Not Ashamed

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is God’s power for salvation to everyone who believes” Romans 1:16

Paul’s letter to the Romans is a mountain of a letter.  Paul is eager to preach the good news. Paul had grasped the weight of sin and its effect on us.  Paul knows that God’s wrath is being revealed from heaven (v.18) and man is without excuse before a holy God.  Where do we run to, who will escape God when He judges rightly?  Just look around at the world today!  We think along these lines and many people will want to hit the doors and look for a kinder and gentler God.  We question if He is a loving and gracious God when think about our sin and worlds sin.  What are the consequences of that sin in the hands of a righteous God. 

Knowing our condition helps us to see the need for a remedy.  When you have cancer you don’t think about how great it is going to be when it’s gone, no you look and study for a cure first.  Curing the cancer is the only thing you can think of and you pursue it with all of your might, you’re life depends on it.  Knowing we are sinners, knowing that sin separates us from God and makes us an enemy of God, the Holy Spirit stirs in us a great desire for a remedy and points us the Jesus Christ.  Because if sin is not taken care of, it will destroy us!  The good news is Jesus is God’s remedy.  Jesus is the only cure for sin, it is Jesus dying for our sins and Jesus raising again that saves us through faith in Christ.  Paul knows this and is confident in its power to save.  He knows this because it has saved him and he knows it is the only way, so he can say it with boldness and confidence.  Paul is not ashamed of the gospel.

Lord help us to realize our sinfulness.  Help us to understand the seriousness of sin against you and our need for Jesus Christ.  Lord help us live in boldness in the power of the gospel.  Let us not be ashamed, but help us to share this remedy of Christ with others.  Amen