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NASB | Romans 1:16 ¶ 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. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Romans 1:16 ¶ I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation [from His wrath and punishment] to everyone who believes [in Christ as Savior], to the Jew first and also to the Greek. |
Subject: Clarification from John Reformed...? |
Bible Note: My first answer was unequivocal, and it's a hill I would die on. The second is a strong belief, but I find a strong current against it among many of my brothers and sisters. If expanded beyond its intent, it would be dangerous, but I believe it's accurate within its limited framework. 2) With regard to faith, I don't believe it is specifically faith in the Gospel that saves but rather active faith in the True God. Abraham was justified by faith, and both the angels themselves as well as all the prophets of the Old Testament longed to know more than was given them to know. (See 1 Peter 1:3-12) 1 Peter 1:20-21 "For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God." It is necessary that have faith in GOD to be saved, and Peter stresses the importance here in 1 Pe 1:21 that believers in Christ are also, by extension, believers in GOD. This is why faith in Christ saves us. Faith in GOD saved Abraham, and faith in GOD saves us. Faith in the true GOD saved Rahab, who knew very little when still a harlot in Jericho but demonstrated active faith in what she knew about Him. Those who haven't had the opportunity to hear Christ still have the witness of the universe, which testifies to the truth of the Creator; they are responsible for responding in faith. (Romans 1:18-25, which provide the context for vv. 16-17.) Only those who reject God by "suppressing the truth" and "exchanging the glory of the incorruptible God" without repentance will be damned, and this constitutes the vast majority of mankind. The one who worships a false God or some created thing or created being has rejected God -- just as surely as those who came face to face with Christ and rejected Him. I do not thus suggest that a devout Buddhist or a devout Hindu is saved through their devotion. Devotion to a false god is simply not faith in GOD. The one who believes God -- and resultantly trusts and obeys Him -- will recognize the truth of Christ when he or she encounters Christ, just as Christ guaranteed and challenged His listeners in Jn 7:16-17. "My teaching is not Mine, but His who sent Me. If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know of the teaching, whether it is of God or whether I speak from Myself." No one who believes God will knowingly reject Christ when given full opportunity to encounter Him. Jethro, a priest of God, exalted in God's dealing with Israel; and Melchizedek, the king and priest of Salem, likewise met Abraham in Canaan and led Abraham in worship to the true God. Still others who didn't believe in God prior to encountering Christ through our testimony will repent and believe, just as Rahab, Ruth, and the "mixed multitude" who left Egypt with the Israelites repented and believed when faced with the much more limited revelation of God to them in the Old Testament. Those who refuse Christ have once again rejected God and find themselves doubly condemned. (See Matthew 11:20-24.) The greater the revelation, the greater the judgment for those who refuse to repent and believe, and Christ's life and teaching clarifies and resolves so many unclear and difficult questions that were left unanswered without Him. (See Hebrews 10:26-31). |