For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. Romans 1:16
Why are we so ashamed of the Gospel? Oh, but we’re not, you might say. But if we are not ashamed of it, why do we not hold it forth more publicly, why do we not speak it forth more frequently, why do we not encourage its furtherance more fervently? Our text tells us that it is the dynamite of God unto Salvation. The Gospel alone has the power to quarry dead sinners from the rock of helplessness and hopelessness and place them upon the solid Rock forever. And yet, we far too often shun the embarrassment of having ourselves associated with such a glorious Gospel.
Paul was certainly not ashamed of the Gospel. He was forthright with it everywhere, regardless of the consequences. He carried it into synagogues and stadiums, into jail cells and palaces, into rich men’s homes and onto riverbanks. He was called a fool. He was declared to be mad. He was labeled as a traitor to the Jewish religion. And yet he devoted his life to the the glorious message. He serves as a wonderful example for us to follow.
Why was Paul so bold with the Gospel? Why did he so unashamedly promote the Gospel? He tells us why: it is the power of God unto salvation. Paul had a desire to see souls saved. He wanted others to come to know the salvation that he experienced on the Damascus Road and enjoyed every day since then. Do we enjoy and appreciate our salvation? Of course we do. Do we want others to know that same salvation? The answer, of course, is yes. So why are we not more like the Apostle Paul?
We need to do something, because our shyness about the Gospel is resulting in many people not ever encountering the message. We are their only opportunity. What can we do? Some can preach, all can pray, most can give out a tract, or invite folks to meetings. And – perhaps most important of all – we can all live so that others will know that salvation is worth having.
Live the Gospel today. -Jim MacIntosh