The Declaration Of Christ

Introduction

Last week, we looked at Romans 1:1 and the calling of Paul, to become a servant /slave.

He set-apart by God for the gospel’s sake, to preach the Good News.

In our passage today, we will see that Paul was set-apart to do God’s work and now He is going to make a Declaration of Christ to all he can!

Scripture

Which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures, 3concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, 4and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead. Romans 1:2-4

Prayer

We see Paul was set-apart to declare…

1. The Gospel promised beforehand

Paul said he was called, to preach the gospel or to share the gospel

Not some new gospel…not something he made up…but according to the Word of God, had been promised beforehand.

In Genesis 12:3 Abraham is told by God, “I will bless those who bless you and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”

Paul was coming to preach to them the Good News that had been prophesied would come.

He himself had now experienced and he is coming to proclaim or to declare this Christ spoken of by the prophets.

And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. 2For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. 1 Corinthians 2:1-2

It is amazing how many today in the church do not know how to or do not share the gospel because of fear or lack of unconcern.

We have fears and say things like:

• What if they ask me about some doctrinal truth?

• What if they want to know about things like justification, sanctification, righteousness, etc…?

Who cares!

The main issue is do you know Jesus and Him crucified?

That’s the issue at hand…that’s what Paul came to declare…the Gospel…the Good News…

The fact that you have a Savior…He died for your sins…and that’s what we too need to be willing to declare.

All you need to know is that Jesus Christ has come into your life, changed it, and share how he has changed things in your life.

Your personal testimony can lead someone to the Lord!

Paul says he came to declare the gospel that was promised beforehand of the…

2. Incarnation of Christ

Paul is not trying to tell people about the God who lives way up there.

He is coming to tell of the God who stepped down out of heaven…took on the form of a man…and walked on this earth.

The one who was to come would be a direct descendant of David…Jesus was that one.

Jesus was foretold to come all the way back in Genesis 3:15 “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and heirs.”

He begins the first promise of a redeemer who would come to this earth to save His people.

Paul says He was a descendant of David.

The lineage of Christ can be traced through Adam, Seth the son born after Abel was killed, and through Seth, Noah, and through Noah, Shem and through Shem, Abraham, and through Abraham, Isaac, and Isaac, Jacob, and Jacob, Judah, and Judah, David, and David, came Christ…Immanuel…God with us.

Paul was saying this is the one prophesied long ago in Isaiah 7:14

Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14

This was fulfilled in Matthew 1:23.

Paul is saying this is the one who comes through the tribe of Judah…He is the Lion of the tribe of Judah. (Revelation 5:5)

Isaiah 53:7 (KJV) says; 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 openeth not his mouth.

The one who John taught about in John 1:14, “The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us…”

Paul was declaring the Christ…the incarnate one…who came to be our example.

“To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you leaving you an example that you should follow in his steps.” 1 Peter 2:21

Many have a hard time understanding how God could come and take on the form of a man…

He was the one, Paul is saying, that came to dwell among us that came from the lineage of David.

Paul says he came to die but not to stay dead but to be…