Things New and Old: Not ashamed of the gospel of Christ! Why?

Things New and Old

Ancient truths revealed in the Scriptures are often forgotten, disbelieved or distorted, and therefore lost in the passage of time. Such ancient truths when rediscovered and relearned are 'new' additions to the treasury of ancient truths.

Christ showed many new things to the disciples, things prophesied by the prophets of old but hijacked and perverted by the elders and their traditions, but which Christ reclaimed and returned to His people.

Many things taught by the Apostles of Christ have been perverted or substituted over the centuries. Such fundamental doctrines like salvation by grace and justification have been hijacked and perverted and repudiated by sincere Christians. These doctrines need to be reclaimed and restored to God's people.

There are things both new and old here. "Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things" 2Ti 2:7.

Thursday, April 17, 2014

Not ashamed of the gospel of Christ! Why?

¶ 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

Below are 4 translations (N, R, E and K) of Romans 1:16.
Do they read all the same to you? Are these translations saying the same thing?

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. (Niv)

For I am not ahamed of the gospel: it is the power of God for salvation to every one who has faith, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. (Rsv)

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. (Esv)

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. (Kjv)

(note: only Kjv reads "the gospel of Christ".)

Can you discern the STARK differences?
What do you actually believe? Does it matter to you whether you believe the truth or fables?

##1
Why is Paul not ashamed of the gospel?
Paul is not ashamed of the gospel because he is most certain and assured that the gospel, the good news of what God has done in Jesus Christ to save His people, will be perceived and received by the believing ones as a message declaring the power of God unto salvation.

The gospel is NOT the power of God unto salvation.
Jesus Christ is the power of God, and the wisdom of God, unto salvation.

1Co 1:24 "But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God."

The gospel is the good news. Good news declare the POWER of God, ALREADY exercised, unto salvation of His people; and the gospel is perceived and received as such by the believing ones - those already regenerated by God.

1Co 1:18 "For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God."

Good news inform and instruct, edify and educate, renew and liberate THOSE who are ALREADY saved by the power of God in Jesus Christ.The gospel of Christ... what about it?
Well, the gospel of Christ PRESUPPOSES the prior the power of God ALREADY EXERCISED in the work of salvation. Otherwise, there would the gospel! The gospel is the good news of what has happened by the power of God. It is not the good news of something good will happen by the power of God on condition that you do something!

To deny this is to leave Paul WITHOUT the gospel of Christ, and how could Paul be ashamed of that which did not exist?

##2
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. (Niv)

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. (Kjv)

Niv says what the gospel DOES to everyone who believes - the gospel BRINGS salvation to them.

Kjv says what the gospel IS to every believing ones - the gospel IS the power of God unto salvation (i.e. the gospel is good news of God's power unto salvation) to them.

To others the same message is foolishness!
See the VAST difference now???????

##3
For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as ...it is written, The just shall live by faith.
======
For in the gospel is proclaimed the great news of the righteousness of God's own provision for the salvation of His people.

The gospel is proclaimed from faith to faith, preached by those who believe to those whom the Spirit of God has worked faith within them.

Why should Paul be ashamed of the gospel when he is assured that the just (those justified freely by the free grace of God while in the state of condemnation and death) shall live by faith???

Sin, the transgression of the law, brought condemnation and death.
Righteousness, the obedience to the law, secured justification and eternal life.