The Heart of Paul's Theology

We see Paul's desire was to sacrifice himself so that others might abound and he believed he was indebted to others unto that end--a debt that flowed from his gratitude to the Lord for the free gift of salvation. Paul was not ashamed of the gospel even in the midst of Rome's splendor and great boasts of human wisdom. Everyone desperately needs salvation and Paul says that the gospel is the power of God for that. When we are ashamed of the gospel message we will apologize for it and re-define it according to man's wisdom. We learn too that everyone has to believe in that message for themselves, a message telling man that he needs God's righteousness if he is to be declared just in God's sight--an impossible situation from man's perspective. We learn too what it means that the righteousness of God is 'revealed,' and what 'from faith to faith' means as well as some practical suggestions about how the 'just live by faith.'