Articles
“I Am Not Ashamed of the Gospel of Christ”
“I Am Not Ashamed of the Gospel of Christ” By Derek Long
The book of Romans shows how God has devised a way to save mankind from sin through the gospel. It shows man’s need for salvation because all have sinned (Romans 1-3). It shows how one is justified by a faith which is living and active (Romans 4-8). It shows why many Jews were lost was because of their rejection of the gospel (Romans 9-11). It teaches us how to live in response to the gospel (Romans 12-15) and ends with some final instructions and greetings (Romans 16). Romans 1:16 introduces the theme or thesis of the book of Romans by saying, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek” (NKJV). There are many important lessons we can learn from the statement made in Romans 1:16. • “For” is a word which connects what is about to be said here with what has been said previously. In Romans 1:8-15, Paul has been describing his plans and desire to come and visit the Christians in Rome. Paul’s desire is, “that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established - that is, that I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me” (Romans 1:11-12, NKJV). Paul describes himself as, “a debtor to Greeks and to barbarians, both to wise and to unwise” (Romans 1:14, NKJV). He felt an obligation towards all individuals to share with them the gospel of Christ. Because he views himself as a debtor he says, “I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also” (Romans 1:15, NKJV). Romans 1:16 gives us the reason he can be ready and willing to preach the gospel to every creature. Being unashamed of the gospel helped Paul be ready to preach the gospel to all and being unashamed of the gospel will help us be ready to preach the gospel to all as well. • “I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ.” Feeling ashamed of the message would hinder Paul’s desire to teach the message. 2 Timothy 1:8 says, “Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God” (NKJV). Jesus warns us of the consequences of being ashamed of Him and His words in Mark 8:38. • “For it is the power of God to salvation.” The reason we should not be ashamed of the gospel is because it contains the power of God. People may look down upon the gospel message and consider it a foolish thing but it actually is a very powerful message (1 Corinthians 1:18-2:5). The gospel is the message by which God will prick the hearts of sinners and draw them to Himself (Acts 2:37; 5:33; 7:54; John 6:44-45). The gospel message is powerful in the fact it has the ability to cause tremendous transformations in the lives of individuals who are willing to submit to its teaching. Paul himself is a good example of the power the gospel has to change a person (1 Timothy 1:12-16). We must always remember the power of the gospel lest we become ashamed of it and attempt to find something else as a substitute for the gospel. Many religious bodies today seem to think the gospel is not powerful enough to draw people to God and so they attempt to bring people in with recreation, food, social activities, games, entertainment, etc. If we are not ashamed of the gospel and believe in its power, we will be willing to use it as the means by which to bring people to God. • “For everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.” The gospel has the power to save any individual but it does not save individuals unconditionally. The gospel is able to save “everyone who believes.” The belief spoken of here is not the idea of faith only (James 2:24). Rather, the belief spoken of here is a faith which one lives by (Romans 1:17). In light of the power of the gospel and what it is capable to do in the lives of those who receive it with meekness (James 1:21), let us not be ashamed of the gospel of Christ!
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