Timothy
Keller’s: ‘Being eager
or ashamed.
There are two ways to feel about sharing the gospel: eager (Romans 1:v
15), or ashamed (Romans 1: v 16). In these two verses, Paul will help us to be
“not ashamed of the gospel.”
Before you read on … Why is the gospel
shameful or offensive to people?
Here are four reasons. The Gospel says:
• salvation
is undeserved; it offends moral people who think their goodness means they
don’t need saving.
• we
are all sinners; it offends the popular belief in the innate goodness of
humanity.
• only
Jesus can save; it offends those who think that all spiritual paths lead to the
same place.
• the
road to glory is one of suffering and sacrifice; it offends those who want
following Jesus to be easy and comfortable.
Read Romans 1 v 16–17
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=romans%201%3A16&version=NIV
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=romans%201%3A17&version=NIV
.
I Am Not
Ashamed
Why is Paul not ashamed of the gospel (v 16)?
What does it do (v 16)? Who for?
This power goes to work in anyone and everyone who “believes.” Here we
have the first explicit statement in Romans that the only way to receive the
gospel and its saving power is through faith. Notice that the gospel does not
come with power; it is power. It is
the power of God in verbal form, and it has the power to change, transform, and
give life to people. It does what no other power on earth can do; it saves us.[1]
Apply
Do you ever doubt or forget the power of the
gospel? What causes this?
What difference would it make to you if you
had a real grasp on how powerful the gospel is?
What the Gospel Is
What is “revealed” in the gospel (v 17)?
This is a positional word; it means to be in right standing with
someone, to not owe them anything. It means to be completely acceptable to
someone. So verse 17 is saying that right standing from God can be received
from God (chapter 3 will show us how this is possible).
So why is this gospel about far more than
simply “being forgiven”?
The gospel is a complete reversal of both the natural tendency of the
human heart and the universal thrust of other religions. Everyone else thinks
of salvation as being about providing our own righteousness to offer to God.
The gospel says salvation is all about receiving a righteousness from God.
Pray & Thank
Thank God for this
wonderful gospel. Ask God to make you so excited about what the gospel is, and
does, that you are eager about living for it and sharing it.
[1]
Timothy Keller, “Romans,” in 90
Days in John 14–17, Romans, James, pages 100–101.