Turning Point (Saturday)

Romans 1:3-4

3 concerning His Son, who was born of a descendant of David according to the flesh, 4 who was declared the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness by the resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord

The apostle Paul introduces his letter to the Romans with an explanation of the gospel he preaches—“… the gospel which He promised beforehand through His prophets … concerning His Son, who was born of a descendant of David according to the flesh, who was appointed the Son-of-God-with-power by the resurrection from the dead … Jesus Christ our Lord…” We know that the Son of God was always the Son of God. “He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being” (Jn 1:2-3). So, what does Paul mean when he writes, “… who was appointed the Son-of-God-with-power by the resurrection from the dead”?

 The resurrection of our Lord Jesus is significant in many ways. This spectacular event is the guarantee of our resurrection, for one! But more so here. Jesus’s resurrection was the turning point for the rule of the one-of-a-kind God-Man. The resurrection of Jesus was when God the Father “… appointed the Son-of-God-with-power by the resurrection from the dead, …” This declaration is rooted in the Messianic Psalm 2, “He said to Me, ‘You are My Son, today I have begotten You. Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance, and the very ends of the earth as Your possession.’” The transition from v. 3 to v. 4, then, is not a transition from a human messiah to a divine Son of God but from the Son as Messiah to the Son as both Messiah and powerful, reigning Lord.

Let us be impressed with Jesus and delight in him, enjoy him. The Creator became a creature! The Son of God left heaven for us, humbled himself, was hated, was crucified. But God raised him from the tomb and declared him King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Oh, the love of Jesus. Let’s ask him to let us GET him more and more, so we can ever more adore him.

How does the resurrection of Jesus deepen your understanding of His identity as both the Messiah and the reigning Lord?


Heavenly Father, I stand in awe of the love and power revealed in Jesus Christ. Thank You for sending Your Son, the rightful heir of David’s throne, who humbled Himself for our sake and was exalted in power through His resurrection. Help me to grasp more fully the greatness of Christ — His majesty, His rule, and His deep love for His people. Increase my understanding and adoration of Him so that my heart may overflow with worship and obedience. Let my life reflect His kingship, and may I live with the confidence that He reigns over all. In His mighty name, I pray. Amen.