Declared to Be the Son of God
A Sermon on Romans 1:3-4
Originally preached Dec. 2, 1955
Scripture
3Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; 4And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:
Sermon Description
Is Jesus really God? Some say He became divine at his baptism while others suggest He became the Son of God at His resurrection. The deity of Jesus Christ has always been challenged, not by those who are saved, but by those who want to remain in their sin. In this sermon titled “Declared to Be the Son of God,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones argues that Jesus is and always was the unique Son of God from the beginning. In order to do the will of God the Father, His power and glory were hidden and yet He never became less than God. As the apostle Paul proclaimed in Romans 1:3–4, the resurrection of Jesus proves that He is God. Like a son of the king who is ceremonially announced as heir of the kingdom, Jesus is declared to be the sovereign over all creation and conqueror of death. Listen as Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that the resurrection of Jesus Christ announces His incarnate deity. Raised in power and glory, Jesus is formally appointed as the Christ, the Lord of all creation. “Veiled in flesh, the Godhead see; Hail, the incarnate Deity!” Come and see Christ the Lord.
Sermon Breakdown
- The apostle Paul is writing to the Romans about the Gospel concerning God's Son.
- This Son became the seed of David according to the flesh.
- He has been declared to be the Son of God with power according to the spirit of holiness.
- This declaration was made by the resurrection of the dead.
- The resurrection proves that Jesus is the Son of God and the Messiah.
- Jesus did not become the Son of God as a result of the resurrection. He has always been the Son of God.
- The resurrection was a declaration and installation of Jesus as the Son of God and mediator between God and man.
- Jesus has two natures: divine and human. These two natures are joined in one person.
- The incarnation, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus accomplish our salvation.
Sermon Q&A
What Does "Declared to Be the Son of God with Power" Mean in Romans 1:4?
Based on Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones' sermon on Romans 1:3-4, here are key insights into this important biblical declaration.
What does "declared to be the Son of God with power" mean in Romans 1:4?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, this phrase indicates that Jesus Christ was not made the Son of God at the resurrection, but rather was publicly declared and demonstrated to be who He always was. The resurrection served as the definitive proclamation of His divine sonship with the full display of His power, which had been veiled during His earthly ministry.
How does "declared" differ from "made" in Romans 1:3-4?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes this crucial distinction: "He was made of the seed of David according to the flesh, but he has not been made the son of God with power according to the spirit of holiness. He has been declared." Christ began to be human at a point in time, but He never began to be the Son of God because He always was divine.
What does "according to the spirit of holiness" mean?
This unique phrase (used only once in the New Testament) creates a parallel contrast with "according to the flesh" in verse 3. Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that it refers not to the Holy Spirit as a person but to Christ's own holy spiritual nature. It contrasts His human and divine natures - according to His flesh, He was made of David's seed; according to His holy spiritual nature, He is the Son of God with power.
How did the resurrection "declare" Jesus to be the Son of God?
The resurrection functioned as a public demonstration and installation. Dr. Lloyd-Jones uses the analogy of "the declaration of a poll" after an election and the "coming of age of an heir" - not changing who the person is, but formally and publicly announcing their position. The resurrection removed the veil of weakness from Christ's incarnate state and demonstrated His true identity and authority.
Why does Paul refer to "resurrection of dead persons" rather than "resurrection from the dead"?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones notes that Paul deliberately uses plural language, indicating that Christ's resurrection is "the first of a series." As he states, "He puts the resurrection of our Lord in such a way that he includes my resurrection with it." Christ is "the firstborn from the dead," inaugurating the resurrection that will include all believers.
Why is the resurrection so foundational to Christianity?
The resurrection substantiates all Christ's claims and fulfills His prophecies about Himself. As Dr. Lloyd-Jones forcefully states: "If there had been no resurrection, I say there'd have been no gospel. If he had remained in the grave, he would not have been the son of God. He would not have been our savior."
The Book of Romans
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.