"That He Might Be Lord"

Romans 14:9

Paul is talking about the Lord Jesus Christ in his official capacity as the God-man Mediator, the sinner's Substitute, the covenant Surety, and the Savior of God's elect, of whom he says, "To this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living."

AS GOD THE SON, THE SECOND PERSON OF THE HOLY TRINITY, OUR SAVIOR HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE SOVEREIGN LORD OVER ALL THINGS. He who is God is Lord (Psa. 115:3; 135:6). The Creator of all things is the Owner of all things, the Master of all things, and the Disposer of all things (Matt. 20:15). Both the dead and the living belong to him; and both are ruled by him. Like it or not, you are in the hands of God, and God will do with you exactly what he pleases! He will allow you to do only what he purposed from eternity to do by you. He will be gracious to you, or not, according to his own eternal purpose.

AS A MAN, THE SON OF GOD, EARNED THE RIGHT TO RULE AS SOVEREIGN UPON THE THRONE OF GOD. By his obedient life of righteousness, by his accomplishment of redemption in his death, by his resurrection from the grave, and by his exaltation into heaven as the Representative, Substitute, and Savior of God's elect, the man Christ Jesus was made Lord over all flesh (John 17:2; Phil. 2:8-11). This is the reward of his perfect obedience to the Father in the accomplishment of redemption (Psa. 2:8; Matt. 1:21; Heb. 10:5-14). Think of it and rejoice - There is a Man in glory who is God in human flesh! He sits upon the throne of universal monarchy for the purpose of saving the people given to him in election before the world was and redeemed by him at Calvary. For them he makes perpetual intercession! And them he shall save!

YES, OUR SAVIOR, THE GOD-MAN, RULES AS LORD OVER ALL FLESH! The dead and the living, the unregenerate and the regenerate are alike in his hands. He does with all flesh exactly what he will. There are no exceptions. Ultimately, he will make both the dead and the living to praise him as Lord. Bow to him now to the praise of the glory of his grace, or bow to him in the day of judgment to the praise of his inflexible justice; but this is certain - BOW TO HIM YOU WILL!

Don Fortner