“Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures, concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.” – Romans 1:1-4
God never works without intention. In Romans 1:3–4, Paul reminds the church that Jesus didn’t appear randomly in history. He arrived precisely as promised—“according to the flesh,” descended from David, fulfilling centuries-old prophecy. This wasn’t coincidence; it was confirmation. From the covenant God made with David (2 Samuel 7:13), to the vivid imagery in Isaiah’s writings (Isaiah 11), Jesus’ arrival was carefully crafted. He is Immanuel—God with us. When you trace the genealogies of Jesus in Matthew and Luke, they paint a dual portrait: Matthew highlights His legal royalty through Joseph, while Luke emphasizes His true humanity through Mary. Each lineage proves that Jesus is both fully man and the promised King.
Paul’s brilliance lies in how he shifts attention—he begins with himself, a servant set apart, and then steps aside so that Christ takes center stage. It’s a model for us: when we remember how Jesus met us, how He redeemed us, our focus changes from “me” to “Messiah.” Just like a horizon marks where earth ends and heaven begins, the resurrection of Jesus is the defining line between ordinary man and the Son of God (Romans 1:4). The Spirit of holiness confirmed it, and the empty tomb declared it. Jesus didn’t just claim to be divine—He proved it by rising from the dead.
This dual nature—Jesus as fully human and fully divine—is foundational to our faith. John warned that denying Jesus came in the flesh marks false teaching (1 John 4:1–3). But the true believer confesses both His humanity and His deity. Jesus is not just a good man or a wise teacher—He is the picture the prophets painted, the hope long anticipated, and the fulfillment of every divine promise. Whether Jew or Gentile, His story speaks to all: God didn’t just shout from heaven; He stepped into history. And because He lives, our faith stands on unshakable ground.
“God incarnate is the end of fear; and the heart that realizes that He is in the midst… will be quiet in the middle of alarm.” – F.B. Meyer
surrendered devotions 