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The world holds many different religions. The exact number of religions is difficult to determine. Some estimate as many as 4,000 religions exist. About 85 percent of people on this planet identify with one of them. The vast majority follow either Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism or Hinduism.*

 Throughout history, religion is one of many ways people made value judgements. Ancient Jews viewed Gentiles as inferior. Christians were persecuted by Jews and pagan Romans. Muslims attacked all non-Muslims. Christians crusaded against Muslims. Catholics and Protestants fought against each other. Even today, religion is used to hate and persecute others.

Religion does not make any of us more valuable than the next. We are all created in the image of God. Christ died for everyone. In fact, the message about Jesus makes no distinction between people, even their religious identities. Romans 1:16 says, “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.” (NIV)

By mentioning Jews and Gentiles, Paul covered everyone. God’s salvation is available to everyone, regardless of their heritage or current religion. All have equal access to faith in Jesus. Today, remember to treat everyone as equal in value.

*Mary Fairchild, “How Many Religions Are There in the World?” Learn Religions, March 22, 2021, https://www.learnreligions.com/how-many-religions-are-there-in-the-world-5114658

How to leave a review: https://www.sparkingfaith.com/rate-and-review/

Visit Elmer Fuller’s author website at: https://www.elmerfuller.com/

Bumper music “Landing Place” performed by Mark July, used under license from Shutterstock.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 2:00 — 3.7MB)

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Have you ever felt ashamed? I remember many years ago when the fans of the Cleveland Browns showed their embarrassment over the team’s performance. They wore paper grocery bags over their heads at the game. How different from people thrilled by their team and sporting the latest jersey.

That feeling of a thrilled fan, in contrast to the embarrassed fan, is our starting point this week.  Paul wrote in Romans 1:16-17, ‘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.”’ (NIV)

So much is packed into these two verses. It is the good news about Jesus in 61 words, the gospel in a nutshell. The gospel is God’s power to save. It is for everyone who believes. Righteousness, that is the ability to meet the demands of God’s law, is revealed in it and accessed and experienced by faith.

This week, we’ll unpack this gospel by looking at a few verses in the first five chapters of Romans. As we prepare for Christmas, we’ll remember the ultimate meaning of it all. In a world that seeks to shame us about Jesus, may we be thrilled again by the gospel.

How to leave a review: https://www.sparkingfaith.com/rate-and-review/

Visit Elmer Fuller’s author website at: https://www.elmerfuller.com/

Bumper music “Landing Place” performed by Mark July, used under license from Shutterstock.