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I. JESUS IS LORD.

1. By Divine appointment "He shall reign."

2. By creative acts He has a right to rule over things and beings whom He has made.

3. By redemptive work: "Ye are not your own."

4. By the glad acknowledgment of His saints: "Unto Him that loved us."

5. By the ultimate recognition of the universe: "At the name of Jesus every knee shall bow," etc.

II. AS LORD JESUS HAS A RIGHT TO COMMAND.

1. This right is uniformly asserted. Christ never prefers a request, makes a suggestion, or expresses a wish; it is always " Come," "Go," "Do this," "If I, your Lord and Master ye aught."

2. This right has been blasphemously usurped. They are impious usurpers who determine other means of salvation, or rules of moral conduct other than those He has laid down. "One is your Master."

III. HIS COMMANDS HAVE BEEN PLAINLY REVEALED. "Ye know."

1. Directly by Himself. "Love one another,'" etc.

2. Instrumentally by His accredited ambassadors. "We gave you from the Lord Jesus." Their deliverances, however, are only applications of Christ's principles to particular persons and places.

3. Permanently in the Bible.

(1)  How clearly.

(2)  How accessibly. Ignorance is without excuse.

IV. OBEDIENCE TO HIS COMMANDMENTS IS THE CRITERION OF DISCIPLESHIP. Commands are given —

1. Not to be thought about.

2. Not to be the subjects of promise in regard to the doing of them.

3. But to be obeyed. "Ye are My disciples if ye do. This doing must be —

(1)  Universal. Whatsoever I command you."

(2)  Prompt. There is no time to lose.

(3)  Cheerful. We are subjects of so good a King.Conclusion:

1. Christ as Lord is approachable. He is "the mighty God," but, He is the "Man Christ Jesus. Sovereigns are difficult of access, are surrounded by the pomp of circumstance, excite embarrassment and nervousness when they do not terrify. But we may come boldly to the throne of grace."

2. His commandments are not grievous. They are reducible to a few plain principles. which a child may learn by heart. If we grasp them we practically grasp all. And then they are simply the conditions upon which alone our well-being can be secured.

3. What He has bidden us do He has done Himself. It makes all the difference on a field of battle whether the commanding officer says "Go" or "Come." Christ says, "I must go...if any man will come after Me." "I have left you" not only commands but "an example," an embodied command.

4. In loving loyalty to Christ there is great reward. "Lo, I am with you," now; "Well done," by and by.

(J. W. Burn.)

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KJV: For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus.

WEB: For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus.