From the Series: The Gospel According to the Whole Counsel of God
“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.”
—Romans 1:16 (NKJV)
The gospel is not an idea, not a philosophy, and not a system. It is the power of God to save all who believe. When Paul wrote to the Romans, he declared with boldness that the gospel reaches Jew and Gentile alike. Its scope is as wide as the world, and its power is as deep as the human heart.
Faith is always at the center. Paul writes that the righteousness of God is revealed “from faith to faith” (Romans 1:17). Salvation is not imposed; it is received through believing. The Word is near, in our mouth and in our heart, and with confession and belief comes salvation (Romans 10:8–10).
The Necessity of Hearing
The gospel must be proclaimed, and people must hear it in order to believe. “How shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?” (Romans 10:14). God has entrusted His people with this message so that the world might be confronted with the truth of Christ’s death and resurrection.
At Pentecost, when Peter preached, the people were “cut to the heart” (Acts 2:37). The gospel pierced them, and the Spirit confirmed the truth. Some believed, others resisted, but the power was in the Word proclaimed.
The Witness of the Early Church
Tertullian, one of the bold voices of the second century, understood this power well. Writing to the Roman authorities who mocked the Christians, he said, “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church.” Rome wielded the sword, but it could not silence the gospel. The more they tried to destroy it, the more it spread.
The early believers had no armies, no wealth, and no political power. What they had was the Word of God and the Spirit of God—and this was enough to overturn an empire. They did not rely on systems of men but on the gospel itself, and it proved to be the power of God to salvation.
The Gospel’s Power for You
The same gospel that saved men and women in the first century still saves today. It is not weakened by time or opposition. It is not dependent on culture, intellect, or position. It is the simple truth of Christ crucified and risen, proclaimed to all, and received by faith.
If you have believed, then you have tasted its power firsthand. And if you have not yet believed, the same Word that cut hearts at Pentecost can cut yours today.
Reflection Questions
- Why is it important to remember that the gospel itself—not human systems—carries the power of salvation?
- How does Romans 10 remind us of the responsibility we have to share the gospel?
- What can Tertullian’s testimony about persecution teach us about the unstoppable power of the gospel?
Closing Prayer
Father, thank You that the gospel is Your power to save all who believe. Thank You that it reached me and that it still reaches hearts today. Strengthen me not to be ashamed of this message but to proclaim it with boldness, as the early believers did. Let me trust in Your Word, not in the systems of men, and may my life reflect the transforming power of the gospel. Amen.
