This excerpt from the Classic commentary, "Romans: Verse-by-Verse" by William R. Newell, deals with the Gospel's power to save men, through the seeming foolishness of preaching a historical, objective event which has occured, and then relating the doctrine about that event. And this message always works, infallibly, because of the effectual, irresistible call of the Spirit of God in the hearts of those whom He has foreknown in Christ, for the demonstration of His glory. Here is the excerpt:
Verse 16: For I am not ashamed of the gospel - First then, we have Paul's willingness, all unashamed, to go to Rome, mistress of the world, with this astonishing message of a crucified Nazarene, despised by Jews, and put to death by Romans. "The inherent glory of the message of the gospel, as God's life giving mesage to a dying world, so filled Paul's soul, that, like his blessed Maser, he 'despised the shame.' " So, pray God, may all of us! For it is the power of God unto salvation - The second "For" gives the reason for Paul's boldness: this good news concerning Christ's death, burial, resurrection, and appearing, "is the power of God unto salvation unto every one that believeth." There is no fact for a preacher or teacher to hold more constantly in his mind than this. It is not the "excellency of speech or wisdom," or the "personal magnetism," or "earnestness" of the preacher; any more than it is the deep repentance or earnest prayers of the hearer that avails. But it is the message of Christ crucified, dead, bureid, and risen, which, being believed, is "the power of God"! "The word of the cross is to them that are perishing, foolishness; but unto us who are being saved it IS the power of God" (1 Cor. 1:18). Again we repeat that it is of the very first and final importance that the preacher or teacher of the gospel believe in the bottom of his soul that the simple story, Christ died for sins, was buried , hath been raised from the dead the third day, and was seen, IS THE POWER OF GOD to salvation to every one who rests in it, -- who believes! The word gospel (evaggelion), means good news, glad tidings, --of course, about love and grace in giving Christ; and Christ's blessed finished work for the sinner, putting away sin on the Cross. (There is no other good news for a sinner!) The other word, for "preached" is kerusso, which properly means to proclaim as a herald, to publish. And if we would understand Paul's attitude in preaching the good news, we must not forget what he says in 1 Cor. 1.21: The reading in 1 Corinthians 1.21 should be, "God was pleased through the foolishness of the proclaiming to save them that believe." The word (kerusso) means, to announce as a herald, to proclaim. It does not carry the thought of the proclamation's content, of a glad message, as does the other word (evangelidzo). Therefore God selects the word kerusso to show in the great message 1 Corinthians 1.18-25 how he absoluely passes by the intellect of man, and sets aside all his possible reasoning, ability, pilosophy and wisdom--in this amazing way: "by the proclaiming"! Here comes a small and weak Jew upon the assembly of the earth's "wise" at Mars' hill: "proclaiming Jesus and the resurrection." It is "foolishness" to them. Yet "certain men"-- including one Mars' hill philosopher, and a prominent woman, and others with them, cleave unto him and believe the proclamation, and will spend eternity with God. No; when you reflect on God's plan of proclamation--of Christ, dead, buried, raised, living: it does get right past everything of man. A herald--he does no stop to argue--he has a message; yonder he is; here he comes; yonder he goes--and the message is left. Man is set aside! It pleased God through the proclaiming to save them that believe! Praise God! Anyone can hear good news! Therefore the herald does not hearken either to "Jews" who would say, "We have wonderful forms of religion; we have a great temple!" No, the herad proclaims "a Messiah crucified" by these very Jews!--and passes on! Nor does he hearken to the "disputers of this age"--the "wise," who call to him, "We have a new philosopy to discuss--let us hear your philosophical system." No; he proclaims a crucified, dead, buried and risen Son of God, and passes on. And as many as are ordained to eternal life will believe. All others are offended, or stirred to ridicule. Paul's preaching was not, as is so much today, general disquisition on some subject, but definite statements about the crucified One, as he himself so insistently tells us in 1 Corinthians 15.3-5. "The power of God unto salvation" is a wonderful revelation! As Chrysotom says, "There is a power of God unto punishment, unto destruction: 'Fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell' " (Matt. 10.28) "The use of the 'power' here, as in 1 Corinthians 1.24, carries a superlative sense, --the hightest and holiest vehicle of divine power" (Alford). This story of Christ's dying for our sins, buried, raised, manifested,is the great wire along which runs God's mighty current of saving power. Beware lest you be putting up some little wire of your own, unconnected with the Divine throne, and therefore non-saving to those to whom you speak...The gospel is "the power of God unto salvation." God does not say, unto reformation, education, progress, nor development; nor "fanning an innate flame." Salvation is a word for a lost man, and for none other. Men are involved either in salvation, or in its opposite,perdition (Phil. 1.28).
Newell, William R. Romans Verse-By-Verse. Grand Rapids: Kregel Publications, 1994.
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