Why would I be ashamed of something so good as the Gospel of Christ which can bring salvation to the soul? This seems like a silly question until I realized that I do feel ashamed of something so good. What does not being ashamed look like? Is this a necessary part of Christianity? I think it is; after all Christ tells us that we can't be his disciple unless we take up our cross and follow him. The cross was a shameful thing to bear in Christ's day. It meant you were going to die. We can have peace though in this because to bear the cross means we our God's.
Paul's focus in life was preaching the gospel. It was not just believe Jesus and you won't go to hell. The gospel to Paul was a lifestyle. It was a story, both grim and glorious. We were born in sin because of Adam, but rejoice because a second Adam has come and he has borne the sins of many and by his stripes we can be healed. He was hung up on a cross and killed for our sins and now we are commanded to take up our cross. We can draw encouragement in that the cross has been carried before by Christ.
My faith must be so strong that I could never be ashamed. How is it that I have life? It is by faith. Faith in what? Faith in God who sent his Son to be the substitute for my wrong. I love that the second portion of Romans 1 talks about the wrath of God. It's not like I'm happy for God judging but that I am not like that anymore. Reading about the wrath of God against ungodliness makes me grateful for the grace that I have received. The grace that I have received from God through salvation makes it impossible for me to be ashamed! Therefore, 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. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, "The righteous shall live by faith."
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