Rev. Julius Izza Tabi
Friday, July 21, 2023
Not ashamed of the Gospel
“I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith” Romans 1:16-17.
On several occasions, a believer will be confronted by circumstances capable of making him or her ashamed of the gospel, the Good News of our salvation. During the early days when I become a born again, there were several moments when I would fear to declare my new found faith in Christ. The Lord Jesus saved me from a community where those who commit themselves to the Lordship of Jesus Christ were looked at as second-class citizens. You don’t drink alcohol. You don’t go for night clubs and wild parties. Nearly everyone thought you are crazy; you made a mistake to say not to ‘life’ to follow Jesus Christ.
Thankfully, I gradually overcame the stigma and got the courage to even preach to my community without shame. I came to know that the Gospel was more precious the pearls. Yes, the Good News is more precious than the night clubs and wild parties my peers enjoyed. There is nothing that compares to it because by the gospel we are saved. Through the gospel, sinners are made right with God, fallen humanity is restored to a relationship with God. It is the power of God to save for those who believeth.
“The Gospel shows people their wounds and bestows on them love. It shows them their bondage and supplies the hammer to knock away their chains. It shows them their nakedness and provides them the garments of purity. It shows them their poverty and pours into their lives the wealth of heaven. It shows them their sins and points them to the Savior.” ― Billy Graham
One of the former early pagan philosophers is Justin Martyr (100-165 AD) who later believed the Gospel of Jesus Christ and committed his life to the Lord became a Christian philosopher who defended the Gospel at the point of death. Martyr was raised by pagan parents and sought for meaning of life in human philosophies of his day. He was first instructed by stoic teachers who didn’t acknowledge God. Justin was converted to the faith through a conversation with an old man and upon his conversion, he devoted his latter days in reconciling faith and reason. He became an ardent believer of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Martyr was later arrested with some of his students for their faith and were threatened to death. For his passion, Martyr told the prefect who was pointing the sword of persecution to his throat;
“If we are punished for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ, we hope to be saved.”
Martyr and his students were led to the ‘slaughter valley’ and they were beheaded.
What caused Justin Martyr, a former pagan philosopher to glue on to Christ to the point of death? Martyr knew that in the Gospel of Christ, he has found it all—for the Gospel is the power of Christ to save those who believe. Martyr believed and he was saved, he was made right with God by faith. Like apostle Paul, Martyr could not be ashamed of the Gospel because he encountered a life transforming message of the Cross. The Gospel reveals to us ‘God’s Riches At Christ Expenses’—GRACE.
The redeemed of the Lord must unashamedly stand on the Gospel “because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.” Child of God, be as bold as apostle Paul who never was ashamed to preach the Gospel to everyone, both Jews and Gentiles alike; be as unashamed to the point of death of the Gospel as Justin Martyr because when we find the Gospel, we find a treasure. Amen!
Rev. J
*Unless if indicated, all Scripture quotations are from the New International Version, NIV.
Rev. Julius Izza Tabi is a priest in the Anglican Diocese of Ma’di-West Nile in Arua City, Northern Uganda. He is a PhD candidate at Uganda Christian University and holds a Master of Philosphy in Religion, Society and Global Issues from MF Norwegian School of Theology, Religion and Society. Julius is the Director of Uganda Christian University Arua Campus. He is married to Oliver and with their three children; Samuel, Shemuel, and Shalem, the live in Arua, Northwest of Uganda.
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