Day 4 - Week 77 - Romans 1:16 "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the God's power for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek."

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. 

Day 3 - Week 77 - Romans 1:16 "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is God's power for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew and also to the Greek."

"The gospel will save the lost.  Nothing else can do it.  Nothing else is doing it.  Nothing else has done it.  Nothing else shall do it.  The gospel convicts of sin, the gospel converts the soul.  It is by the foolishness of preaching the gospel that men, women, and children are brought out of darkness into light, out of damnation into salvation, out of death into life, out of hell into heaven."  Hyman Appelman

Every time I include a quote from a Christian who I have no knowledge of, I have to look them up and read their story.  Such is the case with Hyman Appelman.  Prior to reading the quote above, I had never heard of Dr. Appelman.  But here's his story:

Hyman Appelman was a major evangelist of the 20th century, preaching all over the United States and throughout the world.  Billy Graham has said, "Dr. Appelman is one of the greatest and most powerful preachers of the Gospel I have ever listened to. Twenty years ago I used to listen to him preach night after night and made notes on his sermons. Some of my own knowledge and inspiration concerning mass evangelism came from his ministry. Thousands of names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life because Dr. Appelman passed their way."

But the more astounding details of Dr. Appelman's life include the fact that he was born in Russia in 1902 to Orthodox Jewish parents.  He arrived in the United States in 1914 as a young boy who, although speaking Hebrew, Russian, Polish, German and Yiddish, did not know English.  As a 13 year old, he had to start school as a first-grader, and then proceeded through the next eight grades in two years, and went on to prep school, university, and law school.  A tremendous amount of drive led him to work fervently, to the point of breaking down in 1924.  He felt empty and
discontent.  He went west for a vacation, and while in Denver, was converted to Christianity.  Romans 10:9 was his verse of conversion, "That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."

His new found joy was countered with absolute rejection by his Jewish family back in Chicago and the dissolution of his engagement to a nice Jewish girl back home.

Dr. Appelman refused to be ashamed of the proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Even at the price of knowing that he would never be welcomed back into his family home as long as he proclaimed the saving work of Jesus in his life.  But proclaim he did, and untold numbers owe their introduction to the saving power of Jesus to him.

It is easy to say, "I am not ashamed" when it costs us nothing...would we be so bold if it cost us our family?  Would we be so bold if  we were to spend years in prison for our proclamation of faith as many Christians do around the world today?  Would we be so bold if our statement of faith cost us our life?  It has for many throughout the years, throughout the world, and still does today.

I pray we will be bold, I pray we will not be ashamed --- no matter the cost.


 

Day 2 - Week 77 - Romans 1:16 "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is God's power for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek."

In the middle of pain and dark times, you get little glimpses of light.  Returning to my Bible study group tonight was a ray of light in a dark time of life.  Seeing friends' faces full of sympathy, full of God's love extended toward me, brought His light into my soul.  Much needed and much appreciated...both from God, the source of all love, and from sweet friends who allowed Him to shine through them.

Our study tonight focused on the story of Noah, and the grace of God extended to Noah and his family.  Just as the ark was their vessel of salvation from God's judgment against evil, God has offered to us the gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ, as our vessel of salvation.  Just as Noah was not ashamed to follow God's instruction and build an ark of gargantuan proportions in a seemingly arid environment, I will not be ashamed to proclaim that I believe, yes I most assuredly believe, in the gospel of Jesus Christ...it is the power of salvation to all who believe...it is our ark, delivering us from judgment to a new beginning. 

When hard times come, beliefs are tested.  I am clinging to the power that God gives to me through faith...a faith that has felt shaken, but then confirmed by reading the words of His eternal plan, from start (Adam and Eve), through the almost-but-not-quite destruction of creation through the flood, but culminated in the gift of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

I am not ashamed...but I pray to be even less concerned about people's reaction to my statement of faith.  If I truly love them as Christ instructs us to love others, then I truly want them on the boat!

Starting Again....

...I'm not sure how to start again, because the pain is still so fresh, but I think I must.  I must start again because I must regain my confidence in my God and my Father.  I must because He is my only refuge...He is my only source of strength.  I admit that these past two weeks have been very difficult for me.  There have been times, even now, when I am shaken, when life seems very uncertain.  I am struggling ---torn between knowing that God is good, that He is sovereign, and that He absolutely loves us and feeling abandoned and hurt.  I know that I am vulnerable to the enemy's attacks and I ask for God's fierce protection over me to reject the lies that can come into my mind.  I pray that I do not disillusion anyone by my admissions of this struggle.  I have no doubt that God will bring me through, and that I will grow and learn from it, but right now it's spiritually painful.

Three verses that I am focusing on tonight:

John 14:27 - "Peace I leave with you.  My peace I give to you.  I do not give to you as the world gives.  Your heart must not be troubled or fearful."
 
Please, Lord, relieve my fears.  Grant me Your peace that surpasses anything that this world can give.  Even through times when I do not understand what is going on within me, remind me that You are my Savior, that You are my salvation.  That nothing on earth is greater than You or Your plans.

Isaiah 26:3 - "You will keep in perfect peace the mind that is dependent on You, for it is trusting in You."

Please, Lord, keep my mind dependent on You, based on complete trust in You.  You are trustworthy, You are truth.  Let my mind reject all deception and lies.  Take away my anxiety and restore to me Your perfect peace.

John 3:16 - "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life."

Remind me of Your complete and all encompassing love.  My belief is intact---You are my God, and Jesus is my Savior.  Assure me of my life with You, now and forever.

Thank you, dear Christian friends, for allowing me to be honest.  To share my grief and my struggle...and my faith that God is stronger than all and that He is the One that restores us.  Pray with me, pray for me, and pray for all our family.  Pray that God will draw each one of us closer to Him as we sort through our individual paths of pain.

One more verse tonight...it is our new verse.  Yes, starting again. 

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is God's power for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek. - Romans 1:16

The Gospel -- God's power for salvation -- thank You Lord for Your plan, Your way, Your truth.  Let me be secure in that.  There is nothing more.