The Son of God with Power: Psalm 2, Romans 1, and the Resurrection of Christ

The second Psalm is one of the more well known of the messianic Psalms.  It describes God's scorn and derision at those rulers who conspire against His plans and how God will set up His own King to rule over the nations (verses 1-6).  Further, it pronounces a blessing on all those who take refuge in God's King (verse 12). 

Verses 6-9 especially give us a picture that is full of messianic significance. 

“Yet I have set My King On My holy hill of Zion.”

“I will declare the decree:
The Lord has said to Me,
‘You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You.
Ask of Me, and I will give You
The nations for Your inheritance,
And the ends of the earth for Your possession.
You shall break them with a rod of iron;
You shall dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel.’”

I am convinced that the New Testament understands the fulfillment of this Psalm in the resurrection and ascension of Christ.  There are a number of New Testament passages I could explore, but I especially wish to highlight Romans 1:1-4.

Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God  which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures, concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.

At the start of Paul's letter to the Romans, Paul introduces himself as an Apostle and a servant of Christ Jesus.  Paul further tells us that he has been set apart for the Gospel.  This Gospel was promised by God through the Prophets in the Scriptures (in this context, that would be the Old Testament).  The content of this Gospel that was promised in the Old Testament concerns God's Son Jesus Christ who came from David's line.  Because He is from David's line, He is heir to the covenant that God made with David (1 Chronicles 17:11-14).  As David's heir, He is the Anointed One (Messiah) of whom Psalm 2 speaks. 

It is from the statement from Psalm 2:7 that Messiah is God's Son that Paul draws out his assertion that Christ was declared to be the Son of God.  And it is here also in Romans 1 that Paul connects that declaration of God the Father with the resurrection of Christ.

Of course this raises a profound Christological question.  Is Paul implying that Jesus was somehow "made" the Son of God at His resurrection?  Was Jesus somehow not the Son of God prior?  Negative on both counts.

The difference here is that in His resurrection, Jesus went from being the Son of God in humility and weakness (especially in His death on the cross), to being the Son of God with power. 

Pastor Sam Storms explains it this way:  "Paul does not say Jesus was appointed Son of God, but Son of God with power. Paul is describing an event in history whereby Jesus was instated in a position of sovereignty and invested with power (cf. Acts 13:33; Phil. 2:9-11). At the resurrection and exaltation Jesus began a new phase of divine sonship. While on earth Jesus was certainly the Son of God. But he was not the Son-of-God-with-power. Paul is not saying Jesus became the Son at the time of the resurrection (the heresy of Adoptionism)."

It was at His resurrection (and ascension) that Jesus was exalted to the highest place and given authority, glory, and sovereign power (Daniel 7:13,14).  It was when God raised Him from the dead, that God made a public declaration to the whole world that He had set Jesus as His King on Zion, His holy hill.  Because of this, people from all nations are exhorted and commanded to come to Jesus so that they can receive the blessing of those that take refuge in Him.