Unashamed of the Gospel

“I am not Ashamed of the Gospel, 

because it is the Power of God that brings Salvation 

to Everyone who Believes.”

 Romans 1:16 

There are moments in life when we are tempted to hold back—when the pressure to fit in or to avoid conflict leads us to silence the truth that matters most. But Paul, writing to the church in Rome—at the heart of a proud, pagan empire—declares without hesitation: “I am not ashamed of the gospel.”

Why such boldness? Because Paul had seen its power. The gospel—good news about Jesus Christ crucified and risen—is not just words. It is God’s power in action, breaking the chains of sin, healing the brokenhearted, and reconciling people to their Creator.

Paul had experienced this power himself—transformed from a persecutor into an apostle. And this power, he says, is for everyone who believes: Jew or Gentile, rich or poor, broken or proud. It is the one message that levels the playing field and opens the gates of heaven to all who receive it in faith.

Martin Luther, whose encounter with this very verse changed the course of history, wrote:

“This text was to me the true gate of paradise.”

For years, Luther had struggled with an overwhelming sense of guilt and the impossible burden of trying to earn God’s favor through his own righteousness. But when he grasped the truth that “the righteous shall live by faith,” it was as though a door swung open to freedom, peace, and joy. No longer striving for salvation through works, he discovered that righteousness is not achieved but received—a gift of grace through faith in Christ alone. This revelation not only transformed his own soul, but ignited the Protestant Reformation, opening the way for millions to encounter the liberating power of the gospel.

Are we sometimes ashamed? Yes. Our culture may mock, dismiss, or distort the message. But Paul reminds us: it is not our eloquence or boldness that saves—it is the gospel itself. When we share it, we unleash divine power into the world.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, thank You for the gospel—the good news of Your love, grace, and power to save. Forgive us when we shrink back in fear or embarrassment. Fill us with Your Spirit, that we may live boldly and speak truthfully, trusting that Your Word never returns void. Make us unashamed, not because we are strong, but because You are powerful.

Amen.

Reflection Questions

• Where do we feel tempted to be silent about our faith?
  
  
• Have we forgotten the power of the gospel in our own story?
• What would it look like to live unashamed of the gospel today?