Romans 1:16-17
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.”
Devotion
The opening chapter of Romans is inclusive as it embraces the introduction, the missionary motives of the apostle, the definition of the gospel, and the condition of man in sin that necessitates the gospel. Romans teaches the total depravity of man. Man is hopelessly lost. He must have the righteousness of God since he has none of his own. Verses 16 and 17 have long been recognized as the key to this letter.
Now, why is Paul not ashamed of the gospel? Because “it is the power of God”! Dr. Marvin Vincent called this divine energy. In itself, the gospel has power, innate power. It has power for a very definite thing: “It is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.” It has the power to save people from their sinful state. It embraces everything from justification to glorification. It has the power to save from the penalty of sin, the power of sin, and the presence of sin. It is universal in scope, but it is limited to “everyone who believes.” The only way of securing salvation is by personal faith.
In the gospel, a righteousness from God is revealed. God has already said that He will not accept man’s righteousness. Paul is talking about the imputed righteousness of Christ. The believer is accepted by God because of what Christ has done for him/her. The only way to receive this righteousness is by trusting in the person and work of Christ. God is holy, and He demands righteousness. In the end, we all have a choice. We can choose to stand before God based on our own righteousness, or we can choose to stand before Him based on Christ’s righteousness.
Questions to Ponder:
Have you put your faith in the person and work of Christ? Are you ashamed of the Gospel? How does it make you feel to know that salvation is not about performance but love? What does it mean “to believe” in Jesus? In the end, will you rely on self-righteous or the righteousness of Christ?
Prayer Points
- Worship the Lord as your Righteous Father, Holy Father. Praise Him for His perfection, holiness, and sovereignty.
- Thank the Lord for your own salvation. Thank Him for the reality that you don’t have to earn His affection; you already have it in Christ Jesus. Thank Him for the free gift of “right standing” in Him because of Jesus Christ.
- Ask the LORD to strengthen your personal walk with Him.
- Ask the Lord to enable you to see the opportunities throughout the day to share/show the love of Jesus Christ. Pray the same for our Oak Pointe Church Family.
- Pray for all our brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus. That we all would know the love of Jesus Christ. And as we yield to the Holy Spirit, that His love would flow in and through us into those we come into contact with throughout the day.
Suggested Prayer
Lord of heaven and earth, I praise You as my Redeemer, Savior, Son of God, Lord of the universe. Thank You, Lord, for giving me a robe of righteousness and garment of salvation while You took on the sins of the world. You took our rags, became poor, humble, and a lowly servant all for the sake of love, so we might be with You where You are. Oh, Father, thank You for the richness of Your love. You didn’t come to be served but to serve, and that You did and did perfectly. Forgive me, Lord, for I am a sinner. Who can stand in Your holy, all-consuming presence? Yet, Your Word tells me that I am made clean by the blood of Your Son who was the Perfect, Spotless Lamb. The Lamb of God who took away the sins of the world. Thank You, thank You, thank You for Your long-suffering obedience. Help me and Your church, oh God, to seek You, look to You, depend upon You just as Your Son did while walking on earth. Thank You, Lord, for Your indwelling Holy Spirit inside of me and every believer who empowers us to be Your witness, to forgive, serve, agape, endure, etc. Infill us today, Spirit of Truth, and shepherd us to those who don’t know You yet. I ask in the powerful name of Jesus Christ. Amen.