³²”And we preach to you the good news of the promise made to the fathers, ³³that God has fulfilled this promise to our children in that He raised up Jesus, as it is also written in the second Psalm, ‘You are My Son; today I have begotten You.’”

Theology in some people’s minds is the stuff of dusty, academic scrutiny and denominational wars. But theology simply means “the study of God.” What could possibly be better than to examine and try to understand the Lord and His ways? That is an immense subject—one we will never exhaust. Nevertheless, Paul saturates his message with profound theological truths.

His message first of all is good, for God is good. That is a theological statement. He defines what is good, for He is the essence of goodness.

O taste and see that the Lord is good; how blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him! (Ps. 34:8)

And we benefit from knowing that God is good.

“‘For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.’” (Jer. 29:11)

The message of the gospel, then, is good news. It is good for us, for it saves us from sin’s effects, influence, and consequences. Nothing could be better.

Further, God makes and keeps His promises, unlike fickle human beings. He made a promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to bless the whole world (Gen. 12:1–3). He fulfilled this promise by sending His Son to die in our place and be raised from the dead, a final victory over the consequences of sin. So every good thing we have from God stems from this pivotal, foundational promise that God keeps, which is ultimately fulfilled in each person who comes to Christ in faith. He is the consummate, ultimate promise-keeper. And that we can count on. That is good theology!

Paul’s sermon goes on to bring Scriptures into this light, beginning with Psalm 2, which refers to the inauguration day of the Jewish king: as God’s royal representative to the people, ruling on His behalf, he is declared to be God’s son. Sonship connotes likeness, a close identification. This is not claiming the Jewish king ascended to deity, but rather that God is declaring solidarity with the king and vice versa. Paul gives this psalm a Messianic interpretation in applying it to Jesus. Scripture spoke of Jesus being a kingly Son of God, and that in the dynastic line of David.

Lord, thank You for always keeping Your promises. I am counting on You.