Merritt extols lordship, preeminence of Jesus Christ

TAMPA (FBW)—"If you were to speak to the entire 6 1/2 billion people living on earth today, with one catch — you can use only four words — what would you say?" inquired James Merritt of messengers and guests Nov. 11 during the annual meeting of the Florida Baptist State Convention in Tampa. Merritt is pastor of Cross Pointe, the Church at Gwinnette Center, in Duluth, Ga., and a past president of the Southern Baptist Convention.

"I’d say ‘Jesus Christ is Lord,’" he declared. "If I am able to speak on my death bed, I want those words to be my last words."

Explaining each word in the phrase, Merritt said Jesus is His human name. It means Jehovah Saves, and describes Jesus’ role as Mediator between God and man; and Christ is His holy name, meaning Anointed One. It defines His role as the Jewish Messiah. Finally, Lord is the "Name Above Every Name." With it, He is Master, Sovereign, Ruler and King. Lord is Jesus’ heavenly name.

Citing Romans 14:9 and 2 Corinthians 4:5, Merritt said that Jesus does not want "a place in your life or prominence in your life. He demands preeminence in your life. He is Lord.

"His Lordship determines our spiritual relationship. Is He your Lord? Is He Lord of your church, your family, your spouse and you?" Merritt asked. He said the "mark of being truly saved is asking ‘Lord, what do you want me to do?’"

"You do not accept Him as Savior or Lord, you accept Him as Savior and Lord. Because He is Savior, He is Lord," Merritt asserted. "You can’t treat Jesus like a cafeteria; you can’t say, I’d like some Saviorhood, but I don’t think I want any Lordship today.

His Lordship "defines our personal ownership." Quoting Acts 10:36, he described Jesus as "Lord of all you are, all your have. He is your owner.

"He is the Lord of nature, Lord of creation, Lord of time, Lord of eternity. He is Lord of life, Lord of death, Lord of humanity, Lord of demons," he said to increasing applause. "He is the Lord of yesterday, Lord of today, tomorrow, everything under the bonds of time and space and beyond time and space. He is the Lord of the White House, the Kremlin, Buckingham Palace. He is Lord of all!"

Jesus’ Lordship "demands our financial stewardship." Merritt said. "If you believe that Jesus Christ is Lord of all, He must be Lord of your clock, your calendar, your checkbook."

Declaring "we need pocketbook revival," Merritt listed four principles of money: "1) You own nothing; God owns everything. 2) Everything you have, God gave to you. 3) You are the owner of nothing; you are a steward of everything. 4) In eternity, all you have is what you give God on earth. God’s work is never stopped by a lack of money, but by a lack of obedience."

His Lordship "decides our eternal fellowship." Merritt said when everyone acknowledges Jesus as Lord of all: "Not all will make the confession willfully or gladly—some will be forced to say in heaven what they denied on earth.

Merritt told the crowd his favorite part of being president of the SBC was making mission visits. He told of visiting Timbuktu and befriending a young Muslim boy.

"When I left there, I wished that I could take him home with me. What do you say to a boy you will never see again? I knelt and hugged his neck, and told him to remember four words: Jesus Christ is Lord," Merritt said.

"Let us leave this convention tonight with our heads held high and say to a world that needs to hear it - Jesus Christ is Lord!"