Tag: Gospel of Jesus Christ

  • Romans 1:16

    “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.” — Romans 1:16

    The believers in Rome faced intense persecution. Emperor Claudius had expelled the Jews from the city, including faithful Christians like Priscilla and Aquila. Later, under Nero, Christians were tortured, burned alive, crucified, and thrown to wild animals. To be a follower of Christ in Rome was to live under constant threat and public humiliation.

    The word translated “ashamed” in this verse means “disgraced” or “personally humiliated.” The Romans made believers feel exactly that way that they are disgraced and humiliated for their faith in Jesus. But Paul writes, “I am not ashamed.” Notice that he does not simply tell them not to be ashamed; he declares it personally. The believers in Rome knew what Paul had endured. They were aware of how he was persecuted, beaten, imprisoned, and misunderstood wherever he went. Yet none of that persecution stopped him, hindered him, or moved him away from what God had called him to do. Now, Paul was encouraging them and us, to remain steadfast in the same calling.

    Even today, we still experience disgraceful looks and humiliation because of our faith and convictions. This message still speaks powerfully to believers in every generation. When we preach repentance to someone who is not walking according to the righteousness of God but according to the ways of the world, they will often accuse us of judging them or hating them. When we proclaim that we are Christians, people may expect us to be like God Himself, never making mistakes, never getting angry, and never standing up for what is right.

    Some believers around the world are pressured to stay silent about their faith. They are even killed because of their faith in Jesus Christ. Others are afraid to speak about Him because they do not want to offend anyone, be misunderstood, or risk persecution.

    But Paul reminds us that our calling is not to be accepted by the world but to be faithful to Christ. Jesus Himself warned us about this in Luke 9:26,

    “For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels.”

    I know exactly what it feels like to be looked at as disgraced and humiliated because of my faith. There have been times when I chose not to say that I am a Christian because I did not want to be in uncomfortable situations. But I am always reminded of the words of Jesus, that if I am ashamed of Him, He will also be ashamed of me. I would rather be humiliated, disgraced, and uncomfortable in this world than have Jesus deny me before the Father.

    The book of Revelation also warns us that being ashamed of our faith is an act of cowardice. 

    “But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” – Revelation 21:8 

    To be ashamed of Jesus is to walk in fear, and fear has no place in the kingdom of God. I would rather stand for Jesus and face rejection on earth than be rejected by Him for eternity.

    Then Paul continues by reminding them that the very message the world tries to make us feel ashamed of is actually the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes. In spite of persecution, mockery, or hateful comments directed toward us, we should never stop witnessing, sharing, and preaching the gospel. The people in front of us are not the real enemy. 

    “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” – Ephesians‬ ‭6:12‬ ‭

    These people are being used by Satan to discourage us, but God calls us to stand firm and continue sharing the gospel, the only message that can save their souls and bring them salvation. Think about this: before we knew Jesus, we acted the same way, because we had not yet received the truth. But Jesus showed us mercy and grace, and He forgave all our sins. Therefore, we must do the same for others.

    Jesus said, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” and He also said, “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35). That love is not silent. We are called to preach and share the gospel despite opposition, because this is the greatest act of love we can show our neighbors. We do not want them to perish or go to hell, so we share the gospel of Jesus Christ with them. It is the only power of God that can bring salvation to them and to us.

    When I think about heaven, I remember what Revelation 21:4 says:

    “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

    The kingdom of God, where we will spend all eternity with Jesus, cannot be compared to the hardships, struggles, challenges, difficulties, and pains we are facing right now.

    I want myself there, and I want my entire family there. I want my neighbors there. I want every broken soul I meet to know that they are invited. And I want you to be there too.

    That is why you and I should never be ashamed or discouraged from sharing Jesus. That is why you and I must keep speaking, even when it is hard. Because real love cannot stay silent, and real hope must be shared.

    Now go and share Jesus, Who is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes in Him.

  • John 1:29

    “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, ‘Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!’” – John 1:29

    What makes this moment interesting is that Jesus had already been baptized. John had already witnessed the Spirit descend upon Him like a dove. Yet now, Jesus returns exactly as John is being interrogated by the priests and Levites sent by the Pharisees. They were questioning him about his identity, asking, “Who are you? Are you the Messiah, Elijah, or the Prophet?”

    Right in the middle of that conversation, John sees Jesus coming toward him. Without hesitation, he points to Him and boldly proclaims, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” In other words, John is saying, “Here is the One you were asking about, your Messiah has come!”

    John the Baptist carried a priestly lineage because his father, Zechariah, served as a priest in the Temple. In a sense, John was acting as a priest himself, presenting the ultimate sacrificial Lamb, not one raised or chosen by man, but one prepared by God Himself. Scripture says,

    “Therefore, when He came into the world, He said: “Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, But a body You have prepared for Me.” – Hebrews‬ ‭10:5‬ ‭

    John’s announcement was not only for the crowd but also for the priests and religious leaders who oversaw the temple sacrifices. Just as the angels announced the good news of Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem to the shepherds who cared for the lambs used for temple offerings, John now makes a similar announcement.

    As a priest, he was declaring to his fellow priests, “Our work of preparing lambs for sacrifice is coming to an end because God Himself has provided the perfect Lamb. This Lamb will take away sin, not just for a day, but for the entire world, forever.”

    The Pharisees, well-versed in the Law and the Prophets immediately recognized the weight of John’s words. Lambs were required as a yearly sacrifice for all Jewish families during the celebration of Passover. This holy day looked back to the time of Moses, when the blood of the lamb was placed on the doorposts of Israel’s homes so that God’s judgment would “pass over” them. (Exodus 12). This foreshadowed the coming of the Messiah, who would be beaten, bleed, and be crucified as the sacrificial Lamb who takes away the sins of the world, so that through His blood we might be passed over from judgment and spent our eternal life in His Kingdom. The prophet Isaiah had also foretold that the Messiah would be “led like a lamb to the slaughter” and would “bear the sins of many” (Isaiah 53:7, 12).

    By calling Jesus the Lamb of God, John was declaring that Jesus is the fulfillment of all those prophecies, the perfect and sinless sacrifice who would take away the sins of the whole world. He was also publicly proclaiming to Israel that this is the long-awaited Messiah.

    Even the details of Jesus’ crucifixion mirror the sacrificial ordinances. Just as the sin offerings on the Day of Atonement were taken outside the camp, Jesus was crucified outside the city walls during Passover, bearing our sins in His body on the cross.

    Now Jesus has already sacrificed His life so that we may have abundant life, and offered an eternity with Him. And just as John once announced Him, I will do the same today. Only Jesus can take away your sins and bring you into His Kingdom.

  • Matthew 24:14

    “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.” – Matthew 24:14

    The disciples had asked the Lord Jesus how they could know when His return and the end of the age were near. In response, Jesus gave them several signs to watch for. He warned that the world would experience earthquakes, famines, pestilences, and wars. Yet even in the midst of all these troubles, God remains in control. He will not allow anyone to pass from this life without first having the chance to hear His message of salvation. Among the signs, He gave this promise and prophecy that the gospel would be preached to the entire world.

    When Jesus hung on the cross and declared, “It is finished,” heaven and earth bore witness that He had fulfilled the purpose of His first coming: to be the propitiation for the sins of the entire world. This salvation was not given only to Israel but offered to all humanity. Scripture makes it clear that apart from Christ, we are already condemned and guilty, for the wages of sin is death.

    The final judgment will not be based on our works, for our works cannot make us righteous, they only prove our guilt. Instead, judgment will rest on one crucial question: Do you believe in Jesus, or do you reject Him? If you believe in Jesus, you know that He has already paid for your sins, and His righteousness is placed upon you. That is how you escape the wrath of God. But if you reject the only salvation He offers, then you will spend eternity separated from Him in the lake of fire.

    This is what determines our eternal destiny. If you do not have Christ yet, it is not too late. Today, I share with you the good news of Jesus Christ: believe in the Lord Jesus, and join us in His Kingdom.

  • John 3:16

    “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” – John 3:16

    This is the most well-known and most frequently memorized verse in the entire Bible. It’s often the first verse children learn and the first that new believers cling to. It has been used by countless preachers and teachers to share the gospel. But do we truly grasp the depth of what this Scripture is telling us?

    Jesus spoke these words to Nicodemus, a Pharisee who came to Him at night. Though Nicodemus had devoted his life to studying and teaching the Scriptures, he still struggled to understand what Jesus meant when He explained that in order to enter the kingdom of God, a person must be born again. If a teacher of Israel wrestled with this truth, how much more difficult would it be for others when Jesus declared that salvation was being offered not only to Israel, but to the entire world?

    For Nicodemus, this message was radical. As a Jew, he had been taught that salvation was for Israel alone, that they were God’s chosen people and no one else. But Jesus overturned that idea. He declared that God’s love was for the world, not just Israel. Why? Because through Adam’s transgression, sin entered all humanity (Romans 5:12). We are all created in God’s image, and yet every nation, every people, and every culture has fallen short of His glory (Romans 3:23). The whole world stands guilty before God and in need of salvation.

    God’s plan of salvation would not be limited to one nation or one group. No matter your background, the color of your skin, or the language you speak. God’s promise of salvation is for you. His love extends to every person without exception. Later, the Apostle Paul would emphasize this truth in his letters, teaching that the Gentiles were also included in God’s redemptive plan. But even here, Jesus was already revealing this to Nicodemus and preparing His disciples for their mission: “You shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8).

    Jesus was not only revealing His own purpose but also pointing ahead to the work His disciples would continue after Him. The gospel would spread far beyond Israel to the nations. And with it comes both a promise and a warning: the love of God is revealed in Christ, but the wrath of God remains on those who reject Him (John 3:36).

    That is why John 3:16 is not just a declaration of God’s love. It is also God’s invitation and command: that only through the Lord Jesus Christ can we be saved, and that everyone and everywhere is called to believe in Him. God loves the whole world, and He desires that all would come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). Therefore, as His people, we must not only believe this truth for ourselves but also share Jesus with others because we ought to love the world, so that they too may be saved and enter His kingdom.

  • Luke 7:30

    “But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the will of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him.” – Luke 7:30

    Have you ever wondered why so many religious and knowledgeable people struggle to accept Jesus? Why do they resist God’s ordinances like baptism and hesitate to receive the gospel?

    Baptism is not something new. Even in the Old Testament, when people were unclean, God instructed them to wash their bodies and clothing before entering the camp (Numbers 19:7-8; Leviticus 15:5-8). It was always meant to be a sign of cleansing and obedience.

    Yet religious people often believe they are already “good enough.” They create their own rules and standards, convincing themselves they are righteous, while rejecting God’s way. On the other hand, lawyers, educated, professional, successful, wealthy. They trust in their own wisdom and achievements. But Scripture warns: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart departs from the Lord” (Jeremiah 17:5). Both groups lean on themselves instead of yielding to God, and in the end, that path leads to destruction the eternal lake of fire unless they repent and surrender to His will.

    The Scriptures remind us that “the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:18). The gospel is God’s hidden wisdom revealed. If Satan had known that Jesus’ death on the cross would bring salvation, “he would not have crucified the Lord of glory” . But in what looked like weakness, God triumphed.

    Friend, “today is the day of salvation”. Humble yourself. Accept God’s way, not your own. Remember, “the kingdom is the Lord’s, and He rules over the nations”. Don’t harden your heart . Don’t lean on your own understanding . Don’t resist or grieve the Holy Spirit.

    Instead, receive the will of God, and you will find life, freedom, and everlasting joy in the Lord Jesus Christ.