Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God (2) which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures, (3) concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born 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. (5) Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name, (6) among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ. (7) To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
The letter to the Romans was written by the apostle Paul. Our verses today are the clearest statement of the gospel in the New Testament; Paul lays out God’s plan for saving sinner through justification by faith wholly apart from man’s works. The great doctrine of salvation is clear; trust Christ and Christ alone for salvation. All who have accepted Christ as Savior are justified, sanctified and accepted. In Christ we have peace with God.
The gospel was “good news” but not new news; it was foretold by the prophets in the Old Testament and proclaimed in the New Testament. Jesus Christ is our Savior and our Lord. He is the Messiah which is not a name but a title. Jesus is truly human and fully divine. He was born according to the flesh of a human genealogy – He was the linear descendant of the House of David. Jesus is an historical person and His name was given by divine revelation. Without being human He is unable to obey the Law for us and unable to die for us. Jesus never sinned which was Gods original plan for humans. We are less human when we sin .Jesus is more human when He doesn’t sin. He is the only Son of God and fully divine. Jesus Christ is the one about whom the Old Testament prophesied. If Jesus is not fully divine we are still in our sins. Our salvation is lost. But by His resurrection from the dead Jesus was marked as God’s Messianic Son.
The audience for Paul’s letter was the faithful in Rome but this letter was written for all of us. It is a reminder that salvation begins with God, not man. Our response determines our destiny.