Romans 1:16
Don't be ashamed of the Gospel...
“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.”
Romans 1:16
Today’s verse is from the letter to the church in Rome. It was written by Paul, and the verse shows us how it is not to be ashamed of your faith.
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ;”
Paul declares that he is not ashamed of the Gospel. He spread God’s Word to many cities and nations. He was even martyred for his faith. Paul, just like David, told people about his God, and he says we should do the same. Jesus also talked about not being ashamed of Him; He blessed those who confess Him before men.
- Psalm 40:9: “I have proclaimed the good news of righteousness in the great assembly; Indeed, I do not restrain my lips, o Lord, You Yourself know.”
- 2 Timothy 1:8: “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;”
- Matthew 10:32-33: “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.”
- Mark 8:38: “For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”
- Luke 9:26: “For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels.”
“For it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes”
Why is Paul not ashamed to spread the Gospel? Because it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes. The message of the cross is foolish to those who are perishing. It is a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles, but to those who believe, it is a powerful weapon.
- 1 Corinthians 1:18: “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”
- 1 Corinthians 1:23-24: “But we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.”
- Ephesians 6:17: “And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;”
“For the Jew first and also for the Greek.”
Jesus came for the Jewish people first, and after that for the whole world. The people of Israel did not accept Him, but the Gentiles did. Before Jesus went to heaven, He told His disciples to go out into Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. They had to start with the Jewish people. Why? Because those were the people to whom He revealed Himself first.
- Matthew 15:24: “But He answered and said, ‘I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.’”
- Matthew 28:19: “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit;”
- Mark 16:15: “And He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.’”
- Luke 24:47: “And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.”
- Acts 1:8: “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Today’s lesson: Are you ashamed of the Gospel? Why? He called us to be His people. He called us to spread His love. Do you do that? How?