So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believes; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. (Romans 1:15-16 KJ2000)

We saw in yesterday’s post that Paul writes to the Roman Christians telling them that he longs to preach the gospel to them. We must understand that Paul writes to believers, not unbelievers, in this book. Re-read the first eight verses of chapter 1 again if you have any doubts. Everything that Paul writes after this brief introduction explains or preaches his gospel message.

As Paul now begins to preach his  message he informs us that the gospel is the power of God unto salvation for those who believe. I have always and only heard this interpreted to mean, “If you believe in Jesus Christ as your personal savior, then you shall be saved.” In other words, “the gospel” in this interpretation means “to believe in Jesus Christ.” But, this is not what Paul says. He says that the gospel is for those who already believe. He further says that this gospel is power of God which can bring salvation to all these who do believe. This means that the mere fact that one actually believes in Jesus does not in itself guarantee “salvation.” Paul is not here taking sides with Jacobus Arminius (1560-1609) who taught that Christians could lose their salvation (Arminianism) as opposed to John Calvin (1509-1564) who taught that they could not (reformed theology, or Calvinism). Paul speaks of an entirely different concept of salvation that neither man seems to have considered.

No, Paul speaks here of that which John refers to when he says, “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the children of God, even to them that believe on his name.” (John 1:12 KJ2000) Again, like Paul, John does not say that one suddenly becomes a child of God simply because he or she believes in Jesus. This verse teaches that Jesus, who himself is the only begotten son of God, gives “power” to those who believe on his name so that they too may one day become a “son of God.” This doctrine of becoming a child, a son, of God is the real doctrine of salvation Paul preaches in Romans. This is the doctrine of “elohim.”

In the Old Testament God calls us “elohim” or gods, but in the same breath he warns us that we will die as men if we refuse the light and walk on in darkness. He says,

They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course. I have said, You are gods; and all of you are children of the most High. But you shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes. (Psalms 82:5-7 KJ2000)

Paul takes this same theme, but uses different words and the reality of who Christ is and what he did, in order to teach us how we too may become sons of God, that is, to be like God. Thus we see that Paul’s gospel of salvation is the good news which shows us how to actually become elohim.

Part 3