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. 17 For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”

These two verses are the nutshell of the book of Romans. This is the important theme thread throughout the book. This is the message of Paul and God's message to the world. Paul was not one who was ashamed of any part of the gospel. He preached it boldly. He was not timid. He was committed for one reason. It is the power by which people get saved. It changed lives. He was not afraid to talk about the need to repent of sin. We’ll find that in the controversial and unpopular passage that follows, which we will look at in two weeks.

Paul was not afraid to talk about faith in Jesus Christ alone. He was not concerned about growing a church to appeal to the wants and interests of the people. He was not ashamed to say things that are politically incorrect. He did not desire to offend people unknowingly, but if the offense was the gospel, then he was not ashamed. 

He was not embarrassed to tell people he was a Christian. He was not embarrassed to introduce the topic of eternal salvation. Why? Because that was salvation to the Jew first and then also for the Gentiles, the non-Jews. The message of the righteousness coming from God was first revealed to the Jewish nation of Israel. Jesus Christ came as the Messiah to save all those who call upon His name to become His followers.

When I taught in Russia, I was impressed with some of the Christians we met who lost family members under Stalin. They were prohibited from studies and professions reserved for communists. I wondered why they were persecuted and not able to go on to school as believers in Christ. Even some non-Communists were allowed further education and some professions. How would they know? Simple. Christians told them. They didn’t hide that fact they repented of their sin and believed in Jesus to save them... they were not ashamed of the gospel and if meant persecution, not going to school, losing their jobs, they were not ashamed of the Gospel because it was the power of salvation to all who believed it.

The Gospel is practical because it does something about our sins. It changes our lives. The Bible teaches that we are lost in our sins. It teaches that we are unable to change our own hearts and that without God's intervention we are without hope.

Notice also the reach of the Gospel. It is for everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. No person is too sinful. No person is beyond the power of God to save. The Gospel is good news because it involves not just a way to apply principles to live a more fulfilled life, but it provided a suffering savior on a cross who took the brutal and bloody punishment for our sins that we might have everlasting life. It is for the educated and the uneducated. It is also for people of all races. African, Asian, Slavic, European, Hispanic, American - it makes no difference to God. You may be morally good or morally bad, but without Christ you are lost. If you are lost, you are a candidate for God's salvation. The power of the Gospel reaches to you. It is for everyone who believes.

The Gospel is not a message of good works. It is not a message on how many blessings we will receive in this world. It does not teach, it really doesn’t make any difference what you believe as long as you are sincere. Paul was not ashamed to tell it like it was,  because by believing it people were saved.

It is a privilege to lead people from darkness to light, from death            to life, from being lost to being found.

Dale