pramsay posted on March 15, 2010 17:14
Monday Meditation
March 15, 2010
From the desk of Dr. A.J. Higgins
www.heaven4sure.com
Over All
"Christ.Who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen."
Romans 9:5
In Romans 9, Paul begins to reveal his deep burden for his "kinsmen according to the flesh." He enumerates seven great blessings or privileges which Israel as a nation had (vv 4-5). The ultimate or the eighth was that from them and to them, Christ came. Paul is not only stating an historical fact, but perhaps the greatest blessing that the nation of Israel ever gave to the world. How grateful we should be. Paul was no anti-Semite.
But our verse goes beyond the historical and personal to the doctrinal. It tells us that Christ is God. Here is one of the clearest and most telling Scriptures which indicate the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ. And yet, we read that He came "as concerning the flesh." God actually came into humanity! The eternal stepped into time and linked Himself with a despised nation. Yet He was "God blessed forever" inherently, intrinsically, essentially, and eternally.
We are told as well that He is "over all." He did not cease to be what He ever was. Flesh did not compromise His character or capabilities. Eternally He was the upholder of all things. In eternity yet to come He will "head up all things" (Eph 1:10). But even while here as a man, He was "over all," while being Jehovah's servant to all.
Questions to Consider
1. Look up all the "amen's" in Romans. They are points of worship; times when Paul must have laid his pen aside and lifted his heart to God in wondering adoration.
2. Although Paul is listing Israel's privileges and blessings (vv 4-5), in what way were these also intended as "blessings" to the Gentile nations?
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This weekly meditation is prepared by Dr. Sandy Higgins. Its purpose is to give believers truth to think about and develop in their own minds and hearts throughout the week. Ultimately, as the week progresses, daily worship will result in hearts full of adoration for the Lord Jesus on the Lord's Day (Sunday) as believers gather to remember Him.