I am not ashamed of the gospel
Romans 1:8-16
Introduction-
I want to talk to you about the gospel this morning. Paul makes a very direct statement to the church at Rome. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, the just shall live by faith.”
Here we have to ask the who, what, where, why questions. Who is he talking to? what is he talking about? why is he saying it? where can we apply it to our lives? A sword in a person’s hand has the power to take a life, but it does not have the power to change a life. We have for a couple of weeks indirectly talked about change. Are these just words on a page or words that can change our life? The word gospel translated simply means “good news”. The gospel message from God is the death, burial, resurrection of Jesus Christ. It becomes good news for us when we accept it, apply it, allow it to change our lives. The letter to the Romans was written by Paul 58 years after the death of Jesus. It is written to the church of Rome, a church that Paul did not start, a church for many years that Paul tried to get to, but for many reasons was not able to get to . Paul lets that church know that he is praying for them. He tells them that he can’t wait to meet with them that he might impart some spiritual gifts. That they might encourage each other. Paul wants them to understand that the reason he has not been able to meet and be with them is not because he has abandoned the gospel, not because he has changed his mind or his message, but because the ministry has kept him from being there.
There are some things this morning that I am ashamed of:
- I am ashamed at some things that I have done in the past.
- ashamed of the time that I have wasted and the time I have not given God my best.
-ashamed that the USA who declares “In God we trust”, but won’t allow prayer in school.
- ashamed that open-mindedness really is being closed minded to the teaching of Jesus Christ.
BUT, I AM NOT ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL
3 point message this morning:
I The Gospel is powerful
II The Gospel is life changing
III The Gospel is not to be kept to yourself
Illustration:
A minister, a boy scout, and a scientist were the only passengers on a small plane. The pilot came back to the cabin and explained that the plane was going down but there were only three parachutes and four people. The pilot then added, I should have one of the parachutes because I have a wife and three small children. So he took one and jumped. The scientist jumped up almost immediately and said, I should have one of the parachutes because I am the smartest man in the world and everyone needs me. So he took one and jumped.
The minister turned to the Boy Scout and with a sad smile said, as I am sure that all of you would, You are young and I have lived a rich life, so you take the remaining parachute, and I’ll go down with the plane.
Then the Boy Scout said, Relax, Reverend, the smartest man in the world just picked up my knapsack and jumped out
It is not about being the smartest person, it is about our relationship with the Lord.
Apostle Paul understood the power of the gospel. He met Jesus. He experienced the power of God. Jesus has not come back yet, and I emphasize the word yet, but we can experience the power of the gospel in our lives.
I The power of the Gospel is powerful
I have the ability to persuade, but not the power to change a life.
- Apostle Paul understood that there was no power in his words, the gospel power is found in God.
- When we lose our first love, we have nothing to say. When our prayer time is lost, when our study time is cheated, we lose the power in our lives.
Yes it is good news- to those that accept it.
Yes there is salvation- to those that receive it.
It also has the power to accomplish God’s purpose in your life.
One translation-
“I am proud of the good news, for it is the power of God which produces salvation for everyone who believes, to the Jews first and to the Greek. The way to a right relationship with God is revealed in it when man first responds to God’s fidelity, just as it stands written. It is the man who is in a right relationship with God as a result of his faith who will live.”
We can show people in God’s word:
How to be saved
How to keep a right and active relationship
That heaven can be our home.
The gospel message is “the power of God to salvation”- truth revealed to us
II. Gospel is life changing
The gospel is the grace of God
Grace is being given something that you do not deserve.
There is no do-it-yourself- plan of salvation
Christians lack the power of God and they live way below what God wants for us. Because we live in our own strength and what they think they do is powerless for kingdom work.
Illustration-
There is a difference between being willing and being eager. Being willing is knowing that you should do something. Being eager is that you can’t wait to do something. Are you willing to serve God, and it is on the back burner with good intention, or are you eager to serve God and when you get up you can’t wait to get busy and there is nothing more important. If you do not believe that Jesus Christ was killed, buried, resurrected for your sins, that because God raised Him up for our sins we will one day be resurrected out of our sins, the gospel has no power for you- it is just idle words in a book. We live in a cafeteria Christianity. Rejecting portions of scriptures because we don’t like it, only embracing what we want to believe. We live in a post modern world that says Christianity must be kept in these four walls. Enjoy it here, but don’t take it outside. It is not only time to turn the other cheek, that people love to use against us, it is time to run the money changers out of the square. Number 1 best selling books for the New York Times
1. The God delusion
2. The end of faith
3. God is not great
They say that they don’t believe in God, but say that they are spiritual. That is a oxymoron. It cannot be put together. It gags me with a spoon, people are willing to listen to what some man’s opinion instead of what God has to say about it. Every week just when God has something to say, some have to leave the sanctuary, or start thinking about what they will do when they leave, let God’s words change your life. We will make room for what is important to us.
III. Gospel cannot be kept to ourselves.
The power of the church is not the preacher and just the message he/she brings alone. It is the body of Christ fulfilling the great commission and taking the gospel to new people, new way, and relying on the power of God to use it to reach people. Know when the gospel was life changing for me? When I accepted it, not only hearing it, but believing it. Not only that it works for other people, but for me also. Not only knowing that I have to change, but determining that I would allow God to change me. Every week I feel like I have to beg some people to come to church. In Africa, some pastors are asking their people to come every 2 or 3 weeks so that others could get inside the church to hear the gospel. That is the power of the gospel
100 million Christians are in the underground church of China. At that rate, one day China will be the largest Christian community in the world.
Closing:
Paul tells us the gospel is powerful, life changing, cannot be kept to ourselves.
If you are not a Christian, you need to hear this this morning. Believe, and Obey .
Paul tells all of us this morning
Hear Believe, Repent, Confess, be Baptized, Live according to God’s word.
Paul says “I am not ashamed of the gospel”
everyone of us should stand courageously for the Lord.
