“16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek.”
Paul is not ashamed of the gospel of Christ! Why would anyone be ashamed of the gospel? Well, if there is anyone who would have this temptation it would be Paul. Paul endured great suffering on behalf of the gospel, some of which he recorded in his second letter to the Corinthians.
“Five times I received the forty lashes minus one from the Jews. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I received a stoning. Three times I was shipwrecked. I have spent a night and a day in the open sea. On frequent journeys, I faced dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my own people, dangers from Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers at sea, and dangers among false brothers; toil and hardship, many sleepless nights, hunger and thirst, often without food, cold, and without clothing. Not to mention other things, there is the daily pressure on me: my concern for all the churches.” — 2 Corinthians 11:24-28
Being faced with all of this adversity, one would be tempted to, at the very least, tone down the message of the gospel just a bit. But Paul says no! We cannot afford to be ashamed of the gospel, for in doing so, we rob it of its power. The gospel is a message that must be spoken! Ears must hear what Jesus Christ has done for them. Lives must be changed by hearing of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. Now, if we are unfaithful in our proclamation of the gospel, God’s purposes are not at risk. God will accomplish His will through other means if necessary. Notice, it is not we who are God’s power for salvation, but rather, it is God Himself and the message of the gospel that is His power “for salvation to everyone who believes” (v. 16a). Paul, however, recognizes that he has been called by God to spread the news of the gospel. He says, in his second letter to Timothy, this is the reason he endures all suffering.
“For this gospel I was appointed a herald, apostle, and teacher, and that is why I suffer these things. But I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that he is able to guard what has been entrusted to me until that day.” — 2 Timothy 1:11-12
The gospel is the power of God to save sinners, yet not all who hear the gospel will be changed by its power. To some, the good news of the gospel is foolishness.
“For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but it is the power of God to us who are being saved.” — 1 Corinthians 1:18
In these verses, notice that the message does not change, but the hearer’s interpretation is vastly different. What is the difference between those who will be saved, recognizing the gospel as the power of God to save sinners, and those who call God’s gospel foolishness? The difference is that God sends His Spirit to soften and change their hearts. This piece is critical. Without God first acting by sending His Spirit, we are not only dead in our trespasses and sins, but we are unable to submit to God’s law and are incapable of pleasing God.
“Now the mindset of the flesh is death, but the mindset of the Spirit is life and peace. The mindset of the flesh is hostile to God because it does not submit to God’s law. Indeed, it is unable to do so. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. You, however, are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to him. Now if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit gives life because of righteousness.” — Romans 8:6-10
Paul tells us that the gospel and its power to save is, “first to the Jew, and also to the Greek.” Jesus the Messiah came to live, die, and be raised on the third day for all who would repent and confess His name, but He did not come to everyone in the same order. This statement speaks of an order of historic operations. Christ was first to the Jews because the way of salvation was first promised to Israel’s ancestors. Look at what Peter says in his sermon to the Jewish people in the temple at the place called Solomon’s Colonnade.
“‘You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your ancestors, saying to Abraham, And all the families of the earth will be blessed through your offspring. God raised up his servant and sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your evil ways.’” — Acts 3:25-26
God had made a covenant promise to Israel’s ancestors, to Abraham, that He would bless his offspring. (See Genesis 22:15-18) God remains true to His promise by sending Jesus Christ, the Messiah to Israel so that they may have salvation from their sins. There is only one problem, Israel rejected their Messiah.
“He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.” — John 1:11
“Haven’t you read this Scripture: The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.” — Mark 12:10
Paul will dive more deeply into Israel’s rejection of Jesus as the Messiah in Romans chapters 9-11. Even Israel’s rejection of Jesus is part of God’s sovereign plan. For through the redemption that is offered in Jesus Christ, not only Israel, but all people will have an opportunity for reconciliation. Speaking of Israel’s rejection of Jesus, Paul says the following later in Romans:
“For if their rejection brings reconciliation to the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead?” — Romans 11:15
God’s sovereign plan is in action, and through it, He will save all His elect, both Jew and Greek. God will save both the faithful remnant of Abraham’s descendants and those Gentiles who are made righteous by their faith in Jesus.