What the Gospel Is and Does (Romans 1:16 [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. [¹⁷For 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]

These verses are among the most important in all of Scripture. They reveal what the gospel is, and prove what the gospel does.

Paul suffered many things because of his bold proclamation of Christ crucified. It was a message hated by Jews and Greeks (Gentiles) and he endured physical pain at the hands of both. He had every human reason to feel embarrassed–he was beaten, imprisoned, and worse–and yet, he stood firm, saying, “I am not ashamed of the gospel.” Why? He immediately gives his reason: it is “the power of God for salvation,” and in it, “the righteousness of God is revealed” for saving faith. 

Could there be any more important reason to keep speaking, even in the face of great persecution? The words of Paul’s gospel message had the power to save people from God’s everlasting condemnation and wrath. As Pauline scholar Thomas R. Schreiner says in his Romans commentary, “The preaching of the Word does not merely make salvation possible but effects salvation in those who are called” (Romans, 60).

This was indeed good news! 

Paul’s transformation from persecutor of Christians to persecuted as a Christain is the ultimate proof of the gospel’s power. He was utterly changed. Not only did he stop killing Christians, he was willing to die to see more of them made. 

Still, this message of a Messiah crucified to save sinners was folly to most of Paul’s audience. He wrote in 1 Corinthians 1:21 that God made foolish the wisdom of the world in order to save those who would believe in Jesus “through the folly of what we preach.” His message of the crucified and risen Christ was “a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles” (1 Corinthians 1:23).

Jesus was not the victorious Messiah the Jews were waiting for, nor were the Gentiles looking for a humble servant Savior like Jesus to add to their pantheon. Paul knew that his message would be widely rejected. But he, formerly the chief of sinners (1 Timothy 1:15), had experienced its power. He gave his life to sharing it boldly because He knew what effect it would have on those whom God called to be saved. Among the Jews and Greeks who were called to believe, Christ would be “the power of God and the wisdom of God” (1 Corinthians 1:24). But also, he gave his life sharing this gospel because the message he preached had utterly transformed him. He could do none other than boldly declare its mystery and boast in Christ.

This wasn’t Paul trying to improve his image or upgrade his spiritual status. He was compelled by the Spirit of Christ in him to share the news that had set him free: God willingly crushed His sinless Son on the cross in the place of ruined sinners. This is God’s righteousness revealed. Elsewhere Paul said,

But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 1:27-31)

There is no better news. But it is news that can only be received by faith. Our ability to believe what the world sees as foolish, weak, low, and despised–what to the unbelieving is shameful–is a gift of God (Ephesians 2:8). The only way to be saved is to embrace Jesus Christ by faith. God’s righteousness is revealed “from faith for faith.” In other words, as Schreiner says, “The saving righteousness of God is by faith from first to last” (Romans, 73).

Praise God for Paul’s unashamed proclamation of the gospel–this gospel is the power to save for everyone who believes. 

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For Reflection

1. Do you ever feel embarrassed to share the gospel with unbelievers?

2. How does the gospel’s power to transform Paul from persecutor to persecuted encourage you?

3. Ask God to make you unashamed of the gospel as you meditate on these verses this week.

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Candice Watters is the editor of Fighter Verses. She and her husband, Steve, are co-authors of Start Your Family: Inspiration for Having Babies. They have four grown children and one daughter-in-law.