Romans 10:9
While Paul desired for his kinsman to be saved v.1 he testified that they ignored the righteousness from God but seeking their own righteousness (by Law) v.2-5.
From v.6 on, he focused on explaining what is the righteousness from God or from believing in Jesus v.4. In v.6-8, the righteousness of faith (in Jesus) said, the word is near. What word? The word of the Gospel v.8b, and the word of confession v.9.
In other word, you just need to repeat or receive what has preached to you, and truly believed that in your heart. That is the difference of the righteous from the Law. It is not what you do and how you live. That is very clear here that we are saved by faith, not by work.
From the devotion, the content of the confession is discussed. What does confessing Jesus is Lord mean?
(Dallas Dev 2025) A few verses later in Romans 10:13 he quotes Joel 2:32: “Everyone who calls on
the name of the Lord will be saved.” If we look at the original text of Joel, we’ll see
the parallels jump out:
“If you declare with your mouth, “Everyone who calls on
‘Jesus is Lord’ . . . the name of the Lord
you will be saved” (Romans 10:9) will be saved” (Joel 2:32)
What Paul is doing here is pushing us to see that the God-Man Jesus, whose
name means “Yahweh saves,” is nothing less than Yahweh Himself, a fully divine
person of the triune God. This means that when we declare, “Jesus is Lord,”
we’re not just saying we’ll follow Him as master and we’re not just asking for
salvation. We’re saying Jesus of Nazareth, the baby born in Bethlehem on the first
Christmas, is the Mighty God who was and is and is to come!
Reflection: Am I so proud to think that my salvation is anything more than just my confession in faith? Do I over look the divinity of Jesus? Do I see Him anything short of the glory He deserved?
Mt 28:18
1. Context: v.16-17, the disciples obeyed Jesus and came to the mountain Jesus had designated. Even within such a obedient group, some worshipped Jesus as God, but some have doubt, or reserve from doing so. How could Jesus give the great commission in v.19-20 to the doubtful ones? Note it is in plural for the doubters, not only 1.
2. Doubts were taken care by the proclamation of the authority v.18. Who will have the all the authority in heaven and on earth except God. God deserves our worship as well as our whole hearted serving (in great commission).
(PNTC) Now he has received the fullest possible authority, for it is authority in heaven and on earth. He is making clear that the limitations that applied throughout the incarnation no longer apply to him. He has supreme authority throughout the universe
(EBC) The Son becomes p 595 the one through whom all God’s authority is mediated. He is, as it were, the mediatorial King. This well-defined exercise of authority is given Jesus as the climactic vindication of his humiliation (cf. Philippians 2:5–11)
3. The Mighty God took on flesh and humble Himself onto death. (Dallas Devo) "He makes the divine proclamation that everything belonging to mighty God the Father from eternity past has been entrusted to Him...And yet, on that first Christmas, this supreme authority did not come with great fanfare but rather quietly in the form of a newborn who was wrapped in cloth and laid in a manger. Christ came not to impress but to redeem."
Reflection: The title of Jesus, "the Might God," reminds me what He has given up in His incarnation. Therefore, Christmas reminds me to be a servant-leaders. How am I doing as a mentor to DMSS? How can I serve them humbly, not pressurizing them?
4. (Dallas Devo) "And, through that authority, He likewise commissions us as He did His followers to make disciples of all peoples in all places with a final encouraging promise: I am with you always (Matthew 28:20). Christmas is not only a celebration of Christ’s coming but a call to live with bold faith in His authority and empowering presence. Glory to the newborn King who reigns, who is with us, and who sends us forth in His mighty name."
Reflection: Do I see Jesus as exalted and have authority in His sending me to the great commission? If yes, what difference do this make in my effort and manner?
Do I see our missionaries that way? Or I only see them from a human perspective?
Mark 4:37–41
1. Context
The connection with 4:33-34, the disciples were distinguished from the crowd. Jesus taught them a lesson that not by words but by miracle.
(NET) This section in Mark (4:35–5:43) contains four miracles: (1) the calming of the storm; (2) the exorcism of the demon-possessed man; (3) the giving of life to Jairus’ daughter; (4) the healing of the woman hemorrhaging for twelve years. All these miracles demonstrate Jesus’ right to proclaim the kingdom message and his sovereign authority over forces, directly or indirectly, hostile to the kingdom. The last three may have been brought together to show that Jesus had power over all defilement, since contact with graves, blood, or a corpse was regarded under Jewish law as causing a state of ritual uncleanness.
2. Jesus' deity was clear when comparing with Ps 107:24 (Yahweh), and 29 (calming the storm and waves). And that is why the last statement is about His authority over the wind and the sea. That means He is Yahweh.
3. Obviously, Jesus planned for the trip v.35, but did He foreknow about the storm? Just like us, He slept and woke up. But even when He just woke up in v.39a, He was not afraid. Immediately, He commanded the storm and the sea v.39b.
40 And he said to them, “Why are you cowardly? Do you still not have faith?”
The word, "still," indicate a fail of expectation. Yes, we are not like Jesus Who has the authority over sea and storm. He could command them and not being fearful. But, we should have faith in Him Who is in our boat and He care.
(Dallas Devo) The Mighty God brought us peace, as the Angel proclaimed during His birth. The peace was brought by His might as we can see in today's passage. He is the One Who has authority, He is Yahweh.
What kind of chaos is in my life now? Am I a coward and "still" not have faith? The presence of Yahweh/Jesus should have driven out any fear.
Col 1:15, 19-20
1. Context: There are 3 sets of description of Jesus' priority, namely, (1) the firstborn or the first in ranking of all Creation because He is the Creator; (2) He is before all in holding all things together or as the Sustainer; (3) He is the head of the church, because He is the firstborn from the dead
2. In v.18, He is the head of the body, the church, as well as the beginning, the firstborn from among the dead, so that he himself may become first in all things.
The fact that Jesus being the firstborn from among the dead is the reason why He may become first in all things.
he firstborn NET Jesus as the “firstborn from among the dead” seems to be arguing for a chronological priority, i.e., Jesus was the first to rise from the dead from among the dead BDAG of Christ, as the firstborn of a new humanity which is to be glorified, as its exalted Lord is glorified
(BKC) Also Christ’s resurrection marked His triumph over death (Heb. 2:14; 1 John 3:8). He was the “Firstfruits” of those who die (1 Cor. 15:20) since, unlike others, He rose never to die again. He “was declared with power to be the Son of God by His resurrection from the dead” (Rom. 1:4). So He continues to live “on the basis of the power of an indestructible life” (Heb. 7:16). All this is so that in everything He might have the supremacy
Implication: Since Jesus is our firstborn, we will follow His path to be resurrected and glorified. We will enjoy all the implication from the resurrection, namely, declaring power over death, living by the power of God, and so on.
3. In the explanation clause in v.19-20 of why Jesus could become the first of all things just by being the head of the church and the firstborn from the dead, Paul began with the given of the fullness of God in Jesus. Why? Basically, the reason why Jesus can have such a high ranking in glory was through His salvific work that reconcile the whole world back to God. If Jesus does not have the fullness of God dwelling in Him, He could not do that! If Jesus is not fully God, His salvation is in vain.
The title, Mighty God, is vital in our salvation.
Because He is the Mighty God, He can be our Prince of Peace.
Summary: By believing in Him, we are not just part of the creation under Him, but we are in a glorified body under Him. He is our head and I can relate to Him organically. Thank Him for such a privilege. Second, I should look at my position in Him as a glorious one because I will be resurrected. That means I have/will overcome dead and live a new life with God's power. Jesus is fully God and therefore, His salvation is surely valid.
Reflection: Jesus is the first in ranking. Do I treat Him that way?
Is He bigger than everything else (including myself) in my priority? In which area of my life I have not put Him first?
Do I look at my life with too small in scale? That means, I am too focus on tiny things, not the big picture of discipleship, the whole church, the eternity?
Do I live my life as one who has reconciled with God? Do I go to Him and get close to Him?
4. (Dallas Devo) It is a reflection more on 2 Cor 3:18 than this passage.
John 1:1
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was fully God
1. The key word is the Word, from v.1 to 14 John explained the pre-existence of the Word before His incarnation.
2. The first phrase regarding the timing of His pre-existence hints His deity, since no secondary things existed in the beginning. His presence in the beginning hints He is the primary thing. (see NET)
The 2ne phrase introduces concept repeated in the Gospel of John, "with" which refers to the Word has a intimate relationship with another being, God. The Word and God are 2 different being but they were closely related. Who is Jesus that He can get so close to God, Who is holy and righteous? No OT priest can get close to the ark without the blood of the sacrifice? There came the 3rd phrase, Jesus is fully God. He Himself is fully God. He is holy and righteous. Therefore, whatever Jesus did when He became man He represented God. We need to obey and listen to Him.
3. Reflection: Believers were also instruct to abide in Jesus and God in John 15. Have a close and intimate relationship with God. Therefore, we can represent God and bear fruit. Similar to what Jesus did. How do I in this area? What can help me to grow in this area?
Jesus is fully God and we needed to obey and listen to Him. Do I treat Him this way? Is He the Mighty God to me?
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