Our Favorite Bible Stories (Pt 3)
Editor’s Note: All Scripture is “God-breathed and useful” for us (2 Tim. 3:16), but there are passages that seem to stick with each of us in special ways for various reasons. Our Arrowhead Church staff has been asked to share their favorite Bible stories or passages and write about why that portion of Scripture is so meaningful to them. Today’s entry is from Pastor Lee Brown.
I Am Not Ashamed
We’ve all been asked, “What is your favorite color?” or “What is your favorite food?” These kinds of questions have always been hard for me. I don’t have favorites. I am one of those annoying people who give more than one answer, which totally goes against the premise of a favorite. So, when I try to think about my favorite Bible verse, I get a little hung up.
Every word, every phrase, every sentence, and every verse in the Bible is God’s word, so it’s important that we don’t treat one verse as more important than another. With that said, are there verses in the Bible that have a greater impact on a certain person? Yes. There are verses that seem more significant to an individual at certain times, and that’s OK. There are also major passages of the Bible that should be seen as key to the Christian faith. Verses that speak directly to issues like salvation and forgiveness are central to our doctrine. Not every verse tells someone how they can be saved, but every verse is God’s word and should be read with equal interest.
With that in mind, when asked about my “favorite verse,” I point to Romans 1:16. This verse has challenged me for many years and has been more of a life verse for me because I hope the words of this verse can be said about me:
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”
In this verse, Paul is writing to the Roman Christians. He longs to be with them, teach them, and serve them in Rome. But until this is possible, he writes them a letter. Paul gives the reader some rich theological teaching in the first half of the book and then shifts, in the second half, to how to practice what he just “preached.” Toward the very beginning of this important letter, Paul makes this statement about being unashamed of the gospel. The gospel, therefore, is central to the message of Romans. The understanding of it and the proclamation of it are of utmost importance to Paul.
Rome at this time was not hospitable toward Christianity. Rome was the capital city of the empire that crucified Jesus and would eventually slaughter thousands and thousands of Christians. To say, “I am not ashamed of the gospel” took courage. It was a statement that could get you killed.
We live in a very different context, but there is an increasing hostility toward the gospel in our culture. This is exactly what Satan wants. Through his work and deception, he has made our country and many others begin to question the exclusiveness of the Christian faith, of the gospel. The gospel doesn’t provide multiple ways to salvation. There is only one way to heaven, and that is through faith in Jesus Christ. So, the announcement that you are not ashamed of the gospel will probably reach the ears of many who are hostile to the gospel.
That’s why Romans 1:16 is my life verse. No matter the cultural climate, I want this verse to encourage me to be unashamed of the gospel. That may look like bold preaching or honest discipleship, but what it doesn’t look like is shrinking back from the truth of God’s word due to cultural pressures.
This verse tells us that the power of salvation is the gospel. It’s not my wisdom or abilities, but the true good news of Jesus. Because of this, the gospel has the power to change both individuals and culture. If more Christians would not be ashamed of the gospel, then maybe we would see the power of God change the cultures and the communities that we live in.
Romans 1:16 challenges me to be bold, but it also encourages me to proclaim the one message that the world really needs to hear. The message of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection is to be proclaimed so that all the people of the earth will hear it. If those who have been changed by it won’t proclaim it, then those who need it will never get it.
In Romans 10:14-15, Paul asks, “How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”
To learn more about the gospel and the opportunities God gives us to bear witness to it, consider purchasing the book The Gospel by Ray Ortlund from our online bookstore.