Hans Sangtoki Bible Reading: Romans 1:8-17
“For 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”. (Romans 1:16-17)
The gospel, which is the good news of Christ revealed throughout the whole Scripture, is the means God uses to transform souls from sin to righteousness. This applies both to ourselves and the souls we are trying to reach out to. Without hearing God’s Word, no hearts can turn to Christ. We can never submit to Christ. We will never put to death our sins and become holy.
On the contrary, when the worst sinner, the hardened atheist, or the ignorant youth hears the word of God, God can and will work salvation by the Holy Spirit to those whom He has chosen. The gospel is the power of God for salvation. The truths of Scripture is what can change people. Therefore, God’s Word must be the centre of our lives and the primary weapon in our efforts to be a witness to the world.
We need the gospel to grow inwardly. Only the truths of Scripture will sanctify us, change our hearts, and direct our lives to the right path. Yet, how often do you take time to dwell in the truth of God? If Spiritual good comes from hearing, reading, communing in fellowship in the Word, how much priority is our devotions and church fellowship? Have we ever had the desire to read more, know more, and be transformed more in our spare time?
The gospel is our sole tool for evangelism. Hardened hearts and ignorant teens do not need luring with worldly music or fun games. They don’t need a sugarcoated message that only tells them ‘God is love’ over and over again. What they are aching to hear is the whole gospel. They are aching to hear about their sin and the Holy God. They are aching to hear about Christ who loved them so much to the extent of dying on the cross for them. They are aching to hear that God wants to adopt them as sons and daughters into His kingdom and that He has a plan for their lives full of joy and contentment and His obedient servants. They need to hear the dangerous call to deny themselves and give up everything to surrender their lives to Christ wholly. They need to know that they are called to radical yet life-changing obedience.
These truths are the power of God for salvation to everyone. Through these words, the Spirit works to impart righteousness and faith to those the Father has chosen. The question is, who will proclaim them? Who will unashamedly say with Paul, “So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also”.
Lord, give us an understanding of the truth of the gospel. Teach us to understand that Your work through Your Word and that the gospel is the power of God for salvation. Help us not only understand but help us obey its implications. Give us the courage to not be ashamed of Your gospel. Rather, to proclaim it with confidence that You will work through it. Give us the courage to also get deep into Your gospel and understand it more fully for ourselves. We ask for Your mercy. In Jesus’ name, amen.