The Gospel of God

“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

The theme of Romans is the gospel. Anywhere and everywhere Paul goes, he preaches the gospel - no matter what the reaction is.

Remember who Paul is writing to - the Romans.
• Rome was the center of the world.
• Rome was the center of culture.
• Rome was the center of wealth.
• Rome was the home of Caesar.
• Rome was the center of power.

But even to this city, Paul was not ashamed to preach the gospel. Though it was a city of slaves, he would not center his preaching against slavery. It was a city of lust, but he would not center his preaching on moral reform. It was a city of economic injustice, but he would not center his preaching on economics. It was a city built on wars, but he would not center his preaching on pacifism. No, it would be the Gospel.

He is not intimidated by the folks he preached to. He is proud of the gospel. And even though it is a stumbling block to the Jews, it is still the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.

Remember that Paul - lowered in a basket from Damascus - mistreated by the apostles...
▸ Has been imprisoned in Philippi
▸ Was chased out of Thessalonia
▸ Was smuggled from Berea
▸ Was laughed at in Athens
▸ We seen as a fool in Corinth
▸ Was stoned while in Galatia
▸ Was seen as a traitor in Jerusalem
...All because of gospel.

So when Paul says he is not ashamed of the gospel, I understand that.
That is how it should be with us - but unfortunately...
▸ When we should speak - we don’t.
▸ When we could - we don’t.
▸ When there are times for us to be bold - we are not.
▸ We are intimidated by people.
▸ We quit witnessing because someone says “no.”
▸ Sometimes we don’t even share Christ, for fear of rejection.

But Paul sees that not as a personal rejection, but as a rejection of Christ. He never quit, and God help us not to either.