TOPIC:"The Glory of the Gospel"
by Rev. Dr. Reg Dunlap
TEXT:Romans 1:14-17
"For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek" (1:16)
St. Paul the Apostle held the Gospel of Jesus Christ in high esteem. Four times he makes use of the word "Gospel" in these opening verses of chapter 1. In verse 1 Paul writes that he is "separated unto the Gospel of God." In verse 9 he writes: "I serve with my spirit in the Gospel." In verse 15: "I am ready to preach the Gospel."
And now in verse 16 Paul states that he is "not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ." There were many things in Paul's life of which he was ashamed like his own past life when in his spiritual blindness he persecuted believers by having them thrown into prison. Paul believed that this Christian movement was dangerous to Judaism. Thus Paul persecuted Christians without mercy. Yes, Paul was definitely ashamed of that action against the followers of Jesus. Nevertheless, listen now to his ringing testimony: "I am not ashamed." So much so that Paul felt obligated to the entire human race to proclaim God's good news. He was absolutely convinced it was God's remedy for man's spiritual need.
I ask: What is the Gospel? The Gospel is the good news of the life, death, burial, resurrection and second coming of Jesus Christ. And that leads me to ask you this: What makes the "Gospel" so glorious? The answer is found in the words of our text: "I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation, to every one that believeth."
I.
First of all, the glory of the Gospel is seen in the SAVIOR it REVEALS. Notice Paul's words as he calls it in verse 16: "the Gospel of Christ." Earlier Paul declared in verse 9: "For God...I serve with my spirit in the Gospel of His Son."
According to St. Paul the heart of Christianity is not found in abstract ideas or ritual forms, but is embodied and may be encountered in a living Person. That Person is Jesus Christ. And the Christians of the first century discovered that all of life's great moral values are found in Christ who is God incarnated in human flesh. To put it in the words of the Apostle John: "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth" (John 1:14).
We behold in Paul's writings how he believed . . .