The Epistle of Paul The Book of Romans series: Learning to be rooted and established in The Cross of Christ
I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ
Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone, that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
When Paul says "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ" he is speaking in reference to the Cross, we as Saints should not ever be ashamed of the Cross of Christ because if it was not for Jesus and what He has done at Calvary, we would not even have any Salvation to speak of.
We must remember to spread the Message of the Cross to anyone who will listen!
Salvation is a gift from God and it came through the Cross, (John 3:16; Romans 6:23) and through that free gift we are washed from all sin, past, present and future as long as we keep our faith solely in Him.
When Paul says "for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek" he is speaking of the power of God for salvation that only comes through the Cross, and the Cross alone!
That means that no one can ever be reconciled to God by any other way but through the Cross!
Paul in fact said in 1 Corinthians 1:23-24
"23. But we preach Christ Crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness"
24. But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
There is no other Gospel that we preach, teach, or speak of outside of the Cross of Christ and there is no other Gospel that can hold the Power of God outside of the Cross!
As Saints, we preach, walk, and live Christ Crucified, this is the foundation of the Word of God, the power of God, and the wisdom of God, and thereby of Salvation!
The Cross was the stumblingblock to those who did not understand it nor walk by it, the Jews and the Greeks both found it difficult to accept that Jesus was fully God and fully man who gave His life for all sin, laying His own life down as a sacrifice.
However when Paul said;
"But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God"
He is speaking to those who will accept the gift that He has paid for on the Cross, this for the entirety of mankind who is invited (Revelation 22:17) and this is meant for Jews and Gentiles.
When Paul spoke of "Christ the power of God, and the Wisdom of God" he is pointing to what Christ did at the Cross, that atoned for all sin there for making it possible for the Holy Spirit to manifest His "Power" with in our lives.
The Wisdom of God through the Cross is the plan of Salvation which pardoned sinful, guilty men and at the same time clear that person receiving the gift of Salvation of blame or suspicion and Glorified the justice of God which stands out as the wisest and most remarkable plan of all time.
Paul was not ashamed of the Gospel that he preached, he knew the power of God which is "The Cross of Christ"!
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