The Gospel of God is All About His Son Jesus Christ
Studying Romans 1:3-4.
The gospel of God…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, 3-4)
The gospel of God is “concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord.”
The Greek word for “concerning” carries the idea of “all around” or “encircling.” The gospel of God fully encircles His Son Jesus - the gospel is all about Jesus Christ.
What we need today is to have a religion that is about Jesus, that surrounds Him, that is all about what He has done. - McGee, Thru the Bible Vol. 4, 647
According to our passage in Romans 1:3-4, when you consider Jesus - the one at the center of the gospel of God - you find His humanity and deity.
According to the flesh: Jesus is David’s Son.
God promised David that one of his descendants would have a kingdom established by God that would stand forever.
"When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. (2 Samuel 7:12-13)
Jesus, the Son of David (Matthew 1:1), was born to Mary - who was a virgin, just like God had said.
So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet [Isaiah 7:14], saying: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.” (Matthew 1:22-23)
The humanity of Jesus is emphasized throughout the gospel accounts. He didn’t just appear to be human - He became human. He faced the things we face, got tired just like us, and cried just like us.
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)
Jesus becoming human will be explored further in our study of Romans - but for now, we need to remember the importance of Jesus coming to earth as a man. This is a central point of the gospel of God.
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. (Philippians 2:5-8)
According to the Spirit of holiness: Jesus is God’s Son.
At the center of the gospel of God, we also find that Jesus is not just man - He is deity; He is God.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. (John 1:1-3)
When the beginning “began” (Genesis 1:1), the Word was already in existence. The Word is speaking of Jesus. He is the Creator. Jesus is not a created being - He is God.
Jesus made it quite clear during His earthly ministry that He is the Son of God (John 5:19-29). While Jesus was dying on the cross, the crowd mocked His claims to be God’s Son.
And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads and saying, "You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross." Likewise the chief priests also, mocking with the scribes and elders, said, "He saved others; Himself He cannot save. If He is the King of Israel, let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe Him. He trusted in God; let Him deliver Him now if He will have Him; for He said, 'I am the Son of God.' " (Matthew 27:39-43)
When Jesus was raised from the dead, the Spirit of holiness declared His claim to be God’s Son true. Jesus’ resurrection from the dead is proof positive that Jesus is the Son of God.
The resurrection tells us that God has accepted the work of Christ on the cross on sinful man’s behalf. It tells us that in the end right prevails over evil. It tells us of the full defeat of all hellish powers whether they are visible governments or invisible powers. It tells us of the glorious hope extended to all men and women of everlasting life and fellowship with God. - McGuiggan, Romans, 53
Romans 1:3-4 shows Jesus Christ our Lord to be at the center of the gospel of God. When we examine the “center” of the gospel, we find two things emphasized: Jesus’ humanity and deity.
If we want to understand the gospel of God better, we must grow in our understanding of Jesus Christ.
You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen. (2 Peter 3:17-18)