Verse of the Day 7/26

Through the Bible - Psalms 50-52, Acts 27:33-28:10

 

Good morning,

The New Testament Bible reading plan (above) will soon be moving into the book of Romans.  Over the years I've probably spent more time in reading and studying this book than any other in the Bible.  Some would arguably say that it is the single most important letter ever written by a Christian.  Many "heroes" of the faith including Augustine, Luther, and Wesley have traced their entry into faith to the words and verses found in Romans.

For today's verse we'll go to Romans chapter one to a couple of the most important verses found in this great book.

Romans 1:16-17 (Amplified Bible) For I am not ashamed of the Gospel (good news) of Christ, for it is God's power working unto salvation [for deliverance from eternal death] to everyone who believes with a personal trust and a confident surrender and firm reliance, to the Jew first and also to the Greek,

¹⁷For in the Gospel a righteousness which God ascribes is revealed, both springing from faith and leading to faith [disclosed through the way of faith that arouses to more faith]. As it is written, The man who through faith is just and upright shall live and shall live by faith.

I like the way the Amplified Bible describes the righteousness, the right standing before God as "both springing from faith and leading to faith".

 

Take a few moments today to consider what it means to "not be ashamed of the Gospel of Christ".  Perhaps these next quotes from John Piper will help you.  In a sermon "The Gospel is the Power of God Unto Salvation" Piper states, "there is a difference between being shamed for the gospel and being ashamed of the gospel. If you are a faithful Christian, you will be shamed for the gospel. That is, you will be the target of shaming behavior. But there is a very good reason why you do not have to be ashamed when that happens."

 

Having just come from the book of Acts we should be able to see how Paul had experienced this being "shamed" by the religious and political leaders of his day.  His response was to take a stand for the gospel.

 

Piper continues, "We do not avoid feelings of shame by altering the gospel to make it popular and inoffensive (see I Corinthians 1:18). We avoid feelings of shame by remembering that the gospel is going to be vindicated in the end. We remind ourselves that the gospel alone brings forgiven sinners to final, everlasting joy. Nothing in the world can do this except the gospel of Jesus Christ. "

 

We must avoid the temptation to alter, to "water down the gospel" to avoid the shaming.

 

Piper concludes his sermon by stating, "So I conclude that the reason Paul is not ashamed of the gospel is that it is the only truth in all the world that will not let you down when you give your life to it in faith. It will bring you all the way through temptation and persecution and death and judgment into eternal safety and ever-increasing joy in the presence of a holy and glorious God. All the other "gospels" in the world that win so many converts will fail you in the end. Only one saves from the final wrath of God and leads to fullness of joy in his presence and pleasures at his right hand forever. Therefore, there is no need to be ashamed of it, no matter what others say or do. And O how eager we should be to speak this gospel to believer and unbeliever alike. "

What is your attitude today towards the gospel of Christ?  Is it the power of salvation "springing from and leading to" increasing faith for you?

 

In Christ,

Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com
Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace  NIV
Rom 1:8-18

 

Desire to Visit Rome

 

8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. 9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of His Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers, 10 making request if, by some means, now at last I may find a way in the will of God to come to you. 11 For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established —  12 that is, that I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.

 

13 Now I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that I often planned to come to you (but was hindered until now), that I might have some fruit among you also, just as among the other Gentiles. 14 I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to wise and to unwise. 15 So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also.

 

The Just Live by Faith

 

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith."   NKJV