“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.” – Romans
1:16
Summarize in a Word: Passion for Gospel
Key Principle: Gospel is the, and only means of Salvation
Key Application: We must Communicate Gospel Passionately
Main point of the Passage: Understanding the reality of the Gospel would make
us passionate to reach the unreached.
Illustration: Tiny seed in a good soil grows into a big
fruit-bearing tree
Exhortation: Proclaim with Preparation, Passion, and much
Prayer.
According
to the Joshua Project, there are over 7040 unreached groups in the world even after
2000 years of Church existent. Are we, Christian understanding the reality of
Gospel? Why is Gospel spreading so slow even in this day of modern technology?
Apostle
Paul had completed his missionary work in the east and was longing to go west
when he penned Romans. In this verse, we see why he was so passionate about
preaching Gospel to the whole world. He understood what Gospel exactly is.
Gospel is the, and only means for Salvation. He knew the urgency of
Gospel because of God’s wrath, the effectiveness of Gospel because it is
God’s power. He knew Gospel saves, but only when it is preached and the
hearer holds fast to it (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:1-2). The word “believes” is not a
one-time belief or confession; it is an ongoing, continuous exercise of faith.
People
are often ashamed or afraid of Gospel because they underestimate the
effectiveness of Gospel. Yes, Gospel is a tiny seed, but a tiny seed that grows
in a good soil into a big fruit-bearing tree. It is a small jerk, which wakes you
up from the deep slumber of sin. It is a small door, which leads you to the celestial
city.
However,
Gospel is not Salvation; it is the means for Salvation. We are responsible for
how and what we preach, and God is responsible for Salvation. Gospel is not a
mere recitation of historical fact. Proclaim with Preparation, Passion, and
much Prayer. The learned spirit-filled Paul asked Ephesian to pray for him in
order to preach Gospel passionately (Ephesians 6:19). Do you understand the reality
of Gospel and pray?