How Paul lived Luke 9:23 Part 2

"If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me...For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory..." (Luke 9:23, 26)

"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." (Romans 1:16)

Why isn't Paul ashamed of the gospel? He tells us that it is because "it is the power of God for salvation." The problem with this phrase is that when I (and I suspect most American Evangelical Christians) read this phrase my mind is thinking "it is the power of God for converting people." In other words, I think most people read this phrase and think that Paul is saying that the message of the gospel is the power of convincing people to believe; which is the basis of their salvation. Though it may be true that the message has that kind of power (see Romans 10:17) that is not the grounds of Paul's confidence in the gospel. If Paul's lack of shame in the gospel was merely that it has the power to convert people he would be no better than any other religious leader (no better than Oprah!).

So what is it the real reason Paul is not ashamed of the gospel? What is it that encourages him to follow the command of Jesus in Luke 9? Simply put, Paul is not ashamed of the gospel because it works. Look at it this way, "I am not ashamed of the gospel (the person and work of Jesus Christ coming to the world to die for sinners), for it is the power of God for salvation (salvation from the wrath of God unto eternal life) to everyone who believes."

How does Paul's confidence that Christ's righteous life and death relate to Jesus' command in Luke 9? Jesus told his disciples to lose their lives for the sake of the gospel and then immediately connects that loss of life to being unashamed of him. Paul is saying that he isn't ashamed of the gospel because he has faith that the gospel will be unto his salvation from Divine wrath. This is why Paul gladly gives up his right to comfort in this life (see part 1).

Grace and Peace,
Stephen