Romans 1:16

NASB	NLT	VOICE
16 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.	16 For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes – the Jew first and also the Gentile.	16 For I am not the least bit embarrassed about the gospel. I won’t shy away from it, because it is God’s power to save every person who believes: first the Jew, and then the non-Jew.

Paul not being ashamed of the Gospel message is major to know given his cultural context within the Roman Empire. They viewed the message of a crucified Jesus as foolish. Paul’s boldness goes against the shame associated with the crucifixion. The gospel being called the “power of God” shows its divine authority and ability to change both people and the world. This power is not just a concept, but a force that is living amongst us and brings salvation – our deliverance from sin its consequences. Salvation is available to all believers, showing that faith is the means of receiving of God’s grace. The inclusivity breaks down all the demographic barriers and units us all. Belief is not just the intellectual side of things but also involves trust and reliance on Jesus. The reason it lists the Jew first and then the Gentiles is to show the covenantal and historical priority of the Jewish people in God’s redemptive plan. Connecting it to the Greek/Gentiles shows the extension of the gospel and the ability of God’s redemption connecting to the end of the earth.

Salvation is available to everyone who believes, transcending cultural and ethnic boundaries. We should be ready to include everyone in our sharing of the Gospel. It’s very easy to see the separation of demographics and think that we also should focus on the primary audience. Again, God’s word is for all people. Jesus teaches his disciples, and us, after his resurrection to go out and share the Gospel message to all parts of the earth. This includes inviting people not just to church, but different Christian events. Christian events do not always focus on preaching the Bible and working to invite people to become a Christian. I always tried to lead into a mindset where our events represented the message and teachings of Christ. Our words can only go so far, but our actions speak louder than our words more often than not. Inviting our friend to a church dinner is just an invitation for fellowship and community. Inviting a family to a Trunk or Treat is a way to share compassion and love to the kids of all generations. These don’t sound like major things, but our role is to plant that seed of faith and allow God to do the rest. We are not God and cannot act for him. We are representatives of God looking to share the message and build the kingdom of God.

Next slice of manna: Who Do You Say Jesus Is? || Matthew 16:15-16 || Manna for the Mind #241