Romans 1:16
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.

Application: 

Paul knows how to keep first things first: I am not ashamed of the gospel. That should convict us. Though we say we believe the gospel, in truth, many of us are ashamed of it. Why? Because we don’t believe what Paul believed, that the gospel is the power of God for salvation. 

This salvation is not merely for deliverance from hell but also the deliverance of believers from the temporal wrath of God against sin (1:18). If we’re ashamed to share the gospel, it’s because we do not understand the power embedded in it. But how can you be ashamed of something with so much firepower? If you believe that the gospel has power not only to save sinners but also to give victory to saints, you won’t be ashamed of it.

Another reason Paul had confidence in the gospel was that in it, the righteousness of God is revealed. The word righteousness means “to be right.” Not “better than others,” or “good enough,” but right, as in, right with God. Our problem is that we mentally dumb down God, reducing him to our level so that our sin doesn’t seem so bad. The gospel, though, makes God’s righteousness the standard. So it doesn’t matter how nice a sinner you are, you are still a sinner.

The gospel, however, doesn’t just reveal the standard. It also gives us a provision: The righteous will live by faith. If we appeal to our relative goodness, we’ll always fall short. But if we appeal to God by faith, then the gospel has already saved us.

Reference: Tony Evans, The Tony Evans Bible Commentary (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2019), 1117.

To God be the glory!

Our Lord Jesus Christ created everything! By Him, For Him!

“The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; The Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” Numbers 6:24-26

Disclaimer

When God inspires me, I write blogs. Consider this writing as a Bible study. Like the Bereans in Acts 17:11, search the Scriptures to determine whether what I write is so. Always consult with your church ministers about biblical matters. I am also not a professional writer, so some grammar or spelling errors may be present. I try my best to write as efficiently as possible. Your brother in Christ, Ricardo

My book, “Battle Strategy: God’s Plan Amid Chaos.” It’s packed with helpful insights into Bible study and understanding. You can get a free digital version on my website. Fifty percent of the proceeds from this book go to helping children. The book covers the main biblical points and salvation, so you’ll find something valuable. 

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