“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.” - Romans 1:16
The late Leonard Ravenhill once posed the sobering question: "Are the things you are living for worth Christ dying for?" If we sit and ponder this question while we simultaneously review our lives, we would probably get uncomfortable. Many of the things we live for aren't as important as we make them out to be. Furthermore, we must admit that often give little attention to the things that truly matter most.
Step back and honestly evaluate your life right now. Based on your actions over the past two weeks, what is most important to you? Examine your finances. What do you spend money for? Think about your emotions. What gets you excited?
If most church members were honest, they would have to admit that their actions have little to do with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They invest very little in evangelistic causes. They rarely, if ever, get excited about the things of God.
Let me point out the obvious. Our affection for the Gospel is a reflection of our love for Jesus. How can a man say that he loves Jesus but is careless about the Gospel? Didn't God send His Son to die for us? Isn't our relationship with God contingent upon the Gospel? Hasn't God invested heavily in the Gospel Himself? The only hope that mankind has is found in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This is true for your family, friends … and yourself.
The Gospel is all about Jesus. Thus, we cannot divorce Jesus from the Gospel. Our devotion for the Gospel mirrors our love and desire for the Lord Himself. Our disdain of the Gospel is a tragic reflection of a deeper, more serious problem. Many people are respectable, even religious, but have never been changed by the Gospel themselves.
The Gospel is worth living for. While there is nothing wrong with sports, we must confess that rooting for our favorite team should pale in comparison to our love for Jesus. Furthermore, our desire to see the Gospel advance should far exceed our desire to see our favorite team advance in the playoffs.
The things that matter most in life, such as family and friends, need the very Gospel that I am writing about. They need Jesus. Without Him, they will die in their sins. This is serious business. It is time we treat it as such.
Truthfully, I find very few people who are passionate about winning souls. Even fewer are interested in missions. Selfishly, we want to go to heaven, but really don't care enough about others to invite them to come, too. Doesn't sound like Christianity, does it?
In Romans 1:16, Paul wrote, “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.” Paul was not ashamed of the Gospel. We shouldn't be either. Paul felt like the Gospel was worth living for. He lived to share the Gospel message with others. Let's consider three things about Paul's statement concerning the Gospel.
First of all, Paul had a passion for the Gospel. He wrote, ““For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ.” His passion drove him to travel and proclaim the Good News to others. Are you passionate about the Gospel yourself? What excites you? What motivates you every day? For Paul, it was the Gospel.
Secondly, we learn about the power of the Gospel. ““For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation.” There is power in the Gospel. Power to save souls. Power to change lives. No wonder Paul lived for the Gospel. So should we.
Finally, we understand the purpose of the Gospel. “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.” The Gospel is not about getting rich or living the American dream. The Gospel is about the salvation of souls. It has the power to save, “every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” Regardless of nationality or ethnic background, the Gospel has the power to save everyone who believes. It isn't restricted to certain classes of people. It saves the rich and the poor. It saves the college graduate and the man who can't read or write. It saves the celebrity and those in obscurity. But the Gospel only saves those who believe.
Paul knew that the Gospel was worth living for. But what about you? Do you love to think about the Gospel? Do you enjoy talking about the Gospel? Are you passionate to share the Gospel with others? Read the four Gospel again and again. Meditate on the glory of the cross. Consider the plight of the lost. Remember how the Gospel changed you. Be consumed with the Gospel today.
The Gospel is worth living for!
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