By G.V. Wigram
Ephesians 2: 14; Ephesians 4: 7.
The subject I propose for this evening out of this portion is "One Lord." There is an unsearchable fulness in each of the seven subjects contained in this 4th chapter, especially in that I have selected for this occasion; and I desire to lift up my heart to God to obtain great guardedness and great sobriety of spirit.
The word "Lord" has two distinct uses. One -- Jehovah -- involving the essential being of the Godhead. If Jehovah be thus found to be applied to Jesus, then He is fully and properly God. The Jews deny to the name of Jehovah anything connected with suffering. (Zech. 13: 7.) We have another use of the word "Lord," as "Adon;" as we see Sarah used it, calling Abraham "Adon" -- Lord. Both are true of Jesus, both are applied to Jesus, both "Jehovah" and "Adon." This latter in His official character. I proceed to refer to two passages where the title "Jehovah" is applied to Jesus. John 12: 39-41, where Esaias is quoted as speaking of the Jewish hardness of heart, "when he saw His glory," -- the glory of Jesus. Turn to Isaiah 6: 5. The glory he saw was the glory of the God of Sabaoth -- Jehovah of Sabaoth: "Mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of Hosts." Has God the Holy Ghost applied these words to Jesus? Yes; by the pen of John (v. 41), "These things [alluding to the blinding of their eyes, and the hardening of their hearts] said Esaias, when he saw His glory, and spake of Him."
The second passage is that in Zechariah 11: 12; and the Holy Ghost, in Matthew 26, quotes this as fulfilled (v. 13); "And Jehovah said unto me, A goodly price that I am prized at."
Another passage (Zech. 13: 6, 7), though not so direct, yet strong by implication: "Against the man that is my fellow, saith Jehovah;" as ascribing to Him fellowship in glory. But the passage in Isaiah 6 is without qualification; there we have the glory of the fulness of the Godhead bodily, essentially in the person of the Son.
Next as to the title "Adon." In Philippians, Jesus is said to have been made Lord: that could only be as master. In Phil. 2 we have the contrast -- the Divine glory -- "in the form of God." Of no angel could this be said, "Who, being in the form of God;" also, "He made himself of no reputation;" and, "that at the name of Jesus," the infant of the Virgin Mary, "every knee should bow." This title of "Adon" we have again: "One is your master." Also in Ephesians 4 -- "one Lord." It is the mastership of Jesus. The Church knows one master - even Jesus. It is spoken of what is true in dispensation -- God is a God of order.
The infidel says there is no proof in the Bible of the existence of God. Why, when one writes to another, does one stop to prove or assert one's existence? It is our blessing to come to Scripture without any previous thoughts, and to fall into the wake of God. People perplex themselves in vain whilst they labour to unravel the mystery of the Christhood. Unless the Son be God, where is the value of His humiliation? Let us turn to this doctrine of "Lord." In the Acts, when Peter was speaking, the Holy Ghost was turning his thoughts (chap. 2 and 3) to the earthly blessings which Jesus, "Lord," would bring in in the latter day (19, 21). What a heart-searching word for them! He whom you murdered is "Lord" and "master" of all. We ourselves have the strongest proof of His being "master," for we have got the Holy Ghost. Again (Acts 2: 36), "Therefore let all the house of Israel know, that God hath made this same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ."
It is a secure thing we have. God has pledged His own word, as Father, that He has made that Son master, and that every knee shall bow to Him. Is He your master? Have you owned Him? Again (Acts 3), For Moses, yea, all the prophets from Samuel have spoken of these days; "Unto you first God, having raised up His Son Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities." Peter asserted that in this One was the security for the performance of all the promises to their fathers. (Acts 3: 25.)
The same Lordship is presented in Heb. 8 and 9. The 4th chapter presents Jesus as standing in heaven before God. In ch. 8, "We have such an High Priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the majesty in the heavens." In ch. 10, "This Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God." There is the Mastership of Jesus in the heavens. In Rev. 4 and 5, what is all the movement there but to bring out the Lamb on the Throne -- Jesus of Nazareth, Lord of all! The way is to take into the Old Testament the bright light of the New -- even Jesus, and He is found there. The Church is based on this Sonship: as many of you as know Jesus as Lord and Master are in possession of all with Him. The owning of Jesus as master is a pledge of our oneness in Him. Rein. 10: 9, and 1 Cor. 12 bring this truth out: "If thou shalt confess with thy mouth," etc. First, the confession with the mouth of the Mastership of Jesus; next, belief of the Gospel. The apostle Paul had no other ground of hope. I have none other ground on which I rest for salvation. All the cable I have got is God the Holy Ghost's cable, uniting me with the Anchor within the veil. Paul saw the Lordship of Jesus in a moment; then the cry, "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" when he saw Jesus in the glory.
When Ananias hesitated about going to Paul, God says, He is owning my Mastership -- he is a sound man. Some do not like the simplicity of the Gospel. The light that shined into Paul's heart was much more wonderful than the light that shined in Genesis. Dear friends, Does God see that you are hanging in dependence on Jesus? (1 Cor. 12) "No man can say that Jesus is Lord but by the Holy Ghost." It is one thing to have it upon the lip -- it must be the turning point of the life. It is ever a practical thing, whenever Jesus is truly known as Lord.
Individual salvation is connected with knowing and owning the Lordship of Jesus.
Such an one says, "I have fled for refuge to the hope set before me in Jesus." There is no danger to be apprehended then. What is my confidence, if any one speaks to me of the judgment before the great white Throne? It is this: The very One that is to sit in judgment is the very One who bore my sins in His own body on the tree! Look at Him as the One who is your "elder brother." Have I found no sorrow today, that I have had to take to Jesus? have I not found Jesus taking it up, and proving He could be touched with the feeling of all my infirmity; Jesus has been exalted to be a Prince and a Saviour, to give faith and repentance. How came I to have the Spirit, not only as the Spirit of adoption, but the continual actings of the Spirit -- the Spirit down here bearing witness to the Lordship of Jesus -- Jesus the Lord, to throw open the mansions! The Holy Ghost, if He ever lost sight of the Mastership of Jesus, and of the connection between the poor weak sheep and Jesus, could never stay down here!
At the table of the Lord we recognize the Lordship of Jesus. Try to get Jesus as Master, and see if you cannot get sweetness to your soul. God has made Him Master; I want to own His Mastership; then I have real sweetness in doing the most painful things. The Lord enable each to say from the heart, "I will own the Mastership of Jesus -- own Him as Jehovah of Sabaoth."
Observe, generally, that no truth in God's word is ever made to rest upon a type: -- but truth, elsewhere plainly revealed, may be illustrated and opened by the types and shadows of the Old Testament.
