Principal’s Ponderings
We are excited to announce our Spiritual theme for the year is Not Ashamed, taken from Romans 1:16. In this passage Paul proclaims, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” With the school year rapidly sneaking up on us, we selected our new theme to take us back to the cross. This verse has three parts that stick out, not begin ashamed of the gospel, the power of God unto salvation, and to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
For Paul to say that he is unashamed of the gospel is powerful. He had been imprisoned, ridiculed, regarded as a fool, and even stoned—but his desire to see the gospel of Jesus Christ preached had not weakened. His boldness in Christ is a prayer we have for our students and all Christians. A stoning might not be typical in America, but ridicule is becoming more common. We must stand firm in the gospel of Jesus Christ and be eager to proclaim it whenever we get an opportunity.
The idea that the gospel is the power of God unto salvation is encouraging. The gospel carries the omnipotence (power) of God, and it is only God’s power that can overcome our sinful nature and give us new life. Salvation literally translates as “deliverance,” the gospel is what delivers us from our sin and eternal separation from God! We want to encourage our students to have their faith and trust placed in Jesus Christ, to find their deliverance in His gospel. We can be saved from our sin and be given a new life through giving our lives and burdens over to Jesus.
The gospel is for everyone! Paul concludes this verse by saying that salvation went to the Jew’s first, but then to the Greek. God chose Israel to be His witness nation (Ex. 19:6) and Christ began his ministry to the Jews in the gospels, but then Greeks (gentiles, or everyone else) were ‘grafted’ in and given a hope for salvation through Jesus Christ (Romans 11:11-24). This indeed is good news!
As we enter this new school year, we want to be bold in proclaiming the gospel, give our burdens over to Jesus, and make sure that everyone can hear the good news of the gospel! Our high schoolers will be going off to their spiritual retreat at the end of the month to focus on this passage with Pastor Lance Hohenstreet and our middle schoolers will remain on campus to listen to Pastor Kaleb Harper speak on this passage during that same week. We are excited to bring everything back to the gospel this school year!