“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.” Romans 1:16
“Not ashamed of the gospel” implies that the Gospel is foolishness to the world, which may ridicule or persecute Christians, but Paul (and us) are proud of what Christ has done.
“Power of God that brings salvation” is the Gospel , the reason for Christian confidence. The Gospel is not simply words; the Spirit works faith and brings us salvation through it. God does this work, not us. Justification happens only through the Word of the Gospel.
“Power… believes” … while the Gospel always has God’s power, we receive its power through faith.
The Jews were first in that God worked with them throughout the Old Testament to prepare salvation for the entire human race. For Paul the term Gentile includes all people who are not Jews. People are saved only by grace through faith.
Many of us have, at times, been embarrassed about our faith or have hidden our Christian identity. We have yielded to the world’s pressures and may have been ashamed of our Savior, but He is not ashamed of us. He bore our sin, guilt, and shame on the cross and gives us His life and forgiveness. Receiving those gifts by faith, and empowered by the Spirit, we are no longer ashamed of the Gospel. We know it is God’s power “that brings salvation to everyone who believes.”
God’s blessings on your day…