Variety: Romans 1v1-5

Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God – the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures regarding his Son, who as to his earthly life was a descendant of David, and who through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord. Through him we received grace and apostleship to call all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith for his name’s sake.    Romans 1v1–5

Have you ever noticed how today we usually say ‘Jesus Christ’, but Paul often uses the inverse order – ‘Christ Jesus’?  

‘Christ’ is a title, not a name, and Paul places it first for emphasis. It’s the Greek form of the Hebrew word ‘messiah’, meaning ‘anointed one’. In the culture of the time, key people such as kings, priests, and prophets were anointed – marked on the forehead with oil – to signify that they were being set aside for a special task. Today we give thanks that Jesus is all three – king, priest, and prophet – and that no task is more significant than his rescue mission to earth.  
 
Paul kicks off this letter repeating the word ‘gospel’, meaing ‘good news’, for emphasis. The good news available through this anointed one, Jesus, impacts the whole of our lives. The wonderful news which was promised in the Old Testament is delivered and fulfilled in Jesus. As Paul will go on to say in this letter, our response should not just be thankfulness for our personal salvation but offering the whole of our lives as a worshipful response to him (Romans 12:1–2).  
 
Of course, no task will ever be as special as the anointed tasks and rescue mission of Christ Jesus, but all our everyday tasks have extra meaning and purpose because of him. Today, we are wonderfully tasked with working (paid or unpaid) to the best of our ability in a way that represents our Saviour well.  

Prayer: Christ Jesus, anointed king, priest, and prophet, as I consider you today, help me to carry a sense of wonder and thankfulness in all I do. Whatever comes up, today, help me to represent you well.  

London Institute for Contemporary Christianity