Is Jesus Really Your Lord?
The Meaning of True Discipleship

Why should you follow Jesus Christ as the Lord (Master and Ruler) of your life? Why should discipleship be the top priority in your life? This is a study of the teachings of Jesus, revealed in the gospel, as the proper authority or guide in the lives of disciples. We emphasize the need for obedience to Scripture, rather than human wisdom as revealed in creeds, traditions, family religion, feelings, or church laws. Are you a true, faithful disciple of Christ?

As you consider Jesus' lordship, please look up the >>>emphasized Scriptures<<< in your Bible. Then answer each question that has a number enclosed in asterisks (*1*, *2*, etc.). Note: Correct answers for the questions are listed at the end of this article. Introduction:

No one greater than Jesus of Nazareth ever lived on earth.

* Millions of people have claimed Him as their Master.
* All history is measured from the time of His birth.
* He revealed the highest moral standard ever known.
* The Bible, which records His words, has been the best known and most influential book in civilized countries for nearly 2000 years.

Surely Jesus deserves our careful attention.

The purpose of this study is to consider why we ought to honor Jesus as Lord, and what it really means to be His disciple.

Should we obey the gospel of Christ, as revealed in the Scriptures, as the guide and standard of authority in our lives, rather than other standards such as man-made laws and guides, church creeds, traditions, family religion, etc.?

We begin with some definitions.

"Lord" means a person who has authority over others; a master, chief, or ruler. [Matt. 28:18- 20; Eph. 1:19-23; Luke 6:46]

"Disciple" means a follower, pupil, student, learner - one who adheres to the teachings of the master. [Matt. 10:24,25; 16:24]

I. Why Should Jesus Be Lord of Your Life?

Why should you follow Jesus rather than someone else?

A. Jesus Is Our Savior

"He will save His people from their sins" (Matthew 1:21). Sin is disobedience to God's law (1 John 3:4). Note how Jesus saves people.

>>> Read Romans 3:23; 6:23. <<<

*1* How many people commit sin? (a) a few, (b) a majority, (c) all.

*2* What is the consequence of sin? (a) death, (b) joy, (c) life.

*3* Through whom can we receive eternal life? (a) Mohammed, (b) Jesus, (c) our parents.

All of us deserve eternal punishment because we have disobeyed God. This punishment is what we need to be saved from. Jesus is our Savior because He can give us eternal life in spite of our sins.

>>> Read Romans 5:6-9. <<<

*4* What did Jesus do to save us? (a) offered an animal sacrifice, (b) prayed to God, (c) died for us.

*5* What characteristic of God does this demonstrate? (a) His love, (b) His indifference, (c) His weakness, (d) all the preceding.

*6* Are you guilty of sin? When Jesus died, was He dying for you? (a) yes, (b) no.

Jesus "bore our sins in His own body on the tree" (1 Peter 2:24). We sinned, so we deserve to be punished, but Jesus, who did not sin, died in our place so we can be forgiven and receive eternal life.

>>> Read Matthew 27:22-35,50-54. <<<

*7* When Jesus suffered, whose sins was He suffering for? (a) His own sins, (b) sins of other people, including you and me?

"There is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12). No one but Jesus can tell how to receive eternal life. [See also John 3:16; 6:68; 14:6; 4:42; Eph. 1:7].

B. Jesus Is the Divine Son of God

The Father said about Jesus, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!" (Matthew 17:5). [Heb. 1:1,2; 2:1ff]

>>> Read John 20:26-31. <<<

*8* How did Thomas know Jesus had been raised? (a) he saw and touched Him, (b) he just heard about it, (c) he dreamed about it.

*9* Whom did Thomas confess Jesus to be? (a) a prophet, (b) a good man, (c) Lord and God.

*10* How can we believe Jesus is Lord and God even though we have not seen Him? (a) by guessing, (b) by examining the evidence in the Bible, (c) by taking a preacher's word for it.

Though Jesus died, He was raised from the dead. His resurrection, along with His other miracles and the prophecies He fulfilled, prove that He is God's Son (Cf. Acts 2:22-36; Rom. 1:4; 1 Cor. 15:1-8). Because He is God's Son, He possesses "all authority in heaven and on earth," so we should obey all His commands (Matthew 28:18-20). [See also Matt. 16:15-17; John 1:1-18; Phil. 2:5-11; Col. 2:9.]

C. Jesus Will Be Our Judge.

Jesus will someday come again and judge all people.

>>> Read 2 Corinthians 5:10. <<<

*11* How many people will be judged? (a) all, (b) most, (c) none.

*12* Who will judge us? (a) our priest, (b) Buddha, (c) Jesus.

*13* On what basis will Jesus decide our reward? (a) what our parents did, (b) what Adam did, (c) what we did, (d) all the preceding.

Jesus' words will judge us in the last day (John 12:48). We need to learn His will and follow it so we can be prepared. [See also Acts 17:30,31; Matt. 25:31-46; Rev. 20:11-15.]

>>> Read Matthew 7:13-15,21-27. <<<

*14* What final destinies face us? (a) either eternal life or eternal destruction, (b) all go to heaven, (c) death is the end of our existence.

*15* How many follow the broad road? (a) a few, (b) many, (c) none.

*16* How many follow the narrow way? (a) all, (b) most, (c) a few.

*17* What must we do to enter the kingdom of heaven? (a) just have faith, (b) call Jesus "Lord," (c) do God's will, (d) just be religious.

We must hear Jesus in everything He teaches or we will be destroyed (Acts 3:22,23). In religion, as in many areas of life, there are truth and error, right and wrong. For example, 2 + 2 = 4, red light means stop, etc. Other answers to these questions would be error. So in religion Jesus' teachings are truth, and anything different is error. [See also 1 John 4:1,6; 2 Tim. 4:2-4; 2 Cor. 11:13-15; 2 Thess. 1:6-9.]