Romans 1:1-32

We learned in verse 14 that Paul felt that he was a debtor both to the Greeks, the Barbarians, the wise and the unwise concerning the preaching of the goodnews of Jesus Christ. Paul was always ready to preach the Gospel. He did not favor any particular group or nation over another. The reason why Paul was not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ was simply because he knew that in the Gospel the power of God to save was found in the Gospel and not the law. Friends, the Gospel of God's grace is where we find the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith.

Now, another religious legalistic snag that religion gets stuck in is the mentioned of the word "believeth" found in verse 16 of Romans chapter 1. However, notice how it reads "to everyone that believeth, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." The question or questions that need to be asked is this: "Believeth what?" "Did it say believeth in Jesus?" Friends, the answer to the question is: "Believeth that the power of God to save is found in the Gospel, not in the law, and Paul was sent to preach it both to the Jew and the Gentile. Unfortunately, religion has used this verse or verses to put people under a guilt trip.

"Just as Paul was not ashamed to preach the Gospel of Christ, neither shouldn't we." "Anyone who is ashamed of preaching the Gospel will find that Jesus says that He will be ashamed of you too." "We need to get out there and get people saved." "The great commission tells us to go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." "If you aren't witnessing Christ to stop people from sinning, then God will required it from your own blood if the people end up in hell." Friends, the questions that we need to ask are: "Is religion really preaching the Gospel of the Grace and Peace of God or are they preaching the very same perverted gospel that Paul rebuked the "3 Amigos" for?

I believe that if we are preaching the goodnews of Christ mixed in with the law of Moses, we aren't preaching the Gospel of God's grace. If we are preaching anything but grace then we are ashamed of the true Gospel of Jesus Christ. For God did not send anyone to preach any other gospel other than the one Paul said he had received from Christ. To be found being ashamed of the gospel is when we preach a gospel of hell, fire, brimstone, guilt, fear and condemnation. We all know what sort of gospel religion continues to preach today. A gospel of "you better get saved or else."

A gospel of condemnation. Heaven for the believer and hell for the unbeliever. Being ashamed of the Gospel is when we refused to preach that "God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself, not holding their sins against them." 2 Cor. 5:19. Preaching the gospel out of fear, condemnation, compulsion, obligation and demand is not preaching the goodnews of Christ. If I never again read the bible, write another article, share the Goodnews of God's grace with others, I have nothing to be ashamed of nor to fear because this salvation, this redemption, this grace and this Gospel is not about me nor is it concerning me.

It is all about "Christ-Minus Me- Plus Nothing." It is all about concerning the Son, declaring the Son, the power of the Son, the holiness of the Son, the salvation of the Son, the righteousness of the Son, by the Son, through the Son, for the Son, of the Son, the resurrection of the Son by whom we all have received grace. Romans 1:3-5. 11:32-36. This is the goodnews of the Gospel and this is why Paul was not ashamed of the Gospel. Neither was he afraid to preach it apart from all of the works of the law. Notice what verse 17 says: "For therein is the righteousness of God revealed".

The questions: Where is the righteousness of God revealed? Is it revealed in us? Is it revealed in our good works? Is it revealed in the believer? Is it revealed in the law of Moses? Friends, the righteousness of God is revealed in the Goodnews of Jesus Christ. It was revealed in Christ. It has nothing to do with us or anything we have done, are doing or will ever do. This Gospel of the Grace and Peace of God is concerning the Son of God. It is not about man, nor about doctrine, religion, works, morality or what have you. It is all about the declared power of the Son of God.

I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ because it is the power of God (not man's or religion's) unto salvation to everyone that believeth that it was meant for all Jews and Gentiles. It was through the goodnews of Christ that the righteousness of God came to be revealed in the Gospel. Paul goes on to say that it has been written, and where was it written, confirmed and prophesied? The answer is found in verse 2 "By the promise that God had made long ago through the prophets written in the scriptures, the old testament. The word scriptures is never making reference to the letters of Paul since the law is not of faith, but of works.

To be continued....

Grace N Peace

Eddie Narvaez