Relationships of the Believer
LESSON FOUR – THE LORDSHIP OF ISA AL-MASIH
Lesson Goal: The goal of this lesson is to understand both how Isa became Lord and whose Lord he is.
1. All creation was made through Allah’s living Word, Isa al-Masih, and is preserved by him.
a. Read John 1:1-3,14–In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with Allah, and the Word was Allah. He was with Allah in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
1) In the beginning before creation, who was with Allah?
2) What was created through the word?
3) What then happened to the word?
4) In becoming a man, Allah’s creative word became known by what name?
b. Read Colossians 1:15-17–He is the image of the invisible Allah, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
1) What things were created through Isa al-Masih?
2) Who holds all created things together?
3) Thus, in all creation, Isa is…
a) Firstborn and supreme over all else.
b) One part of all creation.
c) The least of all creation.
2. Because the world was created through Isa, Isa is Lord of creation.
a. Read Acts 2:36–“Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: Allah has made this Isa, whom you crucified, both Lord and al-Masih.”
NOTE: In this passage, immediately after receiving the Holy Spirit, the Apostle Peter preaches to thousands of Jews who have gathered to celebrate Pentecost.
1) In this passage, Isa is given what two titles?
2) From your own experience, what does the word “Lord” mean?
b. Read Acts 10:36–You know the message Allah sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Isa al-Masih, who is Lord of all.
1) What is available through Isa al-Masih?
2) Isa is Lord of how many?
c. Read Romans 14:9–For this very reason, al-Masih died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living.
1) What two things happened to Isa so that he might be Lord?
2) Through that, Isa became Lord over whom?
3. On the last day, all will confess Isa’s Lordship. Read Philippians 2:9-11– Therefore Allah exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Isa every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Isa al-Masih is Lord, to the glory of Allah the Father.
a. All those in what three regions shall one day bow before Isa?
b. At that time they shall confess him to be what?
Isa became Lord and head over all things through his creation of the world and through his giving his own life for that creation on the cross. We saw that all men will confess that Lordship on the last day. They will have no other option. At present, however, Allah has given all men freedom. We can voluntarily confess Isa’s Lordship and live accordingly, or we can deny it. However, we must be prepared to live with the results of our decision.
If we accept his Lordship, we will experience the peace and joy he promised. And on the day of judgement, Allah will accept us into His kingdom forever. However, if we stubbornly reject his Lordship, then we will not receive Allah’s grace in this life and we will face shame and disgrace in the life to come.
Let us look below at what accepting Isa al-Masih as Lord actually means in our daily lives.
4. Isa’s Lordship requires our obedience.
a. Read 2 Corinthians 5:15–And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.
1) For whom did al-Masih die?
2) He died in order that those who live should no longer live for what?
3) Rather, for whom should they live?
b. Read Luke 6:46–Why do you call me, `Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?
1) If we call someone Lord, how should we act towards that person?
2) Thus, if I call Isa al-Masih my Lord, then how should I act towards him?
Isa al-Masih is present in the lives of all true believers.
In some of those lives he has been given a special place.
However, in just a few lives has he been given
the position of supreme authority.
5. What place will you give Isa in your life? What will be your decision? Isa wants to have loving control over each important area of your life. For example:-
FAME – Are you seeking to please men, or Allah?
WORK/PROFESSION – Is the income you are earning done in a way that is pleasing to Allah and brings honor to him?
POSSESSIONS – Do you spend money for things according to your own desires only, or as Allah would have you?
EDUCATION – Is you desire for further education a desire to make yourself more able to serve Allah and man, or to gain respect and applause from men.
MARRIAGE – Is your married life pleasing to Allah and patterned after the teaching of His word, or according to the world’s pattern and your own desires?
LEISURE TIME – Is your leisure time spent according to your own desires or as Allah would have you for his honor?
FRIENDS – Are the friends you have and the time spend with them something you would like to hide from Allah’s scrutiny, or done at his leading?
CHILDREN – Do you have a good relationship with your children and seek to bring them up according to Scriptural teaching?
After a time of prayer, take this opportunity to examine and meditate on your own personal life in relation to the Lordship of Isa al-Masih. Reflect on the list of things given above. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you areas in your life where you have not yielded full authority over to al-Masih. Then, in the space below, write down your observations and what you could do to bring your life more under the control of Isa al-Masih.
“The question for each man to settle is not what he would do for the Lord if he had more money, time, or education, but what he will do with the things he has. It’s not who you are or what you have that matters – but whether al-Masih controls you.”
TO MEMORIZE – PHILIPPIANS 2:9-11
9 Therefore Allah exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Isa every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Isa al-Masih is Lord, to the glory of Allah the Father.