November 23, 2003

THE SON OF GOD WITH POWER

Romans 1:1-6

   What can it mean that the Lord was "declared to be the Son of God with power"? Was He not always the eternal Son of God? Indeed so, yet He laid aside that Glory and was "found in fashion as a man" (Phil. 2:8). His humiliation was humbling beyond our ability to grasp. How could He Who made the world and all that is therein sit on Jacob's well, "wearied with His journey"? (John 4:6). Even without food forty days, how could He Who made all the food be "hungered"? (Luke 4:2) or ask water of a Samaritan woman because of thirst? How could He, the Resurrection and the Life, weep with sincerest grief at Lazarus' tomb? Yet, "Behold how He loved him" (John 11:36)?

   The answer to these enigmas can be explained only because "He was crucified through weakness, yet He lives by the power of God" (2 Cor. 13:4). The boundary of His weakness was the cross! No wonder we read, "Christ being raised from the dead, dieth no more, death has no more dominion over Him" (Rom 6:9). But death did have dominion over Him until His resurrection! And "In that He died, He died unto sin once: but in that He lives, He lives unto God" and by His power! In resurrection Christ "dieth no more" (Rom. 6:11). Then if follows that He suffers no more, is weary no more, is tempted no more, weeps no more, is neither buffeted, nor scourged, nor spat upon, nor crucified ever again! He lives in "the power of an endless life" (Heb. 7:16). And when the Psalmist wrote, "...the Lord has said unto Me, thou art My Son, this day have I begotten Thee..." (Psa. 2:7,9), the reference is not to Bethlehem or the nativity, but to His resurrection displaying power and glory. Christ is acknowledged the Son of God in power!

   Both Peter (Acts 2) and Paul (Acts 13) are careful to declare Christ as son of David "according to the flesh," but even more diligent to show His title as "Son of God with power" by His resurrection from the dead. The grave could not keep Him, the gates of hell (the authority of the grave) were defeated. "Death hath no more power over Him."

   And of the resurrection of the dead, Paul wrote: "it is sown in weakness, raised in power" (1 Cor. 15:42-43). What must it mean for us to be baptized unto His death...His burial...and His resurrection!

Ivan L. Burgener