Romans 1:1-7
Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations, including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ,
To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
The first mention we ever hear of Paul is in Acts 7 where he witnesses and consents to the stoning of Steven. Later we find him taking a leading role in persecuting the church. Whatever else he was, he was wholehearted in following his convictions.
Jesus called Paul in Acts 9. Specifically Jesus said, “I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” Paul’s ministry was fruitful and marked with the miraculous but it entailed great hardship. Paul is writing this letter at the end of his third missionary journey and many of these things would be known to the church in Rome. (Philippians 3:10-11)
Jesus called Paul to be an Apostle. In the secular use of the word an apostle was a messenger. In the church the word came to be used of the Twelve and Paul as those who had been particularly called out to carry the gospel and lead the church. All of the Apostles, except John who was imprisoned and exiled, were martyred.
This message was foretold in the Prophets. The Old Testament is full of foreshadowing and hints about the Anointed One.
Isaiah 53:12,
Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many,
and he shall divide the spoil with the strong,
because he poured out his soul to death
and was numbered with the transgressors;
yet he bore the sin of many,
and makes intercession for the transgressors.
Psalm 22:16-18
For dogs encompass me;
a company of evildoers encircles me;
they have pierced my hands and feet—
I can count all my bones—
they stare and gloat over me;
they divide my garments among them,
and for my clothing they cast lots.
There are many, many more. How many can you think of?
The message concerned the dual nature of Jesus as both God and Man. Jesus is not a man used by God nor is he God playing at being a man, but in hypostatic union the two natures of Christ Jesus are both fully realized natures extant in one person. He is fully God and simultaneously fully man.
In his humanity Jesus came from the line of King David as promised in,
Isaiah 11:1
There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse,
and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.
This was fulfilled as described in the genealogies in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. Jesus was physically a direct descendant of David.
Jesus’ divinity was foreshadowed in,
Psalm 110:1
The Lord says to my Lord:
“Sit at my right hand,
until I make your enemies your footstool.”
Psalm 110 is clearly about the work of Christ. David, in this Psalm calls the Messiah his lord. Since the messiah is David’s descendant and David is King whose only Lord is God, David is clearly calling the Messiah God.
Hebrew 1:1-3
Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high
John 1:1,
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
The entire book of John drives home the divinity of Jesus. But the real proof is the resurrection itself.
1Peter 1:3
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
1Corinthians 15:17
And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.
This same Jesus who was Paul’s savior and Lord is also ours. Just as Paul received grace from the Lord we also are given undeserved, unmerited favor. The significant sign of God’s favor towards us is that He has given us this message of salvation. As we obey the call to faith we observe that although it is us who are being saved this is not the ultimate end of God’s work. Rather, the point of our salvation is God’s glory. That though we strayed and rejected our Creator, He has redeemed and restored us for His own glory.
Romans 11:36
For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.
Paul’s constant refrain in his letters, in greetings and closings and in-between is grace and peace. These two words encapsulate the gospel. It is the unmerited favor of God towards us that makes peace between sinners and a holy God.
Hebrews 4:16
Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
brotherpayne 