Thursday Devo
Scripture:
Romans 1
2 God promised this Good News long ago through his prophets in the holy Scriptures. 3 The Good News is about his Son. In his earthly life he was born into King David’s family line, 4 and he was shown to be the Son of God when he was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit. He is Jesus Christ our Lord.
2 God promised this Good News long ago through his prophets in the holy Scriptures. 3 The Good News is about his Son. In his earthly life he was born into King David’s family line, 4 and he was shown to be the Son of God when he was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit. He is Jesus Christ our Lord.
Commentary:
1:1 servant. See note on the first-century institution of “bondservant†(Gk. doulos, “servant, slave, bondservantâ€) at 1 Cor. 7:21. This designation indicates that Paul is a slave of Christ, but at the same time the title recalls the honored servants of God in the OT, such as Moses, Joshua, David, and the prophets (Josh. 14:7; 24:29; 2 Kings 17:23; Ps. 89:3). Apostle emphasizes that Paul’s authority is equal to that of the 12 apostles chosen by Christ. The apostles were specifically called by Christ (Matt. 10:1–7; Acts 1:24–26; Gal. 1:1) and had seen the risen Lord Jesus (Acts 1:22; 1 Cor. 9:1; 15:7–9). They established and governed the whole church, under Jesus Christ, and they had authority to speak and write the words of God, equal in authority to the OT Scriptures (1 Cor. 14:37; 2 Cor. 13:3; Gal. 1:8–9; 1 Thess. 2:13; 4:15; 2 Pet. 3:2, 15–16). Paul was called to be an apostle when Jesus appeared to him on the Damascus road (Acts 9; 22; 26; 1 Cor. 9:1; 15:8–9; Gal. 1:13–17), and the unusual timing of his call led Paul to conclude that no more apostles would be chosen after him (1 Cor. 15:8). Gospel (Gk. euangelion) means “good news.†This included not just a call to initial saving faith but Paul’s entire message about Jesus Christ and how Christ’s saving activity transforms all of life and all of history.
1:2–3 Jesus fulfilled the OT prophecy that a descendant of David would rule forever, and hence he is the Messiah (see 2 Sam. 7:12–16; Psalm 89; 132; Isa. 11:1–5; Jer. 23:5–6; Ezek. 34:23–24). The eternal Son of God assumed humanity to become the messianic King.
1:4 Jesus was declared by God the Father to be the Son of God in power when he was raised from the dead (see Matt. 28:6) and installed at God’s right hand as the messianic King. As the eternal Son of God, he has reigned forever with the Father and the Holy Spirit. But this verse refers to Jesus as the God-man reigning in messianic power (“Son of God†was a Jewish title for the Messiah), and this reign began (i.e., was declared or initiated) at a certain point in salvation history, i.e., when Jesus was raised from the dead through the Holy Spirit. according to the Spirit of holiness. Christ’s great power is always connected to the holiness of the Holy Spirit as he works in the new covenant age.
1:2–3 Jesus fulfilled the OT prophecy that a descendant of David would rule forever, and hence he is the Messiah (see 2 Sam. 7:12–16; Psalm 89; 132; Isa. 11:1–5; Jer. 23:5–6; Ezek. 34:23–24). The eternal Son of God assumed humanity to become the messianic King.
1:4 Jesus was declared by God the Father to be the Son of God in power when he was raised from the dead (see Matt. 28:6) and installed at God’s right hand as the messianic King. As the eternal Son of God, he has reigned forever with the Father and the Holy Spirit. But this verse refers to Jesus as the God-man reigning in messianic power (“Son of God†was a Jewish title for the Messiah), and this reign began (i.e., was declared or initiated) at a certain point in salvation history, i.e., when Jesus was raised from the dead through the Holy Spirit. according to the Spirit of holiness. Christ’s great power is always connected to the holiness of the Holy Spirit as he works in the new covenant age.
Questions:
- Not only is Jesus the Lamb who was slain, but He is also the LION who REIGNS, and we must BOW to the LION. Kings don't like other kings because kings demand total allegiance. There can't be 2 kings. This is where we have trouble because we want to be kings of our own domain. We want to be in charge of our lives without any outside input. But bowing to the Lion means total surrender. Making Jesus Lord means handing Him the keys of your life and submitting every part of you to Him. Have you fully submitted to the reign of the King in your life? What is it that you need to lay down at the feet of the King?
- Culture tells us that humbling ourselves to Jesus' reign will suffocate us, so we instead pursue selfish ambition, self-fulfillment, self-realization, self-discovery... self, self, self. This cannot be if we are to be subjects in HIS Kingdom. And the upside down truth of the Kingdom of God is that self-denial for Jesus' sake is actually where we find life and fulfillment. The bottom line is that His rule in our lives is for our good. More than that, it's for our best. Do you really trust that submitting to God's way is best for you? Or are there still hints of selfish ambition and all the other diseases of self?
Prayer Topics:
- That you would bow to the Lion.
- That you would trust God's best for you over self.
This Week's City 7:
Try to commit to memory!
6. Is the Bible God’s Word? Jesus proved He is God by rising from the dead and said the Old Testament was God’s Word and gave authority to the Apostles to write the words of the New Testament, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, so that all the words of the Bible are God’s Word.
(Matthew 5:18; Luke 24:27, 44; John 14:25-26, 15:27, 16:12-13, 17:20; Acts 2:42; Ephesians 3:5; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:16-21)
(Matthew 5:18; Luke 24:27, 44; John 14:25-26, 15:27, 16:12-13, 17:20; Acts 2:42; Ephesians 3:5; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:16-21)
No Comments