The Power of the Gospel

Are you ashamed of the gospel? Do you cower when faced with questions about the gospel? Are you afraid of what others may think of you if they find out how you feel and what you believe? I pray that you answer these questions with a loud, “NO”, but I am afraid there are too many of us—Christians— answering yes.

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

We should be inspired by Paul’s boldness and love for the gospel. He would argue, “What are you ashamed of?” Paul is screaming, “The gospel is the power of God for salvation”. It is not about you and your abilities. It is about God and His power. He saves, you don’t. This should bring us joy. Quit hiding out and cowering when God presents opportunities for you to praise Him by spreading the gospel and witnessing to others. We cannot hide behind our excuses or our fear. Jesus tells us in Luke that we should have no fear and we should and must acknowledge Him before men.

And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God…

And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.” Luke 12:8; 11-12

Rest in that truth and throw your anxieties out the window. Notice what occurs when we acknowledge Jesus—He acknowledges us. Does that bring you peace? We can stop depending on ourselves for everything. We can simply depend on Jesus. Jesus spells it out clearly here; there is nothing to be ashamed of. He has it covered.  

I realize that some of you may agree this is good news but you would dismiss the idea that you can or need to share the gospel. I have heard a number of folks argue their faith to be a private individual matter. Where do you see this in scripture? Is this what Jesus taught? Did the Great Commission say, “Go therefore hoarding the gospel and keeping your faith and your beliefs to yourself.”? This idea of faith being a private individual matter is ludicrous. Jesus commanded us to go.

                Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20

How are we supposed to make disciples of all nations if we keep this gospel to ourselves? How can we expect the gospel to spread if we ignore the commandment from Jesus, to go? Paul would dismiss our weak excuses. Remember Paul’s exclamation in 1 Corinthians 9, “Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!”? Does this sound like someone who believed in a private individual faith? Does this sound like someone who hoards the gospel? Paul understood that Jesus saved him on the road to Damascus. Paul understood that Jesus went to the cross as a substitute for him. Paul understood that Jesus was resurrected to show that our Savior lives and the chains of death could not hold Him. Paul understood and appreciated all that Jesus did and he couldn’t help but share that news with others.

Are you taking a stand for the gospel? Are you taking a stand for Christ? I would venture to say that your acquaintances could tell me your favorite baseball and or basketball team, your favorite car, your favorite food, your pet peeves, your favorite television show but they could not tell me about your relationship with Christ. This saddens and convicts me. Where is our treasure? What or Who are we worshiping? We are so quick to worship the things of this world, but fail to worship the One who saved us. We fail to worship the One who loves us. I pray that we—the church—would stand together carrying Paul’s banner; “I am not ashamed of the gospel and as a matter of fact woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!” This is the good news. This is the saving news that is too good to hold in and keep to ourselves.