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Sanctify Christ as Lord
Sanctify Christ as Lord
As Peter instructs the Christians about facing the suffering that was happening to them, he told them to ‘sanctify Christ as Lord’ (NAS,NIV,NRSV). [1 Pet. 3:15].
This is the basic confession that one makes in becoming a Christian. “Let all the house of Israel know that God has made the same Jesus whom you crucified to be both Lord and Christ” (Acts 2:36). "Every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord" (Phil. 2:11). “... if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved” (Romans 10:9–10).
To acknowledge Him as our Lord is to submit and obey Him. This includes those commands that are easy and make sense, but they also include those commands that are difficult and do not make sense. Often the problem with such 'sense' is that what ‘seems right unto man is the way of death’ (Prov. 14:12). What seems right to the Lord IS RIGHT. Yet this is the challenge of submission and obedience. HE is the Lord. I am his servant.
These early Christians were to be willing to suffer as a Christian (1Pet. 4:16) and to do so ‘without fear’ and to ‘not be troubled’ (vs. 14). They responded to their persecutors with gentleness and respect (vs. 15). Christ has overcome the world, sin, Satan, and death. WE also overcome these things as we are united in faith with Jesus. It is THIS trust that allowed the early Christians to face martyrdom without fighting back. Jesus is Lord of both the living AND THE DEAD (Rom. 14:9).
Claiming that Jesus is our Lord and living under His teaching can be two different things! Jesus himself challenged people: “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?” (Luke 6:46). Peter therefore strictly charges that we must sanctify or set apart in our hearts Jesus as Lord. This is a choice and a mental decision. I must tell myself that Jesus is Lord. When I disagree — He is Lord.
Have you set Jesus as Lord? Are you willing to serve Him even when it means suffering on your part?
Hugh DeLong
