Romans 1:14-23

Romans 1:14-17 (NIV)
14 I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish.
15 That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are at Rome.
16 I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.
17 For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."
Why? Why have outreach concerts? Why have outreach picnics? Why have a Kid's Blitz? Why do three Christmas Eve services? Why wrap presents at K-mart? Why spend money on follow-up material? Why have a big pod seating out in front of the church wrapped as if it's a Christmas box? The answer is found in verse 16 which states, "I(we) am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile." The gospel is the power of God. The gospel is the dynamite that blows up the things that stand in the way of people knowing God. Sin is psychologically proofed. Sin is sociologically proofed. Sin is educationally proofed. Sin is philosophically proofed. Sin, however can be penetrated by the message of God in Christ Jesus by the power of His Spirit. Sin cannot with stand the onslaughts of God's grace! This great good news is given by God and received by faith. Do people really need to hear this message? Read the following verses just to get a taste as to how much people need to hear the gospel.

Romans 1:18-23 (NIV)
18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness,
19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.
20 For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.
21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.
22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools
23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.
If you choose you can read the whole chapter for the a more vived picutre as to how much people need to hear the gospel.

The gospel is not made to dominate the world. It’s the grain of sand that upsets the world’s machinery. One can’t inhale its fragrance and be content to leave everything the way it is.

Jean Sullivan