But what kind of gospel, what good news, could cause a persecutor of Christians to call himself a member of Christ’s Body? Paul writes that he was called according to the “gospel of God” in Romans 1:1. This gospel was promised in the Scriptures (v. 2), and is:
Concerning His Son, who came out of the seed of David according to the flesh, who was designated the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness out of the resurrection of the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 1:3-4
Christ is first! Christ is preeminent! The gospel of God begins with a wonderful, mysterious Person. He is the seed of David, implying genuine humanity, and the Son of God with divinity. This is a deep answer to Matthew 22:41-46, where Jesus silenced His questioners by asking them the question of questions:
What do you think concerning the Christ? Whose son is He?
Matthew 22:42
I remember clearly a moment of confronting the deep mystery of a Person who is at once a genuine man and the complete God. Continue reading
Laying Hold 