The Apostle Paul’s unwavering proclamation, “I am not ashamed of the Gospel” in Romans 1:16-17 resonates throughout Christian history as a beacon of unrelenting faith and a call to spiritual resilience. This declaration is a testament to the depth of Paul’s conviction and serves as a pivotal example for believers navigating through a sinful world. Delving into Paul’s statement, we see a deliberate use of litotes, a literary device emphasizing a positive assertion through negation. Paul’s choice to say, “I am not ashamed,” rather than expressing overt pride or confidence in the Gospel, serves to underscore his emphatic allegiance to the divine message. This rhetorical embellishment emphasizes the importance of being unashamed.
In Paul’s era, embracing the Gospel was equivalent to courting shame. The cross, now a revered symbol of faith, was then a mark of disgrace, reserved for criminals of the vilest kind. The Christian refusal to bow to the gods in the Roman Empire led to societal rejection and severe persecution. Paul’s audacious pride in the Gospel was not just a personal declaration of faith, but a revolutionary stance against a society steeped in polytheistic practices and antagonism towards the Christian faith. The challenge of being unashamed of the Gospel takes on a subtler form in today’s society. The exclusive claims of Jesus might cause internal conflict, with individuals grappling with doubts and societal pressures to conform. The temptation to dilute the Gospel’s teachings, redefine sin, and reshape our understanding of love becomes a nuanced struggle, concealed beneath a façade of outward devotion.
This internal decay is comparable to the Mesquite tree, seemingly robust and unyielding, yet rotting from within, posing a latent threat to those around it. The spiritual corrosion within some believers mirrors this deceptive exterior, masked by external righteousness but internally caving to the corrosive lies of secular culture. In stark contrast to this concealed decay, Paul’s pride in the Gospel was unflinching and all-encompassing. This unwavering commitment challenges us to examine whether our faith is similarly steadfast and whether we, too, are willing to endure persecution and even death for the sake of the Gospel.
Why Be Unashamed of the Gospel
As we read Romans 1:16-17, we unravel the layers of the Gospel’s divinity. Paul’s unashamedness springs from the realization that the Gospel is not a concoction of human thoughts; it is the divine power of God. It is not a tapestry woven with threads of human philosophies or a reflection of our desires and whims; it is the sacred revelation of God’s salvation, His undiluted message to humanity.
We find a recurring theme all throughout scripture — it is all about God. The Gospel is not our creation, not a story we have scripted. It is a divine narrative and we are the humble recipients. We do not shape it; we embrace it. We do not manipulate it to suit our narratives or to appease the culture; we accept it as it is, in its purest form. When we attempt to alter the Gospel, it loses its essence, its sanctity. It transforms from the good news to just another human ideology, devoid of the divine touch, stripped of God’s profound wisdom. It is a reminder that in the grand scheme of salvation, it is God who acts, who saves, and we are the ones who falter, who fall. Our roles are not of the saviors but of the saved.
This divine narrative is not about us reaching out to God; it is a story of God reaching out to us, of His divine interventions. From the Garden of Eden to the lives of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Joseph, and David, it has always been God who initiated, who came forth. In Jesus Christ, God manifested Himself, lived a life of perfection, suffered an atoning death, and rose again with divine power. Our part in this saga is minimal. It is not about our realization of the need for a savior; it is about God’s benevolent act of providing salvation. It is not about our understanding of divine power; it is about embracing the salvation that is bestowed upon us. The essence of being unashamed of the Gospel lies in recognizing and valuing this divine intervention and living in accordance with it.
Why Be Unashamed of the Gospel
The Gospel, a beacon of God’s power, is not merely a set of beliefs but the means through which we receive salvation. Paul’s declaration, that the Gospel is the “power of God for salvation,” invites us to rediscover the profound significance behind the often-overlooked word, salvation. However, we must ask ourselves — what are we truly saved from? The answer seems straightforward, sin. But the layers of this truth unveil a narrative far more profound. The roots of sin trace back to Genesis, to the moment Adam and Eve diverged from God’s path. This original sin, embedded in our very nature, separates us from divine communion, urging us to understand the gravity of being in sin rather than in a relationship with God. As Dr. Martin Lloyd-Jones, the revered English Pastor, explains, salvation grants us a threefold deliverance from sin:
1. We Are Delivered From the Guilt of Sin
Salvation, by the grace of God, pardons us from the guilt of sin. Paul, in his teachings from verse 18 through chapter three, explains our universal guilt and condemnation by the law. But the Gospel is a reminder of liberation — of Jesus embodying our guilt, thus setting us free.
2. We Are Delivered From the Power of Sin
Salvation does not stop at absolving guilt; it breaks the chains of sin’s power over us. Since the Garden of Eden, humanity has been ensnared by sin and Satan. But faith in Jesus Christ grants us God’s power, liberating us from sin’s grasp, allowing divine strength to flow through us — a theme vividly portrayed in Romans chapters 5 through 8.
3. The Gospel Has Power Because It Reveals the Righteousness of God
The final dimension of salvation is purification from sin’s pollution. We, as a Church, are not untouched by sin’s corruption. While we often attribute pollution to the world, Romans chapter 7 compels us to acknowledge the corruption within us. However, in Christ, we are reborn, cleansed from this internal pollution, and gifted a new nature — the nature of Christ Himself.
Understanding these facets of salvation elevates our appreciation for the Gospel and deepens our resolve to remain unashamed. The Gospel is not just a shield against the world’s corruption but a purifier of our internal world. It transforms us, reshapes our nature, and aligns us with the divine righteousness of God.
Embrace the Transformative Power of the Gospel
As we explore the subject of salvation, we uncover another layer that deepens our appreciation for the Gospel. Through salvation, we are saved from an eternal separation from God. This reconciliation with our Creator echoes the harmonious relationship Adam and Eve enjoyed in the garden, allowing us to be in communion with Him anytime, anywhere. This revelation is a beacon of hope, for Christ’s Spirit is an eternal dweller within us. This is truly the good news that fuels our unashamed proclamation of the Gospel.
The universality of the Gospel’s power is an invitation to everyone — from every walk of life and every corner of the world — to embrace salvation through belief. Verse 17 reveals God’s righteousness to man. This revelation is a cornerstone of our faith, a recurrent theme throughout the book of Romans. Paul, in his divine wisdom, emphasized the “righteousness of God” nine times in the New Testament, eight of which are found in Romans, emphasizing its significance in our spiritual journey.
So, what does it mean to have the righteousness of God? Bible scholars guide us toward understanding this concept in three dimensions:
God’s Righteousness as an Attribute: The righteousness of God is primarily an attribute that describes Him — He is just, always acting rightly. This is vital for us to realize our sinful nature and how it contrasts with His righteousness, making us deserving of His wrath. In judgment, the sin and the sinner are inseparable, highlighting the urgency of aligning with Christ.
God’s Righteousness as a Divine Gift: Luther’s revelation teaches us that righteousness is also a gift from God — a status bestowed upon us in Christ. The Gospel, while exposing our sins, also narrates the great exchange at Calvary, Jesus taking upon Himself our unrighteousness, granting us His righteousness through faith. This divine exchange is the essence of salvation, offering us God’s righteousness for eternity.
God’s Righteousness as Saving Activity: Lastly, the righteousness of God is manifested in His saving actions. Every act of salvation, from delivering Israel to saving individuals from sin, is a righteous act of God. Scholar James D.G. Dunn encapsulates this beautifully, “God’s righteousness is the righteousness by which the unrighteous are made righteous by God’s act.”
This multifaceted understanding of God’s righteousness amplifies the transformative power of the Gospel, saving us from sin, reconciling us with God, and bestowing upon us the righteousness of God. This is another reason to proclaim, “I am not ashamed of the gospel.”
