Often Christians are ashamed. Why? Where? How come? These are the questions for which we find answers from our brethren the apostle Paul today as we dive into deeper waters with Jesus. Jesus assured us not to be afraid. Paul assured us not to be ashamed. He was not ashamed too.
Romans 1:16-17 New Living Translation
16 For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile.[a] 17 This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.”[b]
Footnotes
1:16 Greek also the Greek.
1:17 Or “The righteous will live by faith.” Hab 2:4.
- Why are Christians ashamed to tell the Good News of Jesus even at His birthday celebration right now? They don’t know the power of God in the Gospel:
- They are afraid of being rejected, ridiculed, not politically correct, judged, and worse, even persecuted.
- They do not know in Christian faith we are required to just believe and carry out our belief by faith in the living God.
- God has assured of a divine power, through the Holy Spirit, to carry out to fulfill His purpose of saving lost souls.
- This salvation is available for everyone who believes, regardless of race and past beliefs.
- What is this all powerful God-initiated Good news about Jesus?
Romans 1:3-5 New Living Translation
3 The Good News is about his Son. In his earthly life he was born into King David’s family line, 4 and he was shown to be[a] the Son of God when he was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit.[b] He is Jesus Christ our Lord. 5 Through Christ, God has given us the privilege[c] and authority as apostles to tell Gentiles everywhere what God has done for them, so that they will believe and obey him, bringing glory to his name.
Footnotes
1:4a Or and was designated.
1:4b Or by the Spirit of holiness; or in the new realm of the Spirit.
1:5 Or the grace.
In summary, you have to believe this:
- The Good News is about Jesus Christ, the Son of God
- He was born into King David’s family line on earth, just as prophesied
- He died for us and was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit
- The God News is all about Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Application: Our belief is based entirely on the truth given in the Bible, as we believe by faith and not by sight. With man’s tendency to use our mind this is hard and quite impossible. But with God, nothing is impossible. This Christmas let us expect the divine intervention of the Holy Spirit from God making the impossible to possible!
Note from my post on 2022-12-20: “Jesus has declared that He and His Father are one. Jesus also says this of us (His believers): “I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.” And His Father is our Father. This is the greatest assurance today. As we are united with Christ and God, we have nothing to fear or worry about. His house is our house. His lives in us and His divine life is our real life. He does things with us, speaks to us and teaches us. He gives us all good gifts. He loves us to the extent of giving His Son to us, to redeem us so that we can return to Him and be reconciled with Him as His children. He sent His Son to purchase our life, pay for our healing and divine health too.”
He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Romans 8:32
2024-12-11 Καὶnos
