Verse 16:

“I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, then the Gentile.”

To not be ashamed of the gospel?  

On one level it is foolishness to those who are dying but there is another level that we (who profess to be Christians) also feel shame over sharing the good news.  My guess would be because of a fear of man and of acceptance.  The truth is I find myself ashamed at times: ashamed to reveal to others what I believe.  Whether in those moments its a simple hesitation or maybe even being self conscience, either case does not represent an example of the attitude of what Paul calls the gospel: ‘the power of God for salvation to everyone.’  Is it because of sin that we hide such thing?  Why, in those moments, do we try to explain the gospel in any other terms than simply stating the fact that the gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone?  

Salvation and the Promise to the Jews

It also stands to reason that everyone includes anyone (and its important to wrestle with our own salvation on these terms in the hopes of coming to the conclusion that faith is the only proof we have in ourselves and if that is the case then we have nothing substantial to associate another persons salvation).  It also worth noting the order of things: Jew then Gentile.  We can argue over many tings concerning the Jews but the simple fact remains: they are favored by God.  It doesn’t make us second rate at all but there is a distinction to God and while it may not be necessary to figure out why or even to know why, the fact that God is making a distinction should be enough for us to avoid any hostility toward them.  (On this note I recall that if we are to trust who God is then we only look to the promises He gave to the Patriarchs and hold onto this truth: He does not forsake those He makes promises to; He does not break covenants even now.)

Struggle of salvation

As I follow my thought process through I keep coming back to the simple fact of the gospel, the reason Jesus came, and why its so important to us.  The reason being is because salvation is a struggle to me (and maybe you, who are reading this).  When first ‘coming to Christ’ evangelism was the main focus of the body I was apart of.  I saw this in every message and every act (some exaggeration is being used) and I noted this even in larger churches that the same goal was evident: evangelism to the lost.  While there is so much to the gospel, the Bible, and the church, and where our focuses should be, in the end the simple fact is this: that salvation is the gospel.  And how this looks is a mystery to me in my own life and certainly how I would interpret salvation in someone else’s life.  Maybe the simple truth eluded me and its as simple as the moment you choose to believe the good news?  Maybe its a process over time you develop?  Or, maybe its something we continue to wrestle with until the truth of it hits home.  Maybe it is indeed the cloudy mirror of sin that hides the truth from us?  

Whichever the case may be in your life the only summary I can come up with is that whether it is the starting point of a journey, the ending point, or any point in-between, it is this: it is the message of God to us.  It is the power of God for us.