Son of God and Son of Man

The Good News was promised long ago by God through his prophets, as written in the Holy Scriptures. It is about his Son, our Lord Jesus Christ: as to his humanity, he was born a descendent of David; as to his divine holiness, he was shown with great power to be the Son of God by being raised from death. (verses 2-4)

Read Romans 1:1–15

When the great apostle Paul decided to write a letter of Christian encouragement to the believers in Rome, he began with a statement about Jesus that was a clear confession of his faith. He said that the Good News for all people was that Jesus Christ was and is truly God and truly human in one person. As truly God, he was and is the Son of the Father from all eternity, and he has been shown to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead. As truly human, he was and is a descendent of King David. He was promised by God through the prophets of the Old Testament and, when the time was ready, was born of the Virgin Mary.

The Good News is that Jesus is truly God and truly human. As God he has the power and authority to overcome sin and evil for us and bring us into his eternal kingdom. As a human being he understands us fully. He is our brother and representative.

As our brother, who is also divine, he does things for us that we could never do for ourselves. He forgives, cleanses and empowers us. He lifts us up and brings us into God’s presence.

The Good News about Jesus as being truly God and truly human is something we can take into every situation in life, and we can be comforted and strengthened by it.

I honour and praise you, Lord Jesus, that you are truly God, Son of the Father from all eternity, and truly human, born of the Virgin Mary, and, best of all, that you are my Lord. Amen.

by Kevin Schmidt, in ‘Refreshment for each Day’ (LCA, Openbook, 2003)

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