The Scope of the Gospel

Salvation for All Who Believe in Romans 1:16

John Calvin called Romans 1:16-17 Paul’s eulogy on the value of the gospel. In these verses, Paul praises the gospel, speaking well of it as the good news of Jesus Christ. He prepares readers for the themes he will unfold throughout the letter: the power of the gospel, the scope of the gospel, and its transformative nature.

In Romans 1:16, Paul writes, “It is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” In this continuation of his declaration, Paul unveils the glorious scope of the gospel. Its reach is profound and universal, extending to all who believe—both Jew and Greek. In this statement, two aspects of the gospel’s scope emerge: its spiritual reach and its inclusive reach.

The Spiritual Reach of the Gospel

The first aspect of the scope is spiritual: the gospel is for all who believe. Salvation—the transformative power of God displayed in the gospel—comes only through faith. Paul emphasizes that the gospel does not save apart from faith in the hearer. What’s remarkable is how simple this is: the omnipotent power of God to save sinners is channeled through faith.

Faith is not a work. It’s not an effort or accomplishment that earns God’s favor. Rather, faith is the very opposite of work—it’s a relinquishing, a resting, a resigning oneself entirely to the work of Christ. Faith is trust: letting go of self-reliance and clinging to the finished work of Jesus.

Paul underscores this truth in verse 17, where he writes, “from faith for faith.” Salvation begins and ends with faith. Notice that Paul doesn’t say, “from faith to works” or “from works for faith.” He introduces no human effort as a condition of salvation. It’s faith from start to finish. The gospel’s power is for all who believe, regardless of anything else. This is the spiritual reach of the gospel: salvation is available to all who trust in Christ.

The Inclusive Reach of the Gospel

The second aspect of the scope is its inclusivity. Paul writes that the gospel is for “the Jew first and also to the Greek.” Why does he make this distinction? In God’s redemptive plan, the Jewish people were the first to receive the oracles of God, the promises, and the covenants (Rom. 3:1–2; 9:4–5). They were God’s chosen people, called to bear His light to the nations. But with the coming of Christ, the good news of salvation has been extended to all people, including Gentiles.

The phrase “to the Greek” includes everyone outside the Jewish covenant community. In essence, Paul is saying, “The gospel is for everyone.” It doesn’t matter your ethnicity, nationality, or cultural background—if you believe in the gospel of Jesus, you are saved.

This inclusivity is not just about ethnicity or heritage. The gospel is also not limited by the degree of a person’s sinfulness. No sin is so great that the gospel cannot overcome it. There is no one so broken, so lost, or so burdened by past sin that they are beyond the reach of the gospel. Nor is the gospel limited by age. Whether someone is young or old, the gospel’s saving power is the same.

John Murray puts it beautifully: “Wherever there is faith, there the omnipotence of God is operative unto salvation. This is a law with no exceptions.” Wherever there is faith—no matter who you are, where you are from, or what you have done—the power of God saves.

The Universal Need for the Gospel

This brings us to an essential implication of the gospel’s scope: it is relevant to everyone. No one is exempt from needing the gospel of Jesus Christ. As John Fesko writes, “No one can claim that the gospel is irrelevant. No one can claim that he does not need Christ, because all people, both Jew and Gentile, lie under God’s just judgment for their sin.”

Every person, regardless of their background or circumstances, stands guilty before God and in need of salvation. The gospel offers hope and life to all who believe. Its scope is universal. Its invitation is to everyone.

Conclusion

Romans 1:16 reminds us of the breathtaking breadth and depth of the gospel’s reach. Spiritually, it saves all who believe, from first to last, through faith alone. Inclusively, it transcends every barrier—ethnic, cultural, or personal. This gospel is the power of God for salvation, and it is offered to all who trust in Christ.

No one is too far gone, too insignificant, or too different to be beyond the reach of the gospel. This is the good news: the power of God is for everyone who believes. To the Jew first and also to the Greek, the gospel brings salvation to all.