Do you ever have doubts regarding salvation? Do you ever wonder if you really qualify? If you may be the one person whose God's grace will not cover?
When we have those doubts (and most believers do at some point), remind yourself of this verse and counter the lie that Satan is trying to have you dwell on. Here Scripture tells us that the gospel, the good news of the saving work of Jesus Christ on our behalf, is God's power for salvation to everyone who believes. Everyone --- if you believe, you cannot be omitted from the "everyone" that this verse applies to.
Just as in John 3:16 we are told, "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him, shall not perish but have eternal life." Just as you are one of the "everyone", as a believer, you are also a "who" in "whoever."
The gospel, God's power for salvation, is not a narrow plan, it is not a limited plan, it is made available to ALL, and it is our responsibility, as believers, to share this good news with everyone we can, to not be ashamed of this gospel, but to eagerly share it with those who have not yet heard.
Now Paul does include his closing statement on this verse that some could argue does show some preferential treatment..."first to the Jew, and also to the Greek." But when you study this verse and these closing words, what you see is that this is actually additional reinforcement to the idea that God's power for salvation is available to all mankind.
Many translations use the word "Gentile" instead of "Greek." The meaning is the same either way...that the gospel was presented first to the Jewish people, and then to everyone who wasn't Jewish. And the gospel was presented first to Jews...Jesus was a Jew and His ministry on earth was among the Jewish people. But at this point in time, Paul has also presented the gospel to the "Greeks", and to multitudes of peoples outside of his own Jewish heritage.
Now, as stated in Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible, "Jews and Gentiles now stand upon the same level, both equally miserable without a Saviour, and both equally welcome to the Saviour."
Yes, God had a plan...and He made it available to everyone...believe and receive His power for salvation, and then be assured that His promises are true, and that He is faithful.
When we have those doubts (and most believers do at some point), remind yourself of this verse and counter the lie that Satan is trying to have you dwell on. Here Scripture tells us that the gospel, the good news of the saving work of Jesus Christ on our behalf, is God's power for salvation to everyone who believes. Everyone --- if you believe, you cannot be omitted from the "everyone" that this verse applies to.
Just as in John 3:16 we are told, "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him, shall not perish but have eternal life." Just as you are one of the "everyone", as a believer, you are also a "who" in "whoever."
The gospel, God's power for salvation, is not a narrow plan, it is not a limited plan, it is made available to ALL, and it is our responsibility, as believers, to share this good news with everyone we can, to not be ashamed of this gospel, but to eagerly share it with those who have not yet heard.
Now Paul does include his closing statement on this verse that some could argue does show some preferential treatment..."first to the Jew, and also to the Greek." But when you study this verse and these closing words, what you see is that this is actually additional reinforcement to the idea that God's power for salvation is available to all mankind.
Many translations use the word "Gentile" instead of "Greek." The meaning is the same either way...that the gospel was presented first to the Jewish people, and then to everyone who wasn't Jewish. And the gospel was presented first to Jews...Jesus was a Jew and His ministry on earth was among the Jewish people. But at this point in time, Paul has also presented the gospel to the "Greeks", and to multitudes of peoples outside of his own Jewish heritage.
Now, as stated in Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible, "Jews and Gentiles now stand upon the same level, both equally miserable without a Saviour, and both equally welcome to the Saviour."
Yes, God had a plan...and He made it available to everyone...believe and receive His power for salvation, and then be assured that His promises are true, and that He is faithful.
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