Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God to salvation to every one that believes; to the Jew first… There are three things in connection with this avowal which invest it with great significance: the distinguished character of the author — the great apostle; the universally execrated nature of the subject — the religion of the crucified malefactor; and the class of persons to whom it was addressed, the cultured, intrepid inhabitants of the imperial city. For such an avowal there must have been good reasons and here they are specified: — The gospel is — I. A SYSTEM OF DIVINE POWER. 1. There are three manifestations of Divine power. (1) Material, as seen in the production, support, and order of the universe. (2) Intellectual, as seen in the plan upon which the whole, the vast and the minute, is organised. (3) Moral, as seen in the influence of God's thoughts and feelings upon the minds of His intelligent creatures. The last is the power of the gospel, God's truth. 2. All truth is powerful. But there are three things that make gospel truth peculiarly powerful. (1) It is moral, appealing to the conscience and heart. (2) Remedial, graciously providing for our deeply-felt spiritual wants. (3) Embodied in the living example of God Himself. There then is one reason why Paul was not ashamed of it. Had it been a weak thing, he as a strong-minded man might have blushed to own it. II. A SYSTEM OF DIVINE POWER TO SAVE. What is salvation? Some persons speak of it as if it were a local change, a transporting of man from one world to another. "But the mind is its own place." Salvation may be regarded as consisting in the restoration of a — 1. Lost love. We were made to be governed in all things by a supreme affection for God, but nothing is more clear than that man is not so governed now. The gospel comes to restore it. 2. Lost harmony. The soul is all in tumult. This cannot be the normal state. 3. Lost usefulness. Our relations to each other and our social instincts and powers are such as to show that we were intended to be useful to each other. But we are injurious. The gospel makes us useful. This is another reason which made Paul glory in it. If it had been a power to destroy, his generous nature would have been ashamed of it. Any power can destroy. III. A system of Divine power TO SAVE ALL. 1. "The Jew first," because — (1) He has the best opportunity of testing the foundation facts of the gospel. (2) When converted he would become the most effective agent in converting others. (3) It exhibits more strikingly the merciful genius of the gospel. The Jew, the murderer of the prophets and of Christ, etc. 2. The gospel is, like the air and sun, for humanity. Had it been for a sect, or class, Paul might have been ashamed of it. IV. A system of Divine power to save all ON THE MOST SIMPLE CONDITION. "To everyone that believeth." Man as man — 1. Has this power to believe. It requires no peculiar talent or attainment. 2. Has a strong tendency to believe. He is credulous to a fault. Conclusion: — Who are ashamed of the gospel? 1. Any in heaven? No! They owe their blessedness to its discoveries, and chant the praises of its Author. 2. Any in hell? No! There are thousands there ashamed of themselves for having been ashamed of the gospel. 3. Who on earth? Not the best parents, etc., the greatest sages, poets, patriots and philanthropists. They are to be found in the lower strata of moral life. They are to be found amongst men who ought to be ashamed of themselves. (D. Thomas, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. |
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