Romans 1:2-4 – Progressive Revelation
2. Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,)
3. Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made 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:
I. In Romans 1:1 we established:
a. The author, Saul of Tarsus transformed by Grace to Paul the Slave of Christ
b. The definition of the Christian life as “Called & Separated”
c. Introduction of the core teachings that save the soul “The Gospel of God”
II. The Gospel and Progressive Revelation
a. Paul is now going to introduce an idea that is core to how he will unfold the teachings of salvation
b. The idea is what theologians call “Progressive Revelation”
i. Progressive Revelation is the idea that the glorious riches of grace are so mind-blowing that God could not share it with man all at once
ii. God had to share the beauties of grace in an unfolding manner over time with promise, precept, prophet, purging, and paradise
c. Take Revelation 13:8 calls Jesus “the lamb slain from the foundation of the world”
i. We must understand that “progressive” does not refer to God developing the plan of redemption
ii. Progressive deals with not the limitation of God in “perfecting” the plan of salvation
iii. Progressive deals with the limitation of man in grasping the fullness of grace
iv. This is key to understand as a difference, because God is perfect in knowledge, does not change, improve or grow
d. Let’s look at the history of this promise that unfolded into our redeeming Savior
II. The first Promise
a. God didn’t waste any time getting the good news of hope
b. The first preacher of hope was the one that also banished man from the Garden to the sterile plains east of Eden
c. Because Jesus was the “lamb slain from the foundation of the world” man’s sin did not take God by surprise and His plan of redemption was already “as good as done”
d. The first promise comes when God is cursing the serpent (and Satan) “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”
e. The first promise was a victory declaration of God against satan and sin
i. In the first gospel that was declared God was the preacher
ii. The same voice that thundered creation into existence, boomed from heaven to declare the utter defeat of sin & satan
iii. The same voice that carried with cadence from the mountain, as Jesus declared “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God” was the voice that declared the coming battle with sin and satan.
iv. That’s why 1 John declares “for this purpose was the Son of God manifest, that He might destroy the works of the devil”
f. In this hopeful promise, you see the great result, have a hint at the Virgin Birth, and see the bruising for our iniquities that would be Calvary.
g. But because revelation would be slow to unfold, you don’t know:
i. His name will be called Immanuel, that it will be God Himself that will crush the power of sin and redeem humanity back to himself
ii. That the unfolding will take a few millennia as God prepares man to receive grace
iii. That the struggle of man to unshackle himself from sin will be futile as the original sin in the garden spreads virally into man’s nature breeding all manner of wickedness and rebellion
III. The Pledge Continues
a. God’s righteousness unfolds in judgment against humanity, only saving Noah’s family from wrath
i. Yet even with the punishment, comes the promise of salvation with the Rainbow
b. God’s Promise focuses into a PLEDGE to Abram, that through him all the nations of the world would be blessed
i. The election of the seed of Abraham to bring redemption to the world unfolds in God’s promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
c. God’s Promise selects Judah as the royal line that the King of Kings would be born into the world
IV. The PRECEPTS of God Unfold
a. It is important to understand, as Paul will later expound, that before the Law was Promise
i. Abraham was justified by faith & grace before the Law
ii. The promise was not for the Law but for redemption
b. So we see the law enter, and the PRECEPTS are wrongly interpreted as the “PRESCRIPTION for RIGHTEOUSNESS”
i. Paul will later point out that the purpose of the LAW was to show us our hopelessly sinful state and our need of grace
ii. The purpose of the LAW was to show us how righteous God is and how far from that our lives are
iii. Even those that keep the “acts” prescribed by the law, are condemned as guilty by the “holy nature of the law”
1. You shall not covet showed Paul, who as a Pharisee was strict in obeying the actions prescribed, that he was sinful because of this prescription for the heart
iv. The Prophets would point to this perfect state when the law would be internalized “It will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they did not remain faithful to my covenant, and I turned away from them, declares the Lord. This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. “
v. In fact, Jesus would point out this weakness of the law by showing that it did not address all the heart issues “You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery. But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell. You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
V. The Prophets Foresee Salvation
a. The promise of grace has been given
b. The precept of the law has shown man’s sinfulness
c. The tabernacle ceremonies and symbols foreshadow by painting pictures of the coming Savior
i. The blood of the lamb saved households at Passover
ii. The unleavened bread (that Jesus would take and say this is my body” was pierced and broken
iii. The priests, the robes, the ephods, the manna, the cloud, the fire, the ram caught in the tickets, the oil, the wine, the water, the lambs, the gold, the sprinkling, it took it all to show what would be accomplished by one sacrifice, one lamb, who would offer Himself up once and for all for the sin of the whole world
d. God continues to unfold the beauties of grace with prophets that foresee the riches of salvation
i. Isaiah 9:6 “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”
e. And after several millennia, a few centuries before the Messiah would come, man was ready to understand that the Savior would be the substitute in Isaiah 53:4-9
i. Surely he hath borne our grief, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
ii. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
iii. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
iv. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he opens not his mouth.
v. He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.
vi. And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.
VI. It took all this PREPARATION before the world was ready to see the perfect picture of grace
a. This is why many have taken all of Scripture to show that it all points toward Jesus Christ, the WORD made flesh
i. The Promise of Abraham
ii. The Precepts and Pictures of Moses
iii. The Prophecies of Isaiah & Daniel & so many others
iv. All pointed to the:
1. Babe of Bethlehem
2. Carpenter of Nazareth
3. Crucified Savior of Golgotha
4. Risen Lord of Joseph’s borrowed tomb
5. Ascended King of Eternity
VII. Jesus in every book of the Bible:
o Genesis: Jesus is The Seed of The Woman, a descendant of Abraham, a king in the line of Judah in the order of Melchizedek.
o Exodus: Jesus is The Passover Lamb, the leader and deliverer out of slavery (as like Moses), the manna from heaven, the rock that gave water, the Tabernacle in the camp and every item inisde (Brazen Alter, Lampstand, Table of Showbread, Ark of the Covenant
o Leviticus: Jesus is The High Priest, personified by the sacrifices and offering, the Jewish festivals
o Numbers: Jesus is The Cloud and The Fire, the Messiah that would be King. The healer in the bronze serpent. The Water from the Rock.
o Deuteronomy: Jesus is The Prophet Like Moses, worshipped by angels. He is the cities of refuge.
o Joshua: Jesus is The Captain of Our Salvation, our leader into the promise land (as like Joshua), the commander-in-chief of the Army.
o Judges: Jesus is The Judge And Lawgiver, the true judge for the living and the dead.
o Ruth: Jesus is The Kinsman Redeemer
o 1 & 2 Samuel: Jesus is The Prophet of The Lord, exalted by God with power. The exiled King. The faithful friend (Jonathan).
o 1 & 2 Kings, 1 & 2 Chronicles: Jesus is The Reigning King, for the Millennial Reign (as like Solomon). Multiplying bread and healing leper (as like Elisha).
o Ezra: Jesus is The Faithful Scribe, the builder of the temple (Zerubbabel).
o Nehemiah: Jesus is The Rebuilder of The Broken Down Walls, the rebuilder of the walls of salvation
o Esther: Jesus is Mordecai, the personified. The Guardian.
o Job: Jesus is The Dayspring From on High, the sufferings and the subsequent blessings
o Psalms: Jesus is The Lord Who Is Our Shepherd, the resurrected Son of God, that was despised and crucified; Hated without cause, rejected by the Israelites.
o Proverbs & Ecclesiastes: Jesus is Wisdom of God.
o Song of Solomon: Jesus is The Lover & Bridegroom.
o Isaiah: Jesus is The Suffering Servant. Born of a virgin, the Immanuel “God with us”.
o Jeremiah & Lamentations: Jesus is The Weeping Prophet, the righteous Branch, our righteousness.
o Ezekiel: Jesus is The son of Man, a descendent of David.
o Daniel: Jesus is The Son of Man coming in the clouds of Heaven, given an everlasting kingdom. He came 483 years after the decree to rebuild Jerusalem. Foretold He would be kill and revealed as the stone that smashed the kingdoms of the world. The 4th Man in the fiery furnace.
o Hosea: Jesus is The Bridegroom Married to The Backslidden Woman
o Joel: The Baptizer With The Holy Spirit And Fire
o Amos: Jesus is The Burden Bearer, that darken the day at noon during Messiah’s death.
o Obadiah: Jesus is The Mighty Savior.
o Jonah: Jesus is The Forgiving God, being 3 days and 3 nights in the belly of a fish.
o Micah: Jesus is The Messenger With Beautiful Feet, born in Bethlehem and from everlasting.
o Nahum: Jesus is The Avenger of God’s Elect.
o Habakkuk: Jesus is the Messiah that would come from Teman at His return
o Zephaniah: Jesus is The Restorer of God’s Lost Heritage.
o Haggai: Jesus is The Cleansing Fountain, who visited the 2nd temple.
o Zechariah: Jesus is The Pierced Son, a Priest and King who ride into Jerusalem on a donkey. The Messiah who would be God and be pierced.
o Malachi: Jesus is The Son of Righteousness, Rising with Healing in His Wings, the Messiah who appears at the temple and His forerunner came in the spirit of Elijah.
o Matthew: Jesus is The King, the Song of David, the King of the Jews, the Son of God and the Bridegroom.
o Mark: Jesus is The Wonder Worker/Servant, The Holy One of God, the Servant, the King of Israel.
o Luke: Jesus is The Son of Man, the Horn of Salvation and the Consolation of Israel.
o John: Jesus is The Son of God, the Begotten Son, the Lamb of God, the Bread of Life, the Light of the world, the I AM, the Door of the sheep, the Good Shepherd, the Resurrection and Life, the Way, the Truth and the Life. The True Vine.
o Acts: Jesus is The Ascended Lord, the Prince of Life, the Judge of the living and the dead, the Just One, and the Hope of Israel.
o Romans: Jesus is The Justifier, the Rock of Offense, the Deliverer, the Lord of the dead and the living. The Root of Jesse.
o 1 & 2 Corinthians: Jesus is The Gifts of The Spirit, the First-Fruit and the Last Adam.
o Galatians: Jesus is The One Who Sets Us Free, the Lord Jesus Christ.
o Ephesians: Jesus is The Christ of Riches, the Head of All Things and the Cornerstone.
o Philippians: Jesus is The God Who Meets Our Every Need, the Name above all names.
o Colossians: Jesus is The Fullness of The Godhead, the Image of the Invisible God, the Head of the body, the Beginning, the Firstborn of the dead and the Hope of Glory.
o 1 & 2 Thessalonians: Jesus is The Soon Coming King, the lord of Peace.
o 1 & 2 Timothy: The Mediator Between God And Man, the King of Ages and the Mediator.
o Titus: Jesus is The Faithful Pastor, the Blessed Hope. The Great God and Savior.
o Philemon: Jesus is The Friend That Sticks Closer Than a Brother, the Lord Jesus Christ.
o Hebrews: Jesus is The Blood That Washes Away My Sins, the Heir of all things, the Faithful High Priest, the Author and Finisher of our faith.
o James: Jesus is The Great Physician, The Lord of Glory and the Judge at the door.
o 1 & 2 Peter: Jesus is The Chief Shepherd, and the Living Stone.
o 1 & 2 & 3 John: Jesus is Everlasting Love, the Eternal Life and the Righteous.
o Jude: Jesus is The Lord Who Came Down with 10,000 Saints, the Only Wise God our Savior.
o Revelation: Jesus is The King of Kings and the Lord of Lords! The Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. The Lion of the Tribe of Judah, the Word of God, the King of kings and Lord of lords, the Bright Morning Star.
