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Romans 1:16, 17 - Power of the Gospel.

Romans 1:16, 17 (NIV) I am not ashamed of 
the gospel, because it is the power of God for 
the salvation of everyone who believes: first 
for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For in the 
gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a 
righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as 
it is written: "The righteous will live by 
faith." 

INTRODUCTION

The theme of the entire book of Romans. [NIV 
SB] 

The Gospel: In the Christian era, gospel 
came to be identified with the good news of the 
life, death, resurrection, and second coming of 
Jesus Christ. [Being Still With God Every Day by 
Henry Blackaby] 

It Is The Power Of God. The English word 
"dynamite" comes from this Greek word. Although the 
message may sound foolish to some (1 Cor. 1:18), the 
gospel is effective because it carries with it the 
omnipotence of God. Only God's power is able to overcome 
man's sinful nature and give him new life. 
[MacArthur Daily Bible 2003] 

For Everyone Who Believes. Faith is not 
simply a one-time event, but an ongoing condition. 
True saving faith is supernatural, a gracious 
gift of God that He produces in the heart (Eph. 
2:8) and is the only means by which a person can 
appropriate true righteousness. [MacArthur Daily Bible 
2003] 

The Just Shall Live By Faith. True faith 
will demonstrate itself in action (Phil. 2:12, 
13). This expression emphasizes that true faith 
is not a single event, but a way of life it 
endures. That endurance is called the perseverance of 
the saints (Col. 1:22, 23; Heb. 3:12-14). One 
central theme of the story of Job is that no matter 
what Satan does, saving faith cannot be 
destroyed. [MacArthur Daily Bible 2003] 

COMMENTARY PEARL

   My children were students when the See 
You at the Pole movement started in the 
nineties. Each September on the fourth Wednesday, I 
dropped them off early to pray with their classmates 
before school. After our nest emptied, I forgot 
about the event - until early one September 
morning when my daughter, Holly, texted me a photo 
of her little boy Roman, leaning against a 
flagpole. Roman wasnt just the only kindergartner 
to show up; he was the only one from the 
school. But Holly reported that Roman prayed a 
sweet prayer for his school and country.  
   That photo reminds me that sometimes 
following Jesus means standing alone - as His 
disciples learned. It wouldve been easy to go with 
the crowd who followed Jesus into Jerusalem, 
waving palm branches and shouting, Hosanna! 
But when He was arrested, even His inner circle 
abandoned Him. Three times Peter denied knowing Him.  
   It takes courage to stand up for Jesus in 
a setting where Hes not popular. If we 
heard a friend being disparaged, wed most 
likely speak up to defend her. Why dont we also 
do that for our Savior who died for us? Yet, if 
youre like me, you recall times when you stayed 
silent. Or blended into the crowd instead of 
standing out as a Christ follower. Im not proud of 
those moments, but it helps to remember that 
Peters failure helped him grow into a strong 
leader. In the meantime, I want to be like that lone 
little boy praying and standing by a flagpole. by 
Dianne Neal Matthews  
   Faith Step: Is there an area in your life 
where you fail to stand for Christ? Ask Him to 
forgive you and help you remain strong. [Mornings 
With Jesus 2020 Devotional by Guideposts and 
Zondervan] 

COMMENTARY

   Paul was a full-fledged, bona fide, 
card-carrying apostle of Jesus. This man was a great 
theologian, the greatest in the history of the church, 
really. A deep thinker, he was schooled in the 
culture of Rome and Greece. The greatest Jewish 
rabbis had been his teachers. 
   Yet its interesting to note that on 
almost every occasion when Paul stood before a 
nonbeliever, he started with his testimony. 
   He didnt start with some theological 
point or argument. Rather, he started with his 
story of how he came to Christ, which is a great 
way to begin. 
   Then Paul transitioned to the gospel, 
which is the true objective of our testimonies as 
Christians. This is the message people need to hear. 
   Paul said, For I am not ashamed of the 
gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to 
salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first 
and also for the Greek (Romans 1:16 NKJV). 
   The word that Paul used for power is the 
Greek word dunamis. We get our English word 
dynamite from it. In other words, theres explosive 
power in the gospel. 
   The gospel is more important than 
anything. Its more important than our programs, our 
preferences, our priorities, and our politics. Its 
more important than anything else. This is our 
message to the culture. This is our message to a 
lost world. Its the gospel of Jesus Christ.  
   So, what are we doing about it?
   The Bible says, But how can they call 
on him to save them unless they believe in him? 
And how can they believe in him if they have 
never heard about him? And how can they hear about 
him unless someone tells them? (Romans 10:14 
NLT). 
   Are we getting this message out to our 
sphere of influence? Are we getting it out to our 
hurting world? [Greg Laurie from Harvest Ministries; 
https://www.harvestdaily.com] 

   The study of the Book of Romans has 
transformed the lives of very significant people in 
church history, including Augustine, Martin Luther, 
John Wesley, and even a pastor named Chuck 
Smith. 
   Swiss theologian Frdric Louis Godet 
wrote of Romans, The probability is that every 
great spiritual revival in the Church will be 
connected as cause and effect with a deeper 
understanding of this book. 
   In all of the Bible, Romans is the most 
basic, comprehensive statement of what the gospel 
is. Its in Romans that we read, For all 
have sinned and fall short of the glory of God 
(3:23 NKJV). If Romans does nothing else, it once 
and for all refutes the idea that were not 
good enough to get to Heaven, regardless of how 
many good works weve done. 
   In Romans, the apostle Paul 
systematically addresses every person and every type of 
argument as to why God would accept someone on their 
own merit. He deals with pagan people. He deals 
with moral people. And he deals with religious 
people. 
   The conclusion is that everyone has to 
come to God through Jesus. Everyone has to 
acknowledge their sin. 
   And Romans offers a solution to the sin.
   In chapter 5 we read, But God 
demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we 
were still sinners, Christ died for us (verse 
8 NKJV). And verse 23 of chapter 6 says, 
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of 
God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord 
(NKJV). 
   Then Romans 10:13 tells us, For 
whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be 
saved (NKJV).  
   Its very important we understand and 
appreciate all that God has done for us. If we really 
get this, it will cause us to want to serve Him 
and discover His plan for our lives. [Greg 
Laurie from Harvest Ministries; 
https://www.harvestdaily.com] 

   My life was dramatically impacted by the 
power of the gospel in a single day. I came to the 
Lord on my high school campus after hearing the 
gospel presented in a way that I had never heard it 
before. I responded and gave my life to Jesus 
Christ, and immediate changes started to take 
place. 
   The Lord used the Christians on my 
campus, fellow high school students who were 
unashamed to live out their faith. If someone had 
tried to reach me by being cool or relating to me, 
I dont know how well they would have done. 
Id had enough cool to choke on in the world. I 
had pretty much been there, done that, and I was 
fed up with it. I was searching. 
   I had already, through the process of 
elimination, determined where the answer in life was not. 
It was not in the hedonistic, materialistic, 
party lifestyle of my parents generation. Nor 
was it in the choices that I made as a kid. 
Being cool would not have reached me. 
   In fact, the people who reached me 
probably were what I would have considered the lamest 
people on the face of the earth. I thought you 
couldnt be any lamer than a Christian. They walked 
around carrying Bibles and talking about God. I 
thought that was the most absurd choice a person 
could possibly make. I had basically narrowed it 
down to this: either these people were out of 
their minds - actually disturbed mentally, or they 
really did have an encounter with Christ. Of 
course, in the end I concluded it was option two. I 
heard the gospel and made a commitment to the 
Lord. 
   I was looking for something real, 
something authentic, and I found it in a relationship 
with Jesus Christ. [By Greg Laurie from Harvest 
Ministries; https://www.harvestdaily.com] 

   Sometimes people ask me why we do Harvest 
Crusades. Theyre a lot of work. They involve months 
of prayer, planning, more prayer, more work, 
money, and more prayer. Our team works tirelessly, 
putting in hours and hours on these events. 
   So why do we do them? Its a very 
simple answer: So people can be saved from their 
sin. When its all said and done, there is 
nothing more important than people coming into a 
saving relationship with Jesus Christ and having 
their eternal address changed from a place called 
Hell to a place called Heaven. 
   I love the word saved, because thats 
exactly what happens. Its a biblical word that is 
used many times in the Scriptures. For example, 
Romans 10 says, If you confess with your mouth 
the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that 
God has raised Him from the dead, you will be 
saved. For whoever calls on the name of the Lord 
shall be saved (verses 9, 13 NKJV). 
   When Peter was preaching on the Day of 
Pentecost, he said to the people who had gathered, 
Be saved from this perverse generation (Acts 
2:40 NKJV). Later in verse 47 we read, And the 
Lord added to the church daily those who were 
being saved. Hebrews 7:25 says, He is also 
able to save to the uttermost those who come to 
God through Him (NKJV). 
   Its a perfect description. We are 
being saved. Its a term that we would use if a 
lifeguard rescued a drowning person or if a 
firefighter ran into a burning building and brought 
someone out. 
   When we share our faith and someone 
believes in Jesus, if they put their trust in Him, 
they are being saved in the truest sense of what 
that word means. [By Greg Laurie from Harvest 
Ministries; https://www.harvestdaily.com] 

CLOSING THOUGHT

   Ive been married to Cathe for 45 years 
now. When I first met her, I was a little nervous 
around her. I had butterflies in my stomach. 
   But I don't feel that way when Im 
around her now. In fact, if I were to say to her 
one day, Cathe, Im feeling kind of nervous 
talking to you, she would think I was having a 
heart attack or something. I cannot expect to have 
that emotional experience every moment of every 
day of our marriage. 
   Its the same with our relationship 
with God. The Bible says the just will live by 
faith (see Romans 1:17). It does not say the just 
shall live by feelings. In fact, our feelings can 
mislead us. We can have all kinds of emotional 
reactions to all kinds of things. 
   I think sometimes we come to church and 
want to have a breakthrough moment. We think we 
need an emotional touch. No, we dont. We just 
need to worship God whether we feel like it or 
not. We need to understand that the Christian 
life is a walk of faith. 
   I have a watch that gives me constant 
feedback, telling me how many steps Ive taken and 
whether Ive reached my fitness goal. Wouldnt 
it be great to have a watch that tells us to 
read the Bible and pray, that keeps us on track 
in our spiritual lives? 
   I think one of the best definitions of 
being a Christian is, to borrow Nietzsches 
phrase, a long obedience in the same 
direction. Its just putting one foot in front of the 
other and walking with the Lord every day. Some 
days you feel it. And some days you dont. 
   Thats because our objective as 
Christians is to walk with God and live by faith. Are 
you walking with God today? [Greg Laurie from 
Harvest Ministries; https://www.harvestdaily.com re 
Micah 6:8] 

LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY ON THIS PASSAGE

Romans 1:16, 17 - Power of the Gospel.

http://www.abible.com/devotions/2015/20150713-1642.html 

Romans 1:17 - Insights into Righteousness.

http://www.abible.com/devotions/2019/20190210-1241.html 

YOUR COMMENTS

If anyone has a paraphrase, commentary or 
testimony on this passage of Scripture, either 
personal or otherwise, I would be interested in 
hearing from you.  Thanks in advance and let's keep 
uplifting Jesus that all might be drawn to Him. Fred 
Gibbs  

LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT

Most Important Decision in Life: 
http://www.youtube.com/embed/WGnEuGwvXqU?rel=0 

A Man without Equal by Bill Bright: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiVa7UoruIo 

Seeking God Made Real: 
http://vimeo.com/31489782 

Prayer Made Real: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc8VdMV26VE 

Importance of Choice: 
http://creationhealth.com/CREATION-Health/Choice [click on video]  

Medical Seminar on Healthful Living by David 
DeRose, MD, MPH: 
https://www.smartlifestyletv.com/lifestart 

LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDIES 

Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies: 
http://www.liftingupjesus.net/ 

Amazing Facts Bible Studies: 
http://www.amazingfacts.org/bible-study/bible-study-guides.aspx  

Hope Awakens Bible Study Guides: 
https://www.hopeawakens.study/lesson-header;id=2 

Glow Tract Video Bible Studies: 
http://www.bibleresearch.info/ 

LINKS FOR BIBLE PROPHECY SEMINARS

Unlocking Bible Prophecies by Cami Oetman of 
Adventist World Radio (currently live): 
https://bible.awr.org/the-warning/ 

Hope Awakens by John Bradshaw of IIW: 
https://itiswritten.tv/programs/hope-awakens 

The Last Day of Prophecy by Pastor Doug 
Batchelor: 
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmGvdtMCf1aJTiC59-lPtuUMEq_uEn0BK 

Prophecies Decoded by Pastor Ron Clouzet: 
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657