Paul proclaims in 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” (NKJV). The good news about Jesus was nothing to be ashamed of for Paul because of his understanding that the gospel is God’s power to save man. It is this same powerful gospel that Paul calls his own in both Romans 2:16 and 2 Timothy 2:8. We often think of the gospel as being Christ’s or God’s, but how often do we think of the gospel as being our own?
The gospel being our own does not change the truth contained in the gospel. The gospel truth “that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead” remains the same (2 Tim. 2:8; cf. Rom. 1:1-4). The gospel is the good news about Jesus and the power of God, but the gospel will become our own when we, like Paul, are willing to live it, own it, and suffer for it. Paul was willing to suffer for the gospel because of the hope that it brings (2 Tim. 2:9-10). Paul knew that through his suffering for the gospel of Jesus it would be his own gospel. Just as Jesus was risen from the dead so too would Paul be risen from the dead. Just as Jesus received His reward from the Father, so too would Paul receive His reward from the Father. For this reason, Paul could call the gospel his own.
Paul knew the truth of the gospel: “For if we died with Him, we shall also live with Him. If we endure, we shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us. If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself” (2 Tim. 2:11-13). Paul understood that if we have been “crucified with Christ,” we should then live with Christ (Gal. 2:20; cf. 2 Tim. 2:11). Paul understood that if we suffer with Christ, we will reign with Christ (Rom. 8:17; cf. 2 Tim. 2:12a). Paul understood that if we deny Christ in our lives and do not share Him with others, He will deny us (Matt. 10:32-33; cf. 2 Tim. 2:12b). Even still, Paul understood that no matter what he or anyone else chooses to do with Christ, Christ will forever remain faithful; He “is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Heb. 13:8; cf. 2 Tim. 2:13). With this level of understanding, Paul did not need to be ashamed of what the gospel of Christ Jesus provides by the power of God. Paul knew the gospel, he lived the gospel, he suffered for the gospel, and he hoped in the gospel. For Paul, the gospel was not a distant concept, but it was so personal to him that he knew the gospel as his own. Can you, like Paul, call the gospel of Christ Jesus your own?
By: Preston McElyea