Words of Grace for January 12

Romans 1:3-4 concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, 4 and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.

Often these two verses are said to deal with Christ’s humanity (“born of the seed of David”) and also with Christ’s deity (“declared to be the Son of God”). And while that may be true, it is also important to realize that the promise made to David in the Old Testament involved the deity of his future son. The fact that God was going to be his Father indicated that David’s descendent would, in fact, be divine.

This is also the point of the beginning of verse 4. It is important to understand that when Jesus was raised from the dead, it did not make Him the Son of God. Verse 4 indicates that the resurrection declared that Jesus was the Son of God. He has always been the Son of God. This fact is very important for our faith. For most of the major heresies that have arisen over the last 2,000 years have involved the person of Jesus Christ.

The two most popular cults of the day are Mormonism and Jehovah’s Witnesses. Both of these cults pervert the deity of Christ. The Mormons believe that Jesus was the first created being and became a God like we one day will be. The Jehovah’s Witnesses deny the deity of Christ altogether. But the Bible is clear that Jesus has always been the Son of God, which is tantamount to saying He is God. The resurrection verifies and declares this fact.

This is why it’s also important that we defend the truthfulness of the resurrection. For if the resurrection never occurred, then Jesus has no proof of His deity. If He is not God, then we have no faith and no hope of forgiveness of sins. But, by His resurrection, He was declared to be the Son of God. And because of that, we can have confidence that what He has promised to us, He will do.

For Further Study

1) Read John 1:1-14. How does this passage prove the deity of Jesus Christ?

2) How does Hebrews 1 show the deity of Christ?

Adult Catechism
Q. 2. What is the chief end of man?
A. Man's chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.

Children’s Catechism
Q. 2. What else did God make?
A. God made all things.

Hymn
A Mighty Fortress Is Our God