A great proclamation

Beloved Christian, may we seek to understand what the apostle was speaking concerning his love for Christ when He said, “So, for my part, I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.” That is, he was eager to risk his life to go to Rome and preach to them the Gospel of Jesus Christ, for it was this gospel that saved his life. The Apostle also knew that apart from this glorious grace, there was no hope for all the world. The scriptures tell us, “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God,” “through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned.” “But God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.”

Paul understood this in all clarity, and there is no doubt he remembered the moment on the Damascus Road when he saw the Son of God and all of His glory. It was here he heard the voice of Jesus calling out to him in his Jewish name, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” And He said, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. “ This was a moment in his life that he would never forget; it was a moment when he realized that he was seeking to persecute and stop the very message that saves souls from God’s eternal judgment. So with great joy and delight, he embraced the Son of God, and with heartfelt remorse, he remembered the many people whom he had persecuted, even putting into prison. There is no doubt he remembered the stoning of Stephen as he held the coats of those who were killing him. I’m sure those cries echoed in his mind when he closed his eyes to sleep. But I’m also just as confident that he remembered the prayer that Stephen prayed in his dying words, “Lord do not hold the sin against them!” These shocking words must have run through his mind a thousand times, reminding him, “The very man who was being put to death, with my approval, is praying for The Lord to forgive me?”

So Paul does not hesitate to risk his life to go to Rome. As a matter of fact, he longs to tell them about the Son of God and the great mercy bestowed upon him through the Lord Jesus Christ. Christian, do you truly understand the salvation that has been given to you? Do you ever think about God’s grace towards you while you were headed for hell and under His wrath? Beloved, He loved you even when you were dead in your sins; He awakened you from your dead estate, and called you to Himself. It is true, the same salvation that was given to Paul on that Damascus Road is the same salvation that is given to you. So may your heart be truly moved with the great wonders of God’s mercy upon your life so that you will be eager to preach the gospel to those who are lost. My brothers and sisters in Christ, “be not ashamed of the gospel, it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes,” ”for in it the righteousness of God is revealed from heaven, from faith to faith.” So prepare your heart for action. Seize the moment saints of God, for such a time as this you have been sent into all the world to proclaim the glorious news of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. May the grace of God empower you to do so.