Last week I started doing a study of the book of Romans. Part of the reason is I’m thinking of preaching a series out of it later on this year. Romans is a profound book and probably the most influential book of the entire Bible. Many of our doctrines and practices come out it’s contents.

There are many things about the author, the apostle Paul, that people admire. Next to Jesus, many consider Paul to be the most influential person in history. That being said, I thought I would share a few things about Paul that I admire about him. It is interesting to note, those qualities are found in the first chapter of Romans.

Romans 1:14-16 says, “I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish. That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome. For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.”

Within these three verses, we find qualities of Paul that I hope we would desire to see in ourselves.

The first is Paul’s sense of obligation. He considers himself indebted to all of humanity because he has been entrusted with a priceless gift. It is the gift that is the only cure for the deadliest of diseases known to man – sin. Like Paul, we who have received the gift of eternal life have an obligation to let others know God has extended His grace, the gift of salvation, to everyone. It doesn’t matter about a person’s status, race or gender, it is available to all. Being obligated gives one a sense of purpose and focus for life. Are you obligated to share the hope within you?

The second is Paul’s eagerness to share. The grace Paul received and his sense of obligation motivated him to act. When we fully comprehend the magnitude of the gift we have been given, we shouldn’t be able to remain idle. If we are not actively engaged in doing something in the service of the gospel, Something is missing from our spiritual lives. Are we eager to get involved in the work of the kingdom?

The third aspect is Paul’s willingness to stand firm for the gospel. Paul declares, “I am not ashamed.” Within the Chinese culture and amongst many others, shame plays an integral part of how and why we act. Let’s face it: the gospel appears foolish to those who do not understand. And in the past, ignorance has give way to ridicule and then persecution. Those who have staked their eternal lives on the truth of God’s grace need to remain strong, even if it requires the sacrifice of our earthly lives. Are we ever ashamed of the gospel?

According to Christian tradition, Paul never lost his zeal. He remained energized and shameless in his proclamation of the good news. His lifelong evangelistic journey finally ended with his martyrdom – of all places – Rome.

In many ways, we live in an extraordinary time. For the most part we enjoy the freedom to share our faith and live our lives in a way that is counter cultural. But things are changing, our nation, our world are shifting radically away from biblical values. How we will live as the times change? Will we remain committed to the gospel? Will we remain eager to continue serving? We will remain faithful and stand firm in the faith?

God has given us examples of men and women in history who have given their all for Christ. If they were willing to stand firm in the midst of persecution, what then should our response be today?