jesus to manage your life with His wisdom and love, relinquishing control.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean to crown Jesus as Lord?
It means surrendering our own will and placing every area of life under His sovereign control with total commitment.
Why is Jesus called Lord more often than Savior in the New Testament?
Because His lordship emphasizes His authority and supreme rule over believers, which is foundational to the Christian life.
Is surrendering to Jesus a one-time event or a process?
It begins with a crisis experience of surrender but continues as a moment-by-moment yielding to His guidance.
How can we trust Jesus to manage our lives?
Since He has proven His love through His sacrifice, it is reasonable to trust His wisdom and power to lead us daily.
What is the significance of Jesus’ lordship for daily living?
Recognizing Jesus as Lord means living in obedience and allowing Him to direct all decisions and actions.