Saul was on the road to Damascus, going there to put a stop to those who were following Jesus in that place (See Acts 9). But then Jesus showed up on the road, and everything changed. Saul was transformed from a persecutor to an ambassador for Jesus. He spent the rest of his life doing everything he could to share the Gospel, the Good News of who Jesus is and what He has done for all people. He described his mission and ministry in the first chapter of his letter to the church in Rome.

Romans 1:1-4, 9-10, 15-17   Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God— the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures  regarding his Son, who as to his human nature was a descendant of David, and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord. … God, whom I serve with my whole heart in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you in my prayers at all times; and I pray that now at last by God’s will the way may be opened for me to come to you. … I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are at Rome. 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.”

Paul (formerly known by his Hebrew name “Saul) states emphatically that he is not ashamed of the Gospel. It is the power of God that saves people, not what we do.

e Gospel is not meant to make you feel good about the poor, miserable sinner that you are. The Gospel is to let you know of the forgiveness Jesus earned for you. When Paul quoted that passage “The righteous will live by faith,” He was saying that in spite of your sin, believing in Jesus allows you to be forgiven. It is also a call to live a new life as a follower of Jesus. Confident of the salvation you have for His sake, you will strive to live a life pleasing to God.