Jesus Christ the Lord

       Have just finished rereading a book titled “Jesus Christ The Lord,” by Jorge Himitian. (Also available in Spanish, Portuguese and French.) I believe this to be one of the most important books that I have ever read; a good summary of what I have experienced in Brazil this past summer. In chapter 1 the author presents Jesus as Lord, not just as Savior, which is the focus of much preaching and thinking in the church in the US. He declares that the Lordship of Christ is not a title like governor or mayor but a term denoting ownership; that Jesus is Master and King. The second chapter shows that Jesus is to be the Lord of my life, and that of the church. Chapter three talks about the language of the Kingdom. Complaining and grumbling is the language of the kingdom of this world; praise and thanksgiving is the language of the Kingdom of God.

The fourth chapter explores the practical reality of Jesus as the Lord of our time, our money, and our home and family life. I found the fifth chapter the most crucial of all. The essential gospel message is not that Jesus will save you from your sins, although He will, but that we must surrender to the Lordship of Christ through dying to one's self. Do I (we) do what I want or what Jesus wants. The essence of sin is to please ourselves.

The author then proceeds to an understanding of baptism which accords with the New Testament. Baptism proclaims through action our surrender to the Lordship of Christ. In the nine cases of baptism enumerated in the book of Acts, only that of Paul is not immediately following initial repentance. In his case there was no one to baptize him at once. If someone does not consent to baptism then we can have no assurance that they have surrendered to Jesus as King.

Finally the author shows the dominion of Jesus over six kingdoms- that of nature, the living, human governments, the dead, demons, and angels. Jesus came to proclaim the gospel of the Kingdom; that He has come to rule and reign in the hearts of His people.