Read

¹⁵'That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome. ¹⁶For 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. ¹⁷For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.” '

Romans 1:15-17

Devotional

What would our communities look like if the people of Hillside lived out our belief in the power of the Gospel? Like Paul, we would be eager to share it and not ashamed to stake our lives upon it in a public manner. Our entire church would have total confidence that no one is beyond the reach of the Gospel. Notice the Apostle Paul says, “I am eager to preach the Gospel.” Paul’s passionate and energetic spirit to share the Gospel comes from knowing that Christ’s story changed his story forever. There is no limit to the scope and coverage of the Gospel. In fact, as soon as anyone believes that somebody else is too far gone or too sinful for the Gospel to cover their sins, that person has misunderstood a key aspect of biblical teaching–“where sin increased, grace increased all the more.”

If we don’t believe in the power of the Gospel, why would we ever be motivated to share it with others? If power is the ability to act or produce an effect or result, then we must see the Gospel as the only source of power to change a life and lift a person out of darkness and set them free from sin and spiritual death. The Gospel has the power to produce God’s desired result of salvation in anyone. “It is the power of God” that brings life transformation and redemption from guilt and shame.

We are only eager to share when we are confident in our conviction that the Good News of Jesus Christ can change anyone. We boldly proclaim that there is no limit to Gospel coverage, and the “greatest” of sinners will find resolution to the conflict that sin has caused in their soul. However, if our perspective is that the Gospel can be emptied of its power and that, for some people, their sins are too many and too great, then we will lose our eagerness to share our story. And unlike the Apostle Paul, we might find ourselves being silent and timid rather than unashamed of the cross and empty tomb.

¹⁸"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God."

1 Corinthians 1:18

⁸"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Acts 1:8

Reflect

• Do you ever have thoughts that are contrary to Scripture’s claim that the power of God can save anyone?
• More specifically, do you or have you had specific names of people that cross your mind and you can’t imagine them ever being saved by Christ?
• What new thoughts and truths does God want you to embrace about his awesome power and might to save anyone?

Pray

1. Pray specifically for somebody that you believe is really far from God.
2. Pray for God to instill in you the confidence and conviction that with Him all things are possible (Mark 10:27).
3. Pray for eagerness to share your story of salvation in Christ with someone who needs to experience the love and forgiveness of God in Christ.