Romans Part 02
Paul introduces himself and establishes Jesus Christ’s credibility through lineage. Christ came from the Father and was the seed of David according to the flesh. It is through Him that Paul received grace and apostleship to bring the message to the Romans.
From the very beginning, Paul establishes the great theme that will dominate the entire epistle: the gospel of Jesus Christ is the power of God unto salvation for all who believe.
Paul begins the letter with his identity:
"Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God."
This is Paul's longest greeting, likely because he is writing to a congregation that does not yet know him personally. Before discussing doctrine or instruction, Paul establishes who he is and the source of his authority.
Paul first identifies himself as a bondservant, or slave, of Jesus Christ. He does not present himself as self-appointed or self-important. Rather, he recognizes that he belongs entirely to Christ. This carries an important lesson for us as well. We too have been bought and paid for by Christ's blood and belong to Him. Paul understood that his life was no longer his own. His authority did not come from ambition, personality, education, or human appointment. He presents himself as a servant who was called and assigned by God.
Paul then says that he was "called to be an apostle." The word apostle means "one sent." Paul was specifically chosen and commissioned by Christ to carry the gospel message. He was also "separated to the gospel of God." The gospel means "good news," and Paul's life had been set apart for the proclamation of that message. His calling, purpose, and mission were centered on the gospel.
Paul reminds the brethren that this gospel was not something new or recently invented. It had been promised beforehand through God's prophets in the Holy Scriptures. The Old Testament repeatedly pointed forward to the coming of Christ and His sacrifice. As Paul would later write, the Holy Scriptures are able to make one wise unto salvation (2 Timothy 3:15). Galatians 3:8 shows that Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham, saying, "All nations will be blessed through you." Likewise, 1 Peter 1:10–11 explains that the prophets searched diligently concerning the salvation that would come through Christ. The gospel message had been foretold long before Christ's earthly ministry.
Having introduced himself, Paul quickly turns the focus away from himself and toward Jesus Christ. The gospel is concerning God's Son. Paul emphasizes that Jesus Christ was descended from David according to the flesh. This connection to David is important because David points to kingship, promise, and Messiahship. Matthew 1:1 similarly identifies Jesus Christ as the Son of David and the Son of Abraham. Jesus was not merely a moral teacher or religious leader. He was the promised Messiah and King.
Christ was divine through lineage. He came from the Father and was the seed of David according to the flesh. This demonstrates that Christ truly was God and became human. While Matthew records Christ’s lineage through Joseph, Luke records the lineage through Mary. Christ came from the tribe of Judah, the correct lineage for the promised Messiah. Hebrews 7:14 states,
"For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, a tribe with reference to which Moses spoke nothing concerning priests."
Paul then explains that Jesus was "declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead." Christ was also divine through the Spirit. Romans 1:4 points to the resurrection as the powerful declaration of Jesus Christ as the Son of God. The resurrection stands at the center of Paul's understanding of who Jesus is and what the gospel means. Colossians 1:18 describes Jesus as the firstborn from the dead, emphasizing His preeminence and victory over death.
The phrase "Spirit of holiness" is notable because Paul does not simply use the more common expression "Holy Spirit." Instead, the wording emphasizes the holy quality and character associated with God's Spirit. God's Spirit makes a person holy through the process of sanctification, and God's Spirit guides a person in holy conduct, enabling obedience that maintains holiness. This phrase also begins to set the tone for Paul's later discussion concerning walking according to the Spirit.
The resurrection is significant not only because it declares Jesus Christ to be the Son of God with power, but also because it points to the future hope of believers. Just as Christ was raised and glorified, the resurrection will be the point at which God's people receive glorified bodies like His. From the very beginning of the letter, Paul is already connecting the gospel, Jesus Christ, His Davidic kingship, His resurrection, holiness, and the Spirit-led life. These themes will continue to unfold throughout the remainder of Romans.
UYA Team | uya@ucg.org
United Young Adults (UYA) primarily serves the 18–32-year age group for the United Church of God. There are three main areas of contribution to the lives of young adults: Promoting Spiritual Growth, Developing Meaningful Relationships and Making the Most of Your Talents. The Know Your Sword series is a daily expository message introducing God’s Word from a trusted perspective.
