Not Ashamed of the gospel Means?

Precious Reader, Apostle Paul by the leading of the Spirit penned down this weighty text, "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). This text applies to every Christian and we need to personalize it and also live by it. My objective is that you will comprehend the true meaning of Romans 1; 16 after you are done reading this article.

What is the gospel that Paul was not ashamed of?

Paul defined the gospel in his epistle to the Corinthians saying: "Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures" (1 Corinthians 15; 1-4). 

Paul's definition highlights the death, the work of Christ, and his bodily resurrection from the grave and these are the essentials of the gospel. The gospel of the substitutionary work of Christ has the power to save and transform lives and that is the more reason why we are not to be ashamed of it.

Romans 1; 16

When Paul says, "He is not ashamed of the gospel "the Greek word for "Ashamed" is the word, "epaischunomai" meaning to "feel shame for something". So, the Apostle is saying that he does not have any sense of shame for the gospel of Christ. Paul was living in an age where the systems, customs and practices were in contradiction to the message of the cross. The wise and learned philosophers of his day regarded the gospel as foolishness, to say God came in human flesh, died a shameful death on the cross for the sins of many, they saw it as a joke. Also, the unbelieving Jews because of the hardness of their heart, they could not recognize their anticipated Messiah. All odds were against Paul and the other soldiers of Christ because they have taken upon themselves to teach and preach the gospel of Christ.

In the midst of all the machinations of wicked and unreasonable men, the apostle remained firm and resolute and was not intimated by their devises. He was not ashamed to identify himself with the resurrected Christ and his body, the church. His way of life was also consistent with the message he was proclaiming further strengthening the fact that he was not ashamed of the glorious gospel of Christ.

Paul says he was not ashamed of the gospel, why? Because "it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believe". The message of the gospel is the only message which has the dunamis of God to save a lost sinner. The unbeliever can be saved not by using enticing words of human wisdom, no, they can only be saved by the demonstration of the Spirit and of power, only faith in the crucified Savior saves. If the gospel is the only God ordained means to effectually call and save lost sinners unto himself, then why be ashamed of the glorious gospel?

Imitate Paul's Mindset 

Beloved in Christ, the following are some of the things we can do to show that we do not have any sense of shame for the gospel of Christ (Apostle Paul as a case study).

Preach the gospel: Paul was not ashamed to herald the gospel because it is the only way God has designed to save souls. The preaching of the gospel by the Spirit is always accompanied with God's power which blesses and saves souls. If you are not ashamed of the gospel then I exhort you to be a preacher of it.

Confess and identify with Christ publicly: Peter said this: "But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence" (1 Peter 3; 15).

You must be ready to always give an answer or a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence. Let them know that Jesus Christ is the reason for the hope that is in you. Confess Christ both to believers and unbelievers, and even before the sword confess him publicly to death. Apostle Paul according to church history was beheaded for his testimony of the truth of the gospel. He confessed and identified himself with Christ publicly throughout his ministry and we as disciples of Christ are to do likewise.

Another way we can show that we are not ashamed of the gospel of Christ is to ''be part of the local assembly of believers'': There are certain so called Christians who have made up their mind to live their Christian life in isolation from the church. This abysmal attitude on their part proves that they are ashamed of the gospel of Christ. How can you claim to be a follower of Christ and yet desist from fellowshipping with his body? Apostle Paul always longed to be in the community of believers and we are to thirst for the same.

You can also show that you are not ashamed of the gospel by ''walking in the truth of the gospel''. Your manner of living must portray the gospel you believe in. If your life is in antithesis to the gospel, that means you are ashamed of the gospel. Therefore, we must see to it that our way of life is very consistent with the gospel just like the martyr apostle Paul.

I pray that from henceforth we will not be ashamed of the glorious gospel which has the power to convert the vilest of the vilest into a useful instrument in the kingdom of God. God bless you 

A thought to ponder 🤔

The preaching of the gospel by the Spirit is always accompanied with God's power which blesses and transforms lives.

We defend and exposit the truth of the gospel

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