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Christ's Lordship in Worship and Christian Practice

Christ's lordship over worship and Christian practice rests on his threefold mediatorial office as prophet, priest, and king. This kingly function, according to Easton's Bible Dictionary, makes Christ "King and sovereign Head over his Church and over all things to his Church" (Eph. 1:22; 4:15; Col. 1:18; 2:19), executing "this mediatorial kingship in his Church, and over his Church, and over all things in behalf of his Church" [2]. The New Testament consistently presents Christ as the one through whom believers approach God and in whom they find their identity and purpose.

The Biblical Foundation

Paul's declaration in Romans 15:17 captures the essence of Christ's lordship in spiritual matters: "I have therefore my glorying in Christ Jesus in things pertaining to God" [3]. This phrase establishes that all God-ward activity—worship, service, obedience—flows through Christ as mediator. The apostle's teaching in Acts concludes with a summary of his ministry as "preaching the Kingdom of God, and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness, without hindrance" [1], linking the kingdom's proclamation directly to Christ's lordship. The prayer for believers in 2 Thessalonians 1:12 expresses the reciprocal nature of this relationship: "That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him" [4]. This mutual glorification—Christ honored in his people, his people honored in him—defines the dynamic of Christian practice under his lordship.

Worship in Spirit and Truth

True worship under Christ's lordship occurs "in spirit and in truth," a single concept in the Greek that describes worship as "God's Spirit reveals God's truth and reality to the worshiper" [10]. Jesus Christ himself is identified as "the Truth" (John 14:6), making him not merely the object of worship but the means by which authentic worship becomes possible [10]. The Lord's Supper, instituted on the night of the Passover "on Thursday evening, April 6, A.D. 30," stands as "the great central act of the worship of the Christian Church" [5]. This meal embodies Christ's lordship by commemorating his sacrificial death and anticipating his return, making worship both retrospective and eschatological.

The Psalms emphasize that acceptable worship requires internal transformation: "Sacrifices offered in the right spirit come from a heart that is right with God and with others" [8]. This principle connects directly to the new covenant promise in Ezekiel 11:19, where God declares, "I will give them one heart... a new spirit," realized "fully in the New Testament" [13]. The believer's "new nature" enables worship that pleases God, as "God's Spirit expresses his life within the believer" [9].

Union with Christ as the Basis for Practice

Christian practice flows from union with Christ, described variously as "Christ being in us" and "our being in Christ" [7]. This union "includes union with the Father" and is "maintained by Faith... Abiding in him... His word abiding in us... Feeding on him... Obeying him" [7]. The practical outworking of this union appears in the command to "grow up... into him—so as to be more and more incorporated with Him, and become one with Him" [14]. This growth requires "speaking the truth" or "holding the truth" in love, where "Truth in word and act, love in manner and spirit, are the Christian's rule" [14].

The reciprocal glorification mentioned in 2 Thessalonians 1:12 means that "the believer's graces redound to Christ's glory, and His glory, as their Head, reflects glory on them as the members" [15]. This mutual indwelling shapes every aspect of Christian conduct, from forgiveness—where "true religion is always the same" across testaments [12]—to the pursuit of wisdom that "leads to everlasting life" [11].

The Glory of God in Christ

God's glory, "exhibited in Christ" [6], becomes the ultimate aim of worship and practice. This glory appears in Christ's name, majesty, power, works, and holiness [6], and "enlightens the Church" [6]. The saints' desire to "behold" this glory [6] drives their worship and shapes their obedience. The kingdom of grace, where Christ "rules by his Spirit and grace," becomes the subject of the saints' speech as they "speak of the glory of thy kingdom" [16]. God's faithfulness and mercy remain "with him" as Mediator, encompassing "every blessing" of covenant mercy [17].

Sources

  1. Acts “preaching the Kingdom of God, and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness, without hindrance. -- Acts 28:31”
  2. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Kingly office of Christ — One of the three special relations in which Christ stands to his people. Christ's office as mediator comprehends three different functions, viz., those of a prophet, priest, and king. These are not three distinct offices, but three functions of the one office of mediator. Christ is King and sovereign Head over his Church and over all things to his Church (Eph. 1:22; 4:15; Col. 1:18; 2:19). He executes this mediatorial kingship in his Church, and over his Church, and over all things in behalf of his Church. This royalty differs from that whic”
  3. Romans “Romans 15:17 (ASV) — I have therefore my glorying in Christ Jesus in things pertaining to God.”
  4. II Thessalonians “II Thessalonians 1:12 (Webster) — That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God, and of the Lord Jesus Christ.”
  5. Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Lords Supper — The words which thus describe the great central act of the worship of the Christian Church occur but in a single passage of the New Testament-- (1 Corinthians 11:20) + Its institution .--It was instituted on that night when Jesus and his disciples met together to eat the passover, (Matthew 26:19; Mark 14:16; Luke 22:13) (on Thursday evening, April 6, A.D. 30). It was probably instituted at the third cup (the cup of blessing) of the passover [see on [821]Passover], Jesus taking one of the unleavened cakes used at the feast and breaking it and giving it t”
  6. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Glory of God, The — Exhibited in Christ -- Joh 1:14; 2Co 4:6; Heb 1:3. Exhibited in His name. -- De 28:58; Ne 9:5. His majesty. -- Job 37:22; Ps 93:1; 104:1; 145:5,12; Isa 2:10. His power. -- Ex 15:1,6; Ro 6:4. His works. -- Ps 19:1; 111:3. His holiness. -- Ex 15:11. Described as Great. -- Ps 138:5. Eternal. -- Ps 104:31. Rich. -- Eph 3:16. Highly exalted. -- Ps 8:1; 113:4. Exhibited to Moses. -- Ex 34:5-7; 33:18-23. Stephen. -- Ac 7:55. His Church. -- De 5:24; Ps 102:16. Enlightens the Church -- Isa 60:1,2; Re 21:11,23. Saints desire to behold -- Ps 63:2; 90:16. God”
  7. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Union With Christ — As Head of the Church -- Eph 1:22,23; 4:15,16; Col 1:18. Christ prayed that all saints might have -- Joh 17:21,23. Described as Christ being in us. -- Eph 3:17; Col 1:27. Our being in Christ. -- 2Co 12:2; 1Jo 5:20. Includes union with the Father -- Joh 17:21; 1Jo 2:24. Is of God -- 1Co 1:30. Maintained by Faith. -- Ga 2:20; Eph 3:17. Abiding in him. -- Joh 15:4,7. His word abiding in us. -- Joh 15:7; 1Jo 2:24; 2Jo 1:9. Feeding on him. -- Joh 6:56. Obeying him. -- 1Jo 3:24. The Holy Spirit witnesses -- 1Jo 3:24. The gift of the Holy Spirit is an ev”
  8. Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 51:19: 51:19 Sacrifices offered in the right spirit come from a heart that is right with God and with others (see 15:2-5; 24:3-6; 50:14; Matt 5:23-24).”
  9. Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 4:24: 4:24 A believer has a new nature: God’s Spirit expresses his life within the believer (see Col 3:10; cp. Gen 1:26; Rom 12:1-2; Gal 5:22-23). The transforming work of God’s Spirit is part of the gift of salvation (Eph 2:8-10).”
  10. John (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on John 4:24: 4:24 in spirit and in truth: One Greek preposition governs both words (literally in spirit and truth) and makes them a single concept. True worship occurs as God’s Spirit reveals God’s truth and reality to the worshiper. Jesus Christ is the Truth (14:6; cp. 14:17; 15:26).”
  11. Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 139:24: 139:24 The path of wisdom leads to everlasting life (see 1:6; Prov 4:18; 6:23).”
  12. Proverbs (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Proverbs 19:11: (Compare Pro 14:29; Pro 16:32). This inculcation of a forgiving spirit shows that true religion is always the same (Mat 5:22-24).”
  13. Ezekiel (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Ezekiel 11:19: I will give them--lest they should claim to themselves the praise given them in Eze 11:18, God declares it is to be the free gift of His Spirit. one heart--not singleness, that is, uprightness, but oneness of heart in all, unanimously seeking Him in contrast to their state at that time, when only single scattered individuals sought God (Jer 32:39; Zep 3:9) [HENGSTENBERG]. Or, "content with one God," not distracted with "the many detestable things" (Eze 11:18; Kg1 18:21; Hos 10:2) [CALVIN]. new spirit-- (Psa 51:10; Jer 31:33). Realized fully in th”
  14. Ephesians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Ephesians 4:15: speaking the truth--Translate, "holding the truth"; "following the truth"; opposed to "error" or "deceit" (Eph 4:14). in love--"Truth" is never to be sacrificed to so-called "charity"; yet it is to be maintained in charity. Truth in word and act, love in manner and spirit, are the Christian's rule (compare Eph 4:21, Eph 4:24). grow up--from the state of "children" to that of "full-grown men." There is growth only in the spiritually alive, not in the dead. into him--so as to be more and more incorporated with Him, and become one with Him. the”
  15. 2 Thessalonians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 2 Thessalonians 1:12: the name of our Lord Jesus--Our Lord Jesus in His manifested personality as the God-man. in you, and ye in him--reciprocal glorification; compare Isa 28:5, "The Lord of hosts shall be . . . a crown of glory and . . . a diadem of beauty unto . . . His people," with Isa 62:3, "Thou (Zion) shalt be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem," &c. (Joh 21:10; Gal 1:24; Pe1 4:14). The believer's graces redound to Christ's glory, and His glory, as their Head, reflects glory on them as the members. the grace of our God and the L”
  16. Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 145:11: They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom,.... That is, the saints who are his special workmanship, in the celebration of his praise; and, while they are blessing him, will take particular notice, and make particular mention of his kingdom, and the glory of it; not only his kingdom of nature and providence, which ruleth over all, angels and men, good and bad; which deserves the notice of the saints, and is matter of great joy unto them, that their King reigns in the world, but also, and rather, his kingdom of grace, in which he rules by his Spirit and grace in th”
  17. Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 89:23: But my faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him,.... The "faithfulness" of God was and is with Christ, in performing promises made to him respecting his work, and strength to do it, as man, and the glory that should follow; and also those made to his people in him, relating to grace here, and happiness hereafter: and though there was no "mercy" shown to Christ, as the surety of his people, but he was dealt with in strict justice; yet, as Mediator of the covenant, the special mercy of God is with him, even every blessing of it, called "the sure mercies of David"; a”
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