Romans 1:16-17

Scripture Verse

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.

A breathtaking promise and call to action

Through the power of the gospel, God offers salvation to all who believe, regardless of origin, nationality, background, status, wealth, or poverty. No one receives salvation because of their own righteousness, but solely because God is both perfectly righteous and deeply merciful. We are saved through God the Son, Jesus Christ, who died on the cross as an atoning sacrifice and rose from the dead. He calls all people to follow him, and whoever believes in him will live eternally by faith.

The verses above offer a breathtaking promise, and they also imply a call to action. We are not to be ashamed of the gospel; not despite, but because of its counter-cultural and unfleshly nature. The gospel is nothing less than the power of God to transform, restore, and give new life. It seeks what is lost, offers hope to the hopeless, and brings life where there was once death.

For those of us who believe in and follow Jesus, this call to action takes shape in daily discipleship: in “taking up our cross” (Matthew 16:24), in “putting to death whatever belongs to [our] earthly nature” (Colossians 3:5), and above all in “loving the Lord [our] God with all [our] heart and with all [our] soul and with all [our] mind” (Matthew 22:37).

Out of this gratitude, joy, and love, a desire to share the good news with others begins to grow. Taking part in Jesus’ Great Commission is therefore not a burden, but a privilege. As we do so, we are called to persevere in prayer and to strive to “live according to the Spirit” (Romans 8:5). In this way, we become faithful and authentic witnesses to God’s truth, never losing sight of the vital need for the gospel to be proclaimed both near and far.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank you for your salvation offered to us through faith in your son Jesus Christ. Help us live lives which are pleasing to you. Take away our fear of men and misguided shame so we can witness to your gospel wherever you have placed us. Amen.