"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek." Romans 1:16 is a familiar verse to many Christians. But it really is a powerful verse that sums up salvation. The gospel, which is Christ's life, death, and resurrection, is the power of God for salvation to those you believe. Believing something that you did not witness with your own eyes takes faith. And verse 17 goes on to tell us "the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith..." which took me a minute to understand. From faith God's righteousness is revealed, giving more faith. From faith comes more faith as we see God's righteousness revealed (I know that's the same sentence worded in different order but it helps me). The verse ends with a reference to Habakkuk 2:4 "The righteous shall live by faith." If we are to be righteous or called righteous, we must place our faith in God.
I think I might have skipped over the first part of this passage too quickly. I just re-read the verse I started this blog with, and I can't help think that sometimes I act and live as though I am ashamed of the gospel. I live to much like the world and not anything like Jesus Christ, my Savior and the ultimate example we have to follow. Too often I suppress my knowledge of God's word and follow the desires of my sinful heart. This is so scary. Being ashamed of the gospel means my faith in the power of God is so weak that I think my human strengths are enough to get me through any situation I face. How foolish. And God, in all His wisdom, continues to prove to me I desperately need Him. He draws me back to Him as his child. I really need to get my faith together. I wanted to say "act together" but it better not be an act. Faith in so important. Knowing God has the power to save and the power to help and the revealing power to make me righteous through faith, is the answer to living a life worth of His calling. By faith I am saved. By God's power I am made righteous.
Praise God for His Power.
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel..."
ReplyDeleteMan, that sure hits me in the gut. How many times in my life have I had the opportunity to share the gospel and didn't because I was too afraid, or worried about what people might think of me, or worry that I'll say the wrong thing and not trusting in God to put His words in my mouth. I'm definitely going to have to do some further meditation on this.