For I am not ashamed of the gospel. (Romans 1:16a CSB)

What is the gospel? It is good news. What is the news? Here is one way the Apostle Paul presented it: Now I want to make clear for you, brothers and sisters, the gospel I preached to you, which you received, on which you have taken your stand and by which you are being saved, if you hold to the message I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I passed on to you as most important what I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,  and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve. Then he appeared to over five hundred brothers and sisters at one time; most of them are still alive, but some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one born at the wrong time, he also appeared to me. (1 Corinthians 15:1-8)

Let’s hone in on the specific news: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures. Before launching into his most extensive exposition of that news, Paul lets the readers know that he is not ashamed of the news, of the good news. He must have considered the possibility that he or we might be tempted to be ashamed of this news, so he makes his powerful statement that he is not ashamed of the gospel. Well, we worship a Savior who died as a convicted criminal on a Roman cross. He was placed in a tomb. But he rose again from the dead. He was once dead, but now is alive. That is some remarkable (perhaps crazy?) news! And good.

Again it was Paul who told this news to the cultural and intellectual elites of Athens, Greece. He told them about a man whom God had given the authority to judge all humanity at an appointed time. Then Paul added, “He has provided proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead” (Acts 17:31b). At this point the tone of some of the listeners changed: When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some began to ridicule him, but others said, “We’d like to hear from you again about this” (v. 32). Ridicule. The ESV says some mocked him. Paul had a similar experience when testifying to his conversion to the gospel and to Christ before Felix and Agrippa. Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, you are out of your mind; your great learning is driving you out of your mind.” (Acts 26:24)

And so it goes. But I believe Paul also knew what Jesus had said about these things. He told us it would be like this. “You will be hated because of my name,” said Jesus (Luke 21:17). Yet, he said, “You are blessed when they insult you and persecute you and falsely say every kind of evil against you because of me. Be glad and rejoice, because your reward is great in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Matt. 5:11, 12). But also: For whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and that of the Father and the holy angels. (Luke 9:26).

 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes. (Romans 1:16ab) What about you?

PRAYER: Dear Lord, thank you for the good news. I believe. Lord help my unbelief. Your steadfast love never ceases and your mercies never come to an end. Praise the Lord. In Jesus’ name, Amen.