Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God—the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures regarding his Son, who as to his earthly life was a descendant of David, and who through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.
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.
Romans 1:1-4, 16 NIV
100 words
Paul begins his letter by introducing himself to the Roman believers, but his primary objective is to introduce the gospel. In the NIV Paul uses the word “gospel” 12 times in this letter. Half of them (and the occurrences with most meaning, generally) are found in chapter 1.
First, we see that it is “the gospel of God.” This means it is the gospel from God, because “he promised it beforehand.” It’s also the gospel about God, that is, what he has done “regarding his Son.”
Second, Paul links his proclamation about Jesus with Israel’s prophets of the past and “the Holy Scriptures.” The New Testament gospel stands on the foundation of Old Testament promises.
Third, it’s the story of David’s descendant, “Jesus Christ our Lord.” We should understand “Son of God” here as a royal title (as in Psalm 2:7), so that Jesus’s death and resurrection become like the coronation of his kingship.
Paul uses the word “power” in verses 4 and 16. God’s power raised Jesus from the dead, and it is God’s power “that brings salvation to everyone who believes.” Both are tied to the gospel. Jesus’s death and resurrection are central to the gospel message, and whenever that gospel is proclaimed, it is powerful. It carries with it the power to awaken the hearer and save those who believe it.
No wonder Paul announces boldly, “I am not
ashamed of the gospel.”
What are your thoughts? Please leave them below.
Next post: Friday, January 12, 2024, “Failed Sinners Following Jesus” from J.D. Walt
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