Pastor Barry's  "Chapter & Verse"  Day 13

January 13;   Romans 1:16;   13/260(II);   ‘Not Ashamed of the Gospel’

Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes…….

Paul, the Apostle, clearly tells us that he is not ashamed of the gospel of Christ.  As you read Acts and the epistles of Paul, it is easy to see that what he said is true.  Paul shared the Word of God to anyone and everyone who would listen.  Wherever Paul went, he looked for opportunities to tell the Good News of God’s Word to whoever he could.  In the synagogue first, in the cities Paul visited, you would find Paul teaching the Word.  If the Jews rejected the message, Paul preached to the Gentiles.  He shared the gospel with the ‘intellectuals’ in Greece.  After Paul’s arrest, he told his captors, the unbelieving religious leaders and those in authority what the Word said.  There was never a holding back on Paul’s part.  He never wondered what will they think of me about what I have to tell them.  Why was this incredible man of God so determined to share God’s Word with people.  He tells us right here in this verse.  God’s Word is His power for salvation to everyone who believes that what the Word says is true.  God’s Word, is His ‘Love Letter’ to us, telling us how much He loves us and what He has provided for us by the redemptive work of the Lord Jesus Christ.  The word salvation in this verse, is the Greek word sozo and it means much more than our sins being forgiven by the sacrifice of Jesus on our behalf (as if that is not enough).  Sozo also means healed, made whole, rescued, protected and prosperous.  How could Paul ever be ashamed of the gospel, knowing all of the blessings the gospel is empowered to produce.  Never allow yourself to be ashamed of the gospel either