The Extent of the Lordship of Christ The Bible sets forth the extent of Christ’s Lordship in several ways. The Bible states that Jesus is theLord of all creation: “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:10-11). The Bible teaches that Jesus is Lord of every person. Many deny or fail to recognize that Lordship, but for Christians the Lordship of Christ is central. In fact, the Christian life begins with the acknowledgment that Jesus is Lord: “That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9 NIV). The Bible emphasizes that Jesus is Lord of churches. Jesus declared, “I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18). And Paul wrote concerning Jesus, “And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body…“ (Ephesians 1:22-23 NIV). The Lordship of Christ and Soul Competency The Bible teaches that Christ’s Lordship is direct. No person or institution is to attempt to usurp the authority of Jesus over a Christian. Of course, persons can gain insight and understanding from others, but only Jesus has ultimate authority over a Christian. The call to be a disciple of Jesus assumes the ability to know and follow the will of Jesus Christ as Lord. The Bible’s teaching on soul competency indicates that persons have the Godgiven ability to know and to do God’s will. Persons are not puppets. Their Creator has given them freedom and responsibility of choice. Baptists have resisted efforts by individuals, government officials, and religious organizations to dictate what the will of Jesus is for his followers. Baptists insist that each person has the competence and the responsibility to find and follow the will of Jesus as Lord. As the early disciples declared, “We ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29). The Lordship of Christ Mandates Religious Freedom The Lordship of Christ means that persons and churches ought to be free from coercion by government or religious organizations in spiritual and religious matters. Baptists have always denounced such coercive efforts, declaring that only Jesus is Lord. For this resistance Baptists have often paid a high price. For example, in the early 1600s King James I of England claimed to be the head “Christ only is the king, and lawgiver of the church and conscience.” John Smyth (c. 1570 - d. 1612) An Englishman, he was the founding pastor of the first English Baptist church in Amsterdam in 1609. The quote is from a confessional statement that he played a major role in drafting.
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