The Gospel of Christ is the Theme of Romans
Studying Romans 1:16.
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)
Paul felt no shame over the gospel of Christ.
In a dying society he would preach the gospel of life.
In the great city of imperial disdain he would preach a gospel of meekness.
In a city of corruption he would preach a gospel of righteousness.
In a society with 60 million slaves he would preach a gospel of liberty and freedom.
In a war-mongering metropolis he would preach a gospel of peace.
In a city of weapons made of brass and iron and wood he would preach a gospel which would bring everything down into submission to Christ and take captive even the very thoughts of men for Jesus.
In a nation sick, dying and dead people he would preach a gospel of health and life.
In the city of Nero he would preach the gospel of JESUS CHRIST.
Ashamed? By God no! - McGuiggan, Romans, 65
The gospel is about Christ.
Paul has already shown how the gospel is all about Jesus Christ. The gospel “encircles” Jesus Christ. The humanity and deity of Jesus are at the center of the gospel.
The gospel of God…concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead. (Romans 1:1, 3-4)
If someone comes proclaiming any other “gospel” which does not center upon Jesus - His humanity and deity - then Paul said, let that one “be accursed” (Galatians 1:6-9).
No other “gospel” is God’s power to save.
No other “gospel” reveals the righteousness of God (Romans 1:17).
In Romans 1:16, the Holy Spirit guides Paul to set forth this theme by taking his readers back to the center - Jesus Christ. He will work outward from there.
The Bible must be approached with Jesus at the center of the story. Jesus Himself said this (Luke 24:25-27, 44-47), and His apostles and disciples lived and proclaimed this.
The gospel is God’s power to save.
Paul wrote, “for it [the gospel of Christ] is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.”
The gospel of Christ is God’s power to save, but that begs the question: “Save from what - or who?” I’m not going to “steal Paul’s thunder” at the beginning of his letter, but this is a crucial point to keep in mind.
Everyone needs saving - we will learn more about that as we continue studying Romans - and the gospel of Christ is God’s power to save. Peter said something similar while standing before the Jewish council.
If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. This is the 'STONE WHICH WAS REJECTED BY YOU BUILDERS, WHICH HAS BECOME THE CHIEF CORNERSTONE.' Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:9-12)
God’s power to save is found nowhere else other than in the gospel of Jesus Christ.
God’s power to save is for everyone - Jews and Greeks. The Jews didn’t have one message for their salvation, and the Greeks received another message. God’s power to save is the same for everyone - the gospel of Christ.
While the offer of salvation is extended to everyone - a response is required. Believing is the required response by those who want to be saved.
What does Paul mean by “believe?”
“To everyone who believes” does not mean everyone who acknowledges in their mind and accepts the fact that Jesus is Christ. Some had this kind of “belief” in Jesus while He walked this earth, but this wasn’t the kind of “belief” God wanted.
Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God. (John 12:42-43)
The word “believe” in Romans 1:16 means “to entrust yourself” (Strong) to another - specifically, Jesus Christ. Certainly, there are things we must “believe” about Jesus - but simply saying, “I believe Jesus is the Christ the Son of God,” is not all Paul is talking about in this passage.
In fact, you won’t find anyone saved in the New Testament by simply acknowledging Jesus as their Savior after His death and resurrection.
You will find people:
Hearing, believing, and being convicted by the gospel of Jesus (Acts 2:36-37; 10:34-43).
Repenting (turning), being baptized in Jesus’ authority for the forgiveness of their sins, and receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38; 8:12-13; 9:18; Acts 10:47-48).
You will find this being repeated over and over again throughout the New Testament by people who heard the gospel of Jesus and decided to entrust themselves to the Savior.
The same response is required for all who hear the gospel of Christ and decide to entrust themselves to the Savior today.