Intro

When we open God’s Word, it’s just as important to notice what isn’t written as what is. Too often we approach a passage with traditions, denominational teachings, or assumptions in mind—adding words that aren’t there. But God means what He says, and He says it plainly. Romans 1:16 is one of those passages where the gospel is clear and simple—yet mankind has tried to complicate it.

📖 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.” — Romans 1:16

Paul doesn’t stutter here. He doesn’t muddy the waters. He declares plainly that the gospel is the power of God unto salvation—for everyone who believes.

Notice what Paul does not say:

❌ Believe and be baptized.
❌ Believe and repent.
❌ Believe and do good works.
❌ Believe and live a holy life.

It’s not there. Mankind has added those conditions. God hasn’t.

This is the horror of religion: taking the simplicity of the gospel and twisting it into a system of works. God will not have it. Why should He? He sent His only Son to die in our place, to bear the penalty of eternal separation from Him—a debt we could never pay. By His blood, Jesus forgave all, justified all, reconciled the world to Himself. Salvation is a free gift. But mankind dares to argue: “Yes, Jesus, but I must do something too—just in case.”

God will not have it.

If you are trusting your works, your rituals, or your “holy life” as part of your salvation, you are trampling on the cross. You are saying Christ’s blood was not enough. And that’s a lie from the pit.

Paul lays out the one true gospel in 1 Corinthians 15:1–4:

✝️ Christ died for our sins.
🪦 He was buried.
🌅 He rose again the third day.

That’s it. Believe it—and you are saved. Add to it—and you have nothing.

Paul was so fiery about this that he warned, “If anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed” (Gal. 1:8). The Holy Spirit even had him repeat it in the very next verse! Accursed doesn’t mean slapped on the wrist. It means eternal separation from God. Forever.

This is serious. Eternity hangs on it.

Paul was given this gospel by the ascended, glorified Lord Jesus Christ. He is the apostle to the Gentiles. And his message is as clear today as it was then: “By grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast” (Eph. 2:8–9).

God means what He says. He doesn’t add fine print. Salvation is by faith alone in Christ alone—apart from works. Period.

Don’t just read the Bible casually. Study it. Look closely at what it says—and what it doesn’t say. Don’t blindly follow the traditions of men or the denominational rules you grew up with. Test everything against Paul’s gospel.

Because in the end, only one thing matters: Have you believed the gospel that saves?

The gospel revealed to Paul: ‘in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.’

Romans 2:16