Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God—which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures—concerning his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who was a descendant of David according to the flesh and was appointed to be the powerful Son of God according to the Spirit of holiness by the resurrection of the dead. Through him we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the Gentiles, including you who are also called by Jesus Christ. (Romans 1:1-7 CSB)

Paul’s opening words to the Christians in Rome reveal something remarkable about the good news that he was proclaiming. The gospel is powerful. It changes those who receive it by faith. Note what he says: set apart for the gospel of God. Paul had previously been a Pharisee. That was group of religious leaders originally seeking to be “set apart” as holy according to God’s law.

By the time Paul comes on the scene, he—a Pharisee of Pharisees, by his own accounting—saw himself as so set apart that he once declared to King Agrippa:  In fact, I myself was convinced that it was necessary to do many things in opposition to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. I actually did this in Jerusalem, and I locked up many of the saints in prison, since I had received authority for that from the chief priests. When they were put to death, I was in agreement against them. In all the synagogues I often punished them and tried to make them blaspheme. Since I was terribly enraged at them, I pursued them even to foreign cities. (Acts 26:9-11). He believed he was serving God in persecuting Christians. Now he is set apart as an apostle and actually preaching the good news about of Jesus of Nazareth. The gospel changed Paul eternally.

Isn’t it good news to be reminded that through the good news we have hope. We can change. God is committed to every “called one.” And this hope is not only for today, but for eternity. The gospel is the power of God for salvation. It seems that the Father can use even hearing about the gospel to bring us to himself. John Wesley testified to this fact.

“In the evening I went very unwillingly to a society in Aldersgate Street, where one was reading Luther’s preface to the Epistle to the Romans. About a quarter before nine, while he was describing the change which God works in the heart through faith in Christ, I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone, for salvation; and an assurance was given me that He had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death.” [https://www.ccel.org/ccel/wesley/journal.vi.ii.xvi.html]

Has Christ taken away your sins? Have you trusted in Christ for salvation? Do you need your assurance renewed? Call on Jesus, even today!