The Power of the Gospel

"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." Romans 1:16

I think this verse is widely misunderstood. This verse is what many Christians quote and memorize, and well they should. However, they do it for the wrong topic and wrong reasons, most of the time. Ask your average Christian "who needs the gospel?" and you would most likely get the answer "Joe unbeliever." While I most certainly agree with that notion, I think that is underestimating the verse.

Let's take a look at this verse to see what it's talking about. I think the key word in this verse is the Greek word soteria, which means salvation, both in a temporal and eternal sense. But that is not the fullness of the meaning of the word. A fuller understanding of the word is the final fruition of salvation at the end of time. This verse is not talking necessarily about the ability of the gospel to create true, authentic faith in the heart of the wicked. The gospel most certainly does this, but that's not all. This verse is also talking about the power of the gospel to KEEP believers in that same faith that it created, and to see them home to glory. To further drive home this point, some commentators have said that the word "believes" should rather be translated as "goes on believing." The gospel of salvation finds its fruition in Heaven, when the believer comes home.

This is why Paul is not ashamed of the gospel! Because it not only creates authentic faith in God, it also keeps them and establishes them in that faith! Who needs the gospel? EVERYONE! Believer and unbeliever! We need to not only "spread" the gospel, but live the gospel, eat, sleep, and breathe the gospel! I challenge you, brethren, to live the gospel! Fall in love with it and let it see you home to glory!