#DailyDevotion The Mystery Of Christ Brings The Obedience Of Faith
Romans 16, by unveiling the mystery veiled in silence for long ages 26but now brought to light and by the writings of the prophets, as the everlasting God ordered them, shown to all the nations to lead them to believe and obey — 27to the only wise God through Jesus Christ be glory forever. Amen.
There is a mystery from the ages past. We see it corrupted through the myths and tales of men. Probably one of my favorite corruptions is the tale of King Arthur. But none of the tales or myths of heroes or gods compares with the truth. It probably wasn’t clearly seen from the beginning until the prophet Moses put it down to pen in Genesis 3:15 and even then it seemed as if it were a shadow. The seed of the woman would crush the head of the serpent. While the pen of Moses wrote that Eve named her firstborn Cain (which means lord) because she thought she had given birth to the LORD, those who followed Moses said that can’t be and say he was born “with the help of” the LORD.
Abraham was promised his seed (singular) would be a blessing unto all the nations, not yet fully revealing that the LORD himself would be joined to his seed and be this promised blessing seed. The LORD promised David that his seed, his descendent (singular) would rule on his throne forever. Who else could rule forever if it were not the LORD himself, so in making the promise he here intimates he would join himself to David’s house and become David’s heir.
Then the prophet Isaiah promises a virgin will bear a son, a virgin of the House of David, and he will be Immanuel, God with us. Isaiah again prophesies and tells us 96 “A Child will be born for us, a Son will be given to us, and the government will be on His shoulder, and He will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” This again is revealed to us that the LORD himself is joining his person to our flesh, becoming one of us to save the Israelites first and then the world. Matthew and Luke’s Gospels reveal to us the LORD has fulfilled his word. The Virgin Mary of the House of David has given birth to a son, Jesus, the LORD Saves. He is the promised seed of the Woman, of Abraham, of David, of the Virgin who is the very LORD, Yahweh, himself.
This Jesus the Father has revealed to us is the savior of all people everywhere. We are called to be repentant of our sins, to be baptized into him and to believe and put our trust in him. We are to look to Jesus alone for our salvation from sin and death and nowhere and in no one else. This is the obedience of the faith. We are to put no faith in ourselves, our spirit or our flesh. Our confidence before the Almighty Father is Jesus Christ and him alone. To this we give honor and praise to the only wise God and Father through Jesus Christ be glory forever. Amen.
Almighty and All-Wise Father and God, you ordained from before creation to have your son Jesus Christ take on our human flesh to save us from our sins and to reclaim us as your children though we have rebelled against you. Reveal Jesus now to our hearts that we may be conformed to the obedience of this faith and be joined to you in your kingdom forevermore. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.