Romans 15:14-21
I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another. 15 But on some points I have written to you very boldly by way of reminder, because of the grace given me by God 16 to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. 17 In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to be proud of my work for God. 18 For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to bring the Gentiles to obedience—by word and deed, 19 by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God—so that from Jerusalem and all the way around to Illyricum I have fulfilled the ministry of the gospel of Christ; 20 and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else’s foundation, 21 but as it is written,
“Those who have never been told of him will see,
and those who have never heard will understand.”
The idea that Jesus is the only way to salvation is not only a politically-incorrect idea, it is a profoundly great challenge to human sensibilities. We all want choices. We want to keep our options open. We would wish to have different paths to take to wherever we are going. We want to be able to choose whatever path we want. Alternatives are important to us; we don’t want to put all our eggs in the same basket. What if we’re wrong? What if this is all for naught?
That thought never enters the mind of Paul. He realizes that apart from Jesus there is no hope. There is no salvation, no access to God, no hope of acceptance without Jesus. More than that, he realizes that Jesus is the only hope for all people. There is none who is beyond God’s grace in Jesus. There is none who has no need for Christ’s mercy. There is none to whom Christ’s mercy does not reach.
Some have never heard this Good News. Some are surrounded by a greater darkness than the deepest midnight. To those Paul has gone.He realizes that the Gospel is not only for all people, but that those who are without Christ are in a darkness that only Christ may lift.
Perhaps there are those whom you know who are yet to hear of Jesus, and know of his saving love. If that is the case, surely the Good News of Jesus’ love and salvation is what they need to hear. Frankly, however, many today have heard of Jesus (or perhaps only a caricature of Jesus). Many have rejected his claims. But he is the only one to whom we must all one day give an account. Perhaps that bad news about Jesus will prepare someone you or I know to hear the Good News of Jesus love and mercy.
David Bahn - Reflections 
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