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1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, 2 which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy scriptures, 3 the gospel concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh 4 and was declared to be Son of God with power according to the spirit of holiness by resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, 5 through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for the sake of his name, 6 including yourselves who are called to belong to Jesus Christ, 7 To all God's beloved in Rome, who are called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 1: 1-7 NRSV)
Happy Tuesday, Friend! As we pray today, please offer a thank you prayer for the recovery that Ms. Sylvia Gaytan is making thanks to the new medications she was given. We pray for her full recovery, as well as for all who has asked prayers for us.
Are you old enough to remember a world without microwave ovens? I am. I remember talk of them being invented; then I remember being shocked at the sticker price when they did. Says the man who paid over $600 for our first VHS VCR (Kids ask grandma or grandpa to decipher those initials!). And by the way, the word oven in the name is kinda misleading; you can't very well microwave a turkey; or can you? But the thing about the microwave is that it brought another dimension to the Instant Gratification society that we have become. The microwave could heat up cold coffee and make popcorn in minutes! Beyond that, well, I'll wait. I do have to say that we bought our first microwave when we were living in San Antonio at the short stay of a Marshall Fields store in North Star Mall, for about $39. And that microwave lasted us 30 years!! Yes, we cried on that sad morning. And then we got Amazon.com that most days can deliver needless things overnight! (Yes, i'm old enough to remember actually going to a store, buying something and bringing it home right away!). Okay, enough of this old man ranting and raving. The Apostle Paul in writing to the people in the capital city of the known world is talking about the arrival at long last, of the promises gospel, and that, in Paul's opinion and mine, is a BIG DEAL!!
Advent is a season of fulfilled promises, and Paul's opening to Romans gives us a magnificent summary of what we're celebrating. Paul identifies himself as "a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God." Notice how Paul defines his entire identity and purpose around the gospel—the good news about Jesus. He's been set apart specifically for this message, and everything else in his life is secondary to this calling. The word "gospel" means good news, but Paul immediately clarifies that this isn't new news—it's ancient news finally fulfilled: "the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures." The Christmas story didn't begin in Bethlehem; it began in Genesis 3:15 when God promised that the woman's seed would crush the serpent's head. It continued through Abraham's promise of blessing to all nations, through David's promise of an eternal throne, through Isaiah's promise of a virgin-born child called Wonderful Counselor and Prince of Peace. Every sacrifice in the temple, every prophecy spoken, every promise given was pointing forward to this moment. During Advent, we celebrate that God kept promises made centuries before, that the story arc of Scripture finds its climax in Jesus, and that our God is utterly faithful to His word.
Paul then describes the content of this gospel: it's "regarding his Son." Everything centers on Jesus—not a philosophy, not a moral system, not a set of rules, but a person. Paul gives us two crucial aspects of who this Son is: "who as to his earthly life was a descendant of David." Jesus has a real human genealogy, a family tree that goes back to David, the great king of Israel. He wasn't a phantom or a spirit appearing to look human—He was born into a specific family, in a specific time, in a specific place. The baby in the manger had Mary's eyes and bore the genetic heritage of Jesse, David, and Abraham. This matters because for Jesus to save humanity, He had to be fully human, to represent us before God, to experience our temptations and limitations. Advent celebrates the incarnation—God becoming flesh, entering into the full human experience, not exempting Himself from anything we endure. But Paul doesn't stop there: Jesus "through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power by his resurrection from the dead." Jesus wasn't just human; He was and is fully divine. The resurrection declared with power what was always true—this is the Son of God. The baby we celebrate at Christmas is the same Jesus who conquered death, who rose victorious, who now sits at the Father's right hand. Advent prepares us to celebrate not just a birth but a life, death, and resurrection that changes everything.
Paul then gives Jesus His full title: "Jesus Christ our Lord." Each word is packed with meaning. "Jesus" is His human name, the name the angel told Joseph to give Him, meaning "the Lord saves." "Christ" is His title—the Anointed One, the Messiah promised throughout the Old Testament, the King who would establish God's eternal kingdom. "Our Lord" declares His authority and our allegiance—He's not just a historical figure or a moral teacher but the one who has rightful claim to rule our lives. Then Paul describes what this gospel accomplishes: "Through him we have received grace and apostleship to call all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith for his name's sake." The gospel isn't just information to believe; it's an invitation to respond. Grace empowers Paul's mission, and that mission is to call all nations (Gentiles) to obedience that flows from faith. This isn't obedience to earn salvation but obedience that comes from faith—the transformed life that results from trusting Jesus. The Christmas story has always been for all nations. The angels announced good news "for all the people." The Magi came from the east—Gentiles seeking the Jewish Messiah. Jesus came not just for Israel but to be the light of the world, the Savior of all who would believe.
Paul concludes this magnificent opening by addressing his readers: "To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be his holy people: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ." Notice the lavish identity Paul gives these believers: loved by God and called to be His holy people. Not because of what they've accomplished but because of what God has done. During Advent, we remember that the gospel is fundamentally about what God has done, not what we must do. God promised. God sent His Son. God became human. God lived a perfect life. God died for our sins. God rose from the dead. God offers grace and peace. The appropriate human response is faith—trusting in what God has done rather than trying to earn what can never be earned. Paul's greeting, "Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ," captures the essence of the gospel. Grace—the unmerited favor of God given to those who deserve judgment. Peace—the reconciliation between holy God and sinful humanity accomplished through Christ's death and resurrection. Both grace and peace come from the same source: God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Not from our efforts, not from our religious performance, not from our moral improvement, but from God. This Advent, as we prepare to celebrate Christ's first coming and anticipate His second coming, we remember that the gospel is God's promise kept, God's Son sent, God's love demonstrated, God's grace offered, and God's peace given to all who believe.
PRAYER: Loving Heavenly Father, thank You for keeping every promise, for sending Your Son who was fully human and fully divine, for offering grace and peace through Jesus Christ our Lord—during this Advent season, help us rest in what You have done rather than striving to earn what You freely give, and help us respond to Your gospel with the obedience that comes from faith, in Jesus' strong name, amen.
Have a great and blesssed day in the Lord! OUR CALL TO ACTION: This Advent, reflect on one specific way the gospel—God's promise kept in Jesus Christ—transforms how you live this week, moving from striving to earn God's favor to resting in His grace while responding with faith-fueled obedience.
I love you and I thank God for you! You matter to God, and you matter to me! Make it a point to deliver the good news to someone who may not yet know it!
Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.
