ROMANS UNWRAPPED 11

"........DECLARED TO BE THE SON OF GOD WITH POWER, ACCORDING TO THE SPIRIT OF HOLINESS, BY THE RESSURECTION FROM THE DEAD." Romans 1 v 4.



v3        "He became........       v4      "He was declared to be..........
He became what He was not:
He was declared to be what He always was, but with one important difference. He was always the Son of God   (c/f Proverbs 8 v 22-23, John 1 v 18, John 8 v 58, etc.) but He was not always the Son of God with power, which is the point of the verse.   
He was the Son of God before time, John 17 vs. 1-24,    
He was the Son of God as a babe, Luke 1 v 35, 
He was the Son of God at 12 years old, Luke 2 v 49,  
He was the Son of God at 30 years old, Luke 3 vs. 22-23,
He was the Son of God on the cross, Romans 8 v 28,  
He is the Son of God on the throne, Hebrews 1 v 1-3,   
He is the Eternal Son of God, but for a time He was not the Son of God with power.
He knew weakness.   He knew limitations; as Son of God, "the heaven of heavens could not contain Him"    1 Kings 8 v 27    yet He dwelt in a body of flesh.
No wonder Solomon said " will GOD DWELL ON EARTH?"

Charles Wesley, inspired by this, penned the unforgettable words,  " VEILED IN FLESH THE GODHEAD SEE, HAIL THE INCARNATE DEITY".       "Though He were a Son yet learned He obedience by the things that He suffered" ( Hebrews 5 v 8.)   The God who needed not to be taught anything,  "Isaiah 40 v 13 - 14"  subjected Himself in the days of His flesh to learn.   

But no longer;  He is declared SON OF GOD WITH POWER

2 Corinthians 13 v 4  "He was crucified in weakness yet He lives by the power of God."
Ephesians 1 v 18        "He was raised from the dead by the exceeding greatness by the power of God and set at God's right hand in heavenly places far above all principality and might and dominion and every name that is named not only in this world but also in that which is to come and hath put all things under His feet."
John 17 v 2    According as Thou has given me power over all flesh to give eternal life to as many as thou hast given Me."."
Matthew 28 v 18    "All power is given unto Me in heaven and upon earth, go ye therefore and make disciples of all nations."
Hebrews 7 v 16    "Who has become, not according to the law of a carnal commandment, but according to the power of an indissoluble life."

He was marked out as Son of God by two things;

(1)   INTERNAL HOLINESS
(2)   EXTERNAL POWER

Power and holiness in scripture, are always linked, but that is another subject.   The phrase "the spirit of holiness", is not so much the Holy Spirit as the third person of the godhead but it is Jesus own human spirit which was (unlike any other man) untarnished with sin.   The contrast is that He was real flesh but sinless flesh.   Because death, is a result of sin (Romans 5 v 12), and Jesus Christ was sinless it was not possible that He would remain dead. ( Psalms 16/Acts 13) says "Thou wilt not suffer thy Holy One to see corruption."   Peter emphasises this in  ( Acts 2 v 24)    Whom God has raised up having loosed the bands of death, because it was not possible that He should be holden of it."   Death could not hold the sinless One, the Holy One who "tasted death" for everyone but could not remain in it.

Folks today      JESUS IS ALIVE         JESUS IS RISEN FROM THE DEAD   

The world which has forgotten all about Him, should sit up and take notice HE IS COMING TO TAKE OVER THIS WORLD FOR GOD.  

God will not allow the present order of things to go on for ever.   His Man is in heaven seated at the right hand of the Majesty on high, invisible to the world for now, but not for ever.   Listen to His words to the apostle John from the throne of heaven, "I am He that liveth and became dead and behold I am alive forevermore and have the keys of hell and death."  (Revelation 1 v 18) 

"HE IS THE SON OF GOD WITH POWER BY THE RESURRECTION FROM THE DEAD."

Unseen by the eyes of men, He is currently wielding that power, in grace and love and mercy towards the sons of men, but there is coming a day when he will visibly appear and unleash all the power of heaven at His disposal to reclaim this world for God.   Make sure you are on  His side.

Tomorrow PAUL'S MISSION