Do we feel ashamed of the gospel message and feel that it has no relevance in the world today? St.Paul, as he writes this letter, has made three long successful missionary journeys. But his enthusiasm and eagerness to preach the gospel has only reached a higher level of urgency. Do we have this love and passion to spread God’s Word today?
For Apostle Paul, it so empowering to see Christians living together in love. Christian fellowship is one of the greatest ways to experience and be encouraged by the power of God in our lives. St. Paul talks of eagerly wanting to share the spiritual blessing he has come to experience in his life to encourage his brothers and sisters in Christ. He hopes that in doing so he will be encouraged and blessed himself. He is referring to the love and joy that is born when they fellowship together as the Body of Christ.
Have you experienced this spiritual blessing in your life?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, cleanse us from all our sins and work in our hearts and minds that we may passionately witness to the gospel. We pray for every spiritual blessing that will let us walk rejoicing with the newness of life we have found in you. Amen
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What Paul thought was the Gospel?
If you will go to the Christ of all the Gospels and of the whole of each Gospel. And if you do, you will go back to the Christ who said, ‘The Son of Man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many.’ You will go back to the Christ who said, ‘And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Me.’ You will go back to the Christ who said, ‘The bread that I will give is My flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.’
You will go back to the Christ who bade His followers hold in everlasting memory, not the tranquil beauty of His life, not the persuasive sweetness of His gracious words, not the might of His miracles of blessing, but the mysterious agonies of His last hours, by which He would have us learn that there lie the secret of His power, the foundation of our hopes, the stimulus of our service.
Remember that the Cross of Christ is the key to the universe, and sends its influence into every region of human thought.
What Paul thought the Gospel was?
We have all the same deep needs, the same longings; we are fed by the same bread, we are nourished by the same draughts of water, we breathe the same air, we have the same sins, and, thanks be to God, we have the same Saviour. ‘The power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth.’
Remember that the process of salvation begins in the deep heart of the individual and transforms him first and foremost.
What Paul felt about the Gospel?
His restrained expression, ‘I am not ashamed,’ is the stronger for its very moderation. It witnesses to the fixed purpose of his heart and attitude of his mind, whilst it suggests that he was well aware of all the temptations in Rome to being ashamed of it there. Think of what was arrayed against him-venerable religion, systematised philosophies, bitter hatred and prejudice, material power and wealth.
Dear young friends, if you only go where Paul went, and catch the inspiration that he caught there, your path will be clear. It was in contact with Christ, whose passion for soul-winning brought Him from heaven, that Paul learned his passion for soul-winning. And if you and I are touched with the divine enthusiasm, and have that aim clear before us, we shall soon find out that there is only one power, one name given under heaven among men whereby we can accomplish what we desire-the name of ‘Jesus Christ that died, yea, rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, and also maketh intercession for us.’
If our aim is clear before us it will prescribe our methods, and if the inspiration of our ministry is, ‘I determine not to know anything among you save Jesus Christ and Him crucified,’ then, whether men will hear or whether they will forbear, they shall know that there hath been a Prophet among them.
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