romans 1. 16

Romans 1:16-18 (NASB) 16  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. 17  For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "BUT THE RIGHTEOUS man SHALL LIVE BY FAITH." 18  For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,

THESE VERSES ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO THE REST OF THE BOOK OF ROMANS.

THESE CONTAIN THE JUST OF THE REST OF THE BOOK

PAUL WAS IN PRISON INPHILIPPI CHASED OUT OF THESSALONICA SMUFFLED OUT OF DAMASCUS AND BEREA.    LAUGHED AT IN ATHENS  CONSIDERED A FOOL IN CORINTH    DECLARED A BLASPHEMER AND LAWBREAKER IN JERUSALEM.   HE WAS STONED AND LEFT FOR DEAD AT LYSTRA.

YET IN ALL THIS PAUL NEVER SHRANK BACK FROM PRESENTING THE GOSPEL.   NEVER ASHAMED AND ALWAYS LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE IT.

THE GOSPEL EXPOSES MAN'S SIN , WICKEDNESS DEPRAVITY AND LOSTNESS.  IT DECLARES  PRIDE TO BE DESPICABLE AND WORKS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS TO BE WORTHLESS IN GOD'S SIGHT.

TO THE SINFUL HEART OF THE UNBELIEVER THE GOSPEL SEEMS ANYTHING BUT GOOD NEWS.

IT IS EASIER TO SHARE THE PART OF THE GOSPEL THAT TELLS OF THE LOVE OF CHRIST AND IGNORE THE SIN THAT SEPARATES US FROM GOD.

THAT IS NOT THE SAVING GOSPEL.

SHARING THE GOSPEL WITHOUT SPEAKING OF SIN AND SEPARATION AND ETERNAL JUDGMENT PRESENTS A SOFT GOSPEL THAT MAY END UP IN A FALSE CONVERT.

1.   THE POWER OF GOD.  DUNAMIS     THE GOSPEL CARRIES THE OMNIPOTENT POWER OF GOD TO SAVE PEOPLE FROM THEIR SIN AND GIVE THEM ETERNAL LIFE.

WE OFTEN TIMES WANT A CHANGE IN OUR LIVES.   TO LOOSE WEIGHT OR TO GET A DIFFERENT JOB OR LOTS OF OTHER CHANGES.   MANY CHANGES WE MAKE WE THINK WILL GIVE US A NEW OUTLOOK OR MAKE US HAPPY.

YOU CAN'T BE SAVED BY BEING GOOD, BY ATTENDING CHURCH, BY YOUR GRANDMA'S FAITH OR BY KEEPING GOD'S LAW.

THE LAW WAS GIVEN TO SHOW US THAT WE ARE NOT ABLE TO BE RIGHTEOUS ENOUGH ON OUR OWN.

ONLY GOD CAN CHANGE A PERSON ON THE INSIDE OUT.  IT IS ONLY THE POWER OF GOD THAT CAN DO THAT.

ONLY GOD CAN GIVE US A NEW HEART THAT CHANGES OUR DESIRES FROM SIN AND SELF TO CHOOSING TO HONOR HIM WITH DESIRES TO KEEP HIS COMMANDS.

Jeremiah 13:23 (NASB) 23  "Can the Ethiopian change his skin Or the leopard his spots? Then you also can do good Who are accustomed to doing evil.