On The Sixth Day #3

Romans 1.1 – 7 Good News about the New King

¹Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord,

⁵through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations, including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ,

⁶To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

• This introduction sets the foundation or "launching pad" for the entire letter
  
• begins in the classic style of letters of his day
  
  • who is writing the letter
    
  • to whom it is being written
    
• Paul expands quite a bit
  
  • not simply "I'm Paul, who serves Jesus and I'm writing to believers in Rome."
    
  • deeper & clearer identification of himself
    
  • the purpose of his writing – the God's good news [gospel of God]
    
    • which identifies Paul
      
    • and the "map of the world" - which king do you serve
      
    • and God's good news claims the whole world even Rome!!
      
• Verses 1 – 4 – Reveal the Trinity
  
  • the word "God" is found 555 times in 486 verses in Paul's letters
    
  • the opening verses of all 13 of Paul's letter refer to "God, the Father" of the Lord
    
• Verse 4 reveals the 2 natures of Jesus of Nazareth –
  
  • man via the seed of David
    
  • revealed to ALREADY be the Son of God by the resurrection – just declaration of an existing truth – like the centurion in Matthew 27 & Mark 15
    
• this is good news about something that has already happened
  
• God's "good news" - God's gospel
  
  • God is faithful to His covenant -- v.2
    
    • Genesis 3 with ALL of mankind
      
    • and Genesis 12, 15 & 17 with Abraham & his descendants
      
  • about and thoroughly invested in Jesus of Nazareth
    
    • – His Son vv. 3 – 4
      
    • truly a king – descended from king David v. 3
      
    • Jesus has been raised from the dead & is ruling the cosmos right here right now v. 4
      
      • because God has defeated the last weapon of the rulers of this world – DEATH
        
      • and God is building new creation through the resurrected, living, ruling Jesus & his body, the church v. 5-6
        
• "saints" refers, of course, to all believers – living and dead v.7

(Source material from N T Wright, John Wesley, Martin Luther, ESV Study Bible, Orthodox Study Bible, et al)