This is the manuscript of the sermon preached at Christ Church Los Angeles on Sunday February 22, 2026.
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:9-11 NIV)
Are you tired of "auditioning" for a spot in heaven or wondering if your faith is "strong enough" to get you through the week? As we navigate the season of Lent—a time when we’re often reminded of our own "dust" and shortcomings—it’s easy to feel a gap between the grace we hear about and the security we actually feel. This Sunday, we’re setting aside the pressure of perfection to focus on the singular, immovable truth that Jesus is Lord.
Our security doesn’t rest on how tightly we can grip Him, but on the sovereign, unshakable strength of His grip on us. Jesus Christ has authority over our failures and our hearts providing a foundation that no trial can move. We can lean into the promise that because He is Lord, your past is forgiven, your present has purpose, and your future is absolutely secure.
Scripture:
Colossians 1:15-20 NIV [15] The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. [16] For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. [17] He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. [18] And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. [19] For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, [20] and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
Matthew 28:18-20 NIV [18] Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. [19] Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, [20] and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Text:
Philippians 2:9-11 NIV [9] Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, [10] that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, [11] and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Introduction:
The Bridge to Assurance
For the past two months, we have journeyed through the landscape of the Christian soul. We have examined the "Essentials"—Faith, Hope, and Love—and seen how they manifest in a life marked by a controlled tongue, a compassionate spirit, and a clean heart. We have marveled at the grace of a Savior who refuses to kick us while we are down and who patiently waits for us to drop the heavy baggage of our past.
But we cannot ignore where we are on the calendar. This past Wednesday was Ash Wednesday, marking the beginning of the season of Lent.
Lent is a season of stripping away the fluff. It’s a 40-day journey of honest reflection.
Our security during Lent, and every day after, does not rest on the strength of our spiritual disciplines, but on the sovereign authority of the One who holds the keys to life and death, Jesus Christ.
I. Lordship is the Foundation of Our Security
We often treat the Lordship of Jesus as a secondary "upgrade" to our faith—as if we first accept Him as Savior and then, later, decide if we want Him to be Lord. But the New Testament knows no such distinction. The earliest confession of the church was not "Jesus is my helper." It was “Jesus is Lord”.
As it says inRomans 10:9 NIV If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
When we say Jesus is Lord, we are declaring that He has absolute authority over every square inch of the universe. Our eternal security does not rest on the strength of our grip on Him, but on the sovereign strength of His grip on us. Because He is Lord, He has the authority to forgive; because He is Lord, He has the power to keep what we have committed to Him.
John 10:27-30 NIV [27] My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. [28] I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. [29] My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. [30] I and the Father are one.”
II. Lordship Over the Past and the Internal Struggle
Two weeks ago, we spoke about leaving the baggage of sin behind. The reason we can confidently drop that weight is that the One who calls us has conquered the things that once bound us.
He is Lord over your past: No shadow from your history can overrule His decree of "Not Guilty."
Romans 8:1, 38-39 NIV [1] Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,
[38] For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, [39] neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
He is Lord over your failures: When you stumble, you are not falling out of His kingdom; you are falling into the hands of a King who has already paid your debt.
Psalms 37:23-24 NIV [23] The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; [24] though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand.
It’s His power, not your perfect walking, that keeps you in the Kingdom.
He is Lord over your heart: Even when your heart condemns you’
1 John 3:19-22 NIV [19] This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence: [20] If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. [21] Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God [22] and receive from him anything we ask, because we keep his commands and do what pleases him.
Our internal virtues—that controlled tongue and clean life—are not the cause of our security; they are the evidence of His Lordship. We don't clean ourselves up to make Him Lord; we recognize He is Lord, and His Spirit begins the cleaning.
III. The Ultimate Submission and the Ultimate Peace is this
Philippians 2:5-11 NIV says [5] In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: [6] Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; [7] rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. [8] And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! [9] Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, [10] that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, [11] and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
This means that the chaos of this world, the trials we face, and the nagging doubts in our minds are all subject to His command.
If Jesus is Lord, then He is in charge of the outcome of your life. You can stop auditioning for a spot in heaven. You can stop trying to "earn" the love He has already freely given. When you align your priorities with His will and submit to His Lordship, you find the rest promised in
Matthew 11:28-30 NIV [28] “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. [29] Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. [30] For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Conclusion: The Final Authority
The "Things Worth Remembering" series boils down to this:
1 Corinthians 13:13 NIV And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
And it is anchored in the person of Jesus Christ.
He is not just a historical figure or a moral teacher. He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
Revelation 19:16 NIV On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: king of kings and lord of lords.
Today, if you are struggling to believe that His grace applies to you, remember who is in charge. Your security isn't based on your ability to be a "perfect Christian"; it is based on the fact that the Ruler of the Universe has called you His own.
John 10:27-29 NIV again [27] My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. [28] I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. [29] My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.
This shifts the focus from our own performance to the supreme authority of the One who made the promise. In a "legal" and spiritual sense, the King's word is final, regardless of how we feel. Let us leave here today not just trying harder, but surrendering deeper. Because Jesus is Lord, your past is forgiven, your present is purposeful, and your future is secure.
Closing Prayer
Heavenly Father, we thank You for the 'Things Worth Remembering'—for Faith, Hope, and Love. But most of all, we thank You for the truth that Jesus is Lord.
Lord Jesus, we confess that we often try to bridge the gap of our insecurity with our own works. We try to prove ourselves to You. Today, we stop. We acknowledge that You are the King of Kings and the final authority over our lives. We surrender our past baggage, our present struggles, and our future anxieties into Your sovereign hands.
Lord, be the Lord of our tongues, that we may speak life. Be the Lord of our hearts, that we may live cleanly. Be the Lord of our spirits, that we may show compassion.
Thank You that our security is anchored not in our perfection, but in Your power. We rest in the knowledge that no one can snatch us out of Your hand.
In the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and our Lord, Amen."
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