Everyone Who Lives by Faith

By Benjamin H. Liles

Paul tells us in the Romans 1:16 passage, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek." When Paul makes that comment in the verse, "for the Jew first and also for the Greek," he's not being derogatory in any sense. Because of the fact that salvation was to come for Israel, the Messiah would be Jewish, so it stands to reason salvation would come to them first. Then after that salvation comes to the rest who aren't Jewish, and at that time to the rest of the world, mainly the Greek and Roman world.

The next thing to note is the fact Paul says, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ." There are many people who say they claim Christ as Savior, yet they behave otherwise. They act ashamed when others bring up His name to be part of a conversation. And in a few verses after Paul writes, "Although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened" (Romans 1:21).

It would be kind of the same thing as if to say, "Well, this doctor said I would die if I had not had....done." So, that person had it done and they live their life, but they weren't thankful or grateful to him or her for the life they have. This is the same kind of attitude Paul is saying, but that there are some who choose to be neither thankful nor grateful for the fact God offered mankind a way to be redeemed.

The last part of this is that God grants to each one of us His power of salvation, "for everyone who believes." Well, who are we to believe?

Christ, in talking to Nicodemus said, "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved" (John 3:14-17).

Throughout those few statements Jesus gave to Nicodemus he said alot about who he was to God the Father, "the Son of Man...whoever believes in him should not perish...God...gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him...have everlasting life. [He] did not send His Son...to condemn the world, but that through Him [it] might be saved." Wow!

So, believeing that Jesus Christ is God's own Son, that he gave His life a ransom for mine and yours ought to produce a thankful and grateful heart within us. And that's what I love about Paul's valid testimony and I can say along with him, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believs."

If the power of God can be seen as forgiving my sins on the cross so I may be His child, then He can also forgive your sins of you. All you have to do is believe His Son, Jesus Christ, died in your place and covered your sins as well, thus making you right with God the Father. If you honestly believe Jesus is the Son of the Most High God, Father of all, then I ask that you pray a simple prayer to Him.

My prayer is that today you simply believe on Him who saves from sin, believing He is God's Son and able to give you the redemption you need from sin and its power.