As you go through the New Testament you will notice a change in how the apostles refer to Christ. In the Gospels Jesus always referred to Himself as “the Son of Man” and the evangelists spoke about “Jesus” throughout. But after His resurrection and ascension He is generally called “the Lord Jesus Christ” (κύριος Ἰησοῦς Χριστός = kurios Iesous Christos). And here is the reason given by Peter in Acts 2:36: Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
Jesus of Nazareth came to Israel as their Messiah (the Anointed One). But they rejected Him, and cried for His crucifixion, and He was crucified. But He arose from the dead after three days, and then (fifty days afterthe crucifixion) the Gospel was preached by Peter to all the Jews (from all over the Roman empire) gathered in Jerusalem for the feast of Pentecost. And it was to “the house of Israel” that God announced, through Peter, that Jesus was no longer merely “Jesus of Nazareth” – the Messiah of the Jews – but after His resurrection He was BOTH Lord and Christ, which translated into “the Lord Jesus Christ”. And it was none other than God Himself who made Jesus both Lord and Christ.
Recently there has been a trend to reverse this revelation and go back to calling Jesus “Yeshua” and “Messiah”. This is actually a theological problem, and in fact a rejection of the New Testament teaching on Christ following His resurrection. The days of “Messiah” were concluded about 2,000 years ago, and since then Jesus has been “the Lord Jesus Christ” for Christians, and King of kings and Lord of lords for humanity. Even the calendars of the world recognize that we are “in the year of the Lord 2018” or Anno Domini –AD -- 2018.
We do not see the people who are trying to reverse things also calling Jesus “ADONAI Yeshua haMashiach” (which would be equivalent to Lord Jesus Christ). They keep reverting to “Yeshua”, and also trying to reinstate the Law of Moses (as much possible). And this clearly has an impact on the true Gospel.
The true Gospel must include the proclamation that Jesus is God who became sinless Man to die for the sins of the whole world. But it must also include the proclamation of His death, burial, and resurrection. And as Peter already preached, it is Christ’s resurrection which makes Him both Lord and Christ, and therefore sinners must receive Him as BOTH Lord and Christ. In fact Paul makes it clear both in Acts and in Romans that it is by believing on the LORD Jesus Christ that sinners are saved. It is no accident that the word “Lord” is included in the true Gospel proclamation.
PETER (Acts 2:24-36)
24 Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.
25 For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved:
26 Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope:
27 Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
28 Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance.
29 Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day.
30 Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;
31 He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.
32 This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.
33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.
34 For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,
35 Until I make thy foes thy footstool.
36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
PAUL (Acts 16:29-31; Rom 10:8-13)
Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Jesus of Nazareth came to Israel as their Messiah (the Anointed One). But they rejected Him, and cried for His crucifixion, and He was crucified. But He arose from the dead after three days, and then (fifty days afterthe crucifixion) the Gospel was preached by Peter to all the Jews (from all over the Roman empire) gathered in Jerusalem for the feast of Pentecost. And it was to “the house of Israel” that God announced, through Peter, that Jesus was no longer merely “Jesus of Nazareth” – the Messiah of the Jews – but after His resurrection He was BOTH Lord and Christ, which translated into “the Lord Jesus Christ”. And it was none other than God Himself who made Jesus both Lord and Christ.
Recently there has been a trend to reverse this revelation and go back to calling Jesus “Yeshua” and “Messiah”. This is actually a theological problem, and in fact a rejection of the New Testament teaching on Christ following His resurrection. The days of “Messiah” were concluded about 2,000 years ago, and since then Jesus has been “the Lord Jesus Christ” for Christians, and King of kings and Lord of lords for humanity. Even the calendars of the world recognize that we are “in the year of the Lord 2018” or Anno Domini –AD -- 2018.
We do not see the people who are trying to reverse things also calling Jesus “ADONAI Yeshua haMashiach” (which would be equivalent to Lord Jesus Christ). They keep reverting to “Yeshua”, and also trying to reinstate the Law of Moses (as much possible). And this clearly has an impact on the true Gospel.
The true Gospel must include the proclamation that Jesus is God who became sinless Man to die for the sins of the whole world. But it must also include the proclamation of His death, burial, and resurrection. And as Peter already preached, it is Christ’s resurrection which makes Him both Lord and Christ, and therefore sinners must receive Him as BOTH Lord and Christ. In fact Paul makes it clear both in Acts and in Romans that it is by believing on the LORD Jesus Christ that sinners are saved. It is no accident that the word “Lord” is included in the true Gospel proclamation.
PETER (Acts 2:24-36)
24 Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.
25 For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved:
26 Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope:
27 Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
28 Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance.
29 Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day.
30 Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;
31 He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.
32 This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.
33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.
34 For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,
35 Until I make thy foes thy footstool.
36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
PAUL (Acts 16:29-31; Rom 10:8-13)
Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.