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The Apostle Paul writes that “the gospel is the power of God unto salvation” (Romans 1:16).  He uses those words to explain why in the first half of the same verse that he is “not ashamed of the gospel of Christ.”  Maybe you might think that when Paul is saying that he is not ashamed of the gospel, that there was no way he would be.  Paul ends Ephesians and Colossians asking for the churches to pray for boldness for him to preach the gospel.

Not Ashamed of the Gospel:  Worship

Paul could be ashamed, but he wasn’t, because the gospel is the power of God unto salvation.  If he was ashamed, that meant less gospel preaching and then less salvation.  What occurs when shame for the gospel brings less gospel preaching?

Earlier in Romans 1, Paul writes, “For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son.”  His word “serve” translates the Greek word latreuo, which is translated “worship” elsewhere (Philippians 3:3).  As the word “serve” it is the priestly service, which enacts the offerings and the sacrifices.  The priests presented these to God as prescribed by Him in His Word.  This hearkens to the language of Paul in Romans 12:1, “present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”

To “present” is to “offer.”  “Service” in Romans 12:1 is latreia, the noun form of the verb latreuo.  It is reasonable worship.  Worship is giving God what He wants.  Priests in the Old Testament sacrificial system served, but it was the priestly service of offerings.  They presented to God what He said in His ceremonial law.

Jesus made New Testament believers “priests” (Rev 1:6).  As Peter wrote, New Testament believers are a holy priesthood, offering up spiritual sacrifices unto God (1 Peter 2:5).  This equals or surpasses what Old Testament priests did.  It isn’t lesser.

In Romans 1:9 the Apostle Paul says his gospel preaching is to worship with his spirit.  Worship must be acceptable to God.  His preaching of the gospel is acceptable unto God.  Worship glorifies God.

The Missionary Psalm

The glory of God corresponds to the perfections of God’s attributes.  His attributes are revealed before men.  Glorifying God exalts those attributes by showing them.  Preaching the gospel shows forth the attributes of God.  With regard to this, I think of Psalm 67, what Spurgeon and others called and call “the missionary psalm.”

1 <To the chief Musician on Neginoth, A Psalm or Song.> God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us; Selah. 2 That thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations. 3 Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee. 4 O let the nations be glad and sing for joy: for thou shalt judge the people righteously, and govern the nations upon earth. Selah. 5 Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee. 6 Then shall the earth yield her increase; and God, even our own God, shall bless us. 7 God shall bless us; and all the ends of the earth shall fear him.

Spurgeon writes in his Treasury:

How admirably balanced are the parts of this missionary song! The people of God long to see all the nations participating in their privileges, “visited with God’s salvation, and gladdened with the gladness of his nation” (Ps 106:5). They long to hear all the nationalities giving thanks to the Lord, and hallowing his name; to see the face of the whole earth, which sin has darkened so long, smiling with the brightness of a second Eden.

Exalting God Before the Heathen

Evangelism makes God’s way “known upon the earth,” His “saving health among all nations” (verse 2).  The point of this in the end (verse 7) is that “all the ends of the earth shall fear him.”  Worship starts with knowing Who God is, which brings reverence of Him, respect of Him, lifting Him up to His rightful place in the imagination of men.  The gospel shows who God is in all His attributes.  This is worth consideration.

Believers can talk about the gospel among themselves.  It’s worth it.  However, God wants exaltation among the heathen, among the nations, and in the world.  He made those people in His image.  He created them for His pleasure.  Even if they don’t believe the gospel, they should hear it.   When believers preach it, the true gospel, they exalt God.

To be ashamed of the gospel is to be ashamed of the power of God, which is an attribute of God.  However, salvation itself as told by the gospel also manifests attributes of God:  His holiness, His righteousness, His love, His goodness. His justice, and more.  Even if someone doesn’t receive the gospel. believers worship God by preaching it.

More to Come