“Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us” (Romans 8:34).

To be the “GOAT” means you are the Greatest-Of-All-Time. Many opinions have surrounded this recent acronym on who the GOATs are… In the realm of golf, is it Tiger Woods? In football, is it Tom Brady? In basketball, is it Michael Jordan? In children’s literature, is it Dr Seuss? On Capitol Hill, is it Abraham Lincoln or George Washington? In the sciences, is it Isaac Newton or Albert Einstein? The Goat debates always make for a fun roundtable discussion… The Apostle Paul, in his last section of Romans 8, draws us to consider Jesus’ Goat status in the realm of salvation and all of life.

To magnify Jesus’ authority as the Supreme Judge of Heaven and earth and to show that Jesus is truly the name above all names. Paul alludes to four divine offices that Jesus holds as the greatest of all time. First, Paul says that “Christ Jesus is the one who died.” This points us to the truth that Jesus is the Crucified King. He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world (John 1:29). Jesus is the Suffering Servant who died in your place so that you might find forgiveness and hope through the New Covenant. Out of these four that Paul mentions, seeing Jesus by faith on the cross is probably the most common… Although common, God forbid that it would ever lose its power in our hearts. For as the hymn sings: “There is power, power, wonder-working power in the precious blood of the Lamb.”

The next aspect of Jesus’ greatness is that Jesus is the One “who was raised.” Here Paul points us to the fact that after Jesus’ body was taken from the cross and laid in the borrowed tomb, He did not stay dead forever. No, up from the grave He rose in victory. We serve a living Savior! He is alive forevermore! Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life. The empty tomb testifies that Jesus of Nazareth was no ordinary man; He was no mere carpenter’s son; He was the Son of the Living God and the greatest phenomenon to ever walk the horizon.

Paul then takes us to Jesus’ ascension by stating that Christ Jesus “is at the right hand of God.” This position is the highest in all the universe. Higher than the seats in the White House, Buckingham Palace, or any seat in Moscow. Jesus is our exalted Head who holds all rule and authority and upholds the universe by His omnipotent hand (Colossians 1:16-17). Jesus is the King of kings and Lord of lords!

To top it off, Paul tells us that Christ Jesus “is interceding for us.” This speaks into Jesus’ role as our High Priest. Our chief intercessor. The ultimate prayer warrior who pleads for us with His own blood before the Father, bringing assurance to the promise of 1 John 1:9 and the forgiveness we receive in Jesus’ name when we confess our sins.

Yes… Jesus is the Greatest-Of-All-Time. Please bow the knee to King Jesus! See Him in His crucifixion, resurrection, ascension, and intercession and worship Him as Lord!

Respect the Blood,

Dalton Mathis

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Dalton Mathis is the pastor of Salt Creek Baptist Church near Early. His column appears on BrownwoodNews.com Sunday mornings.