INTRO
I believe one of the greatest evidences of Jesus Christ are the changed lives of the men that we see in the scriptures that claimed to see our resurrected Lord. The greatest of these accounts I believe is the change in the life of Saul of Taurus, later known as the Apostle Paul.
We learn in the book of Acts that Saul in Acts 7 and 9 was the fiercest enemy of the church. He gave his approval to the death of Stephen, caring for the garments of those who stoned him. Paul was given authority from the chief priests to go into brethrens’ houses and to tear them out of their houses so they can be thrown in prison awaiting an unjust trial and quite possibly their execution. Paul states in his account of his ravaging of the church in Acts 26 that he cast his vote against brethren leading to their deaths, and that he had punished them in the synagogues and was trying to force them to blaspheme the Lord. Then he went to the high priest to get authority to go to the city of Damascus, hoping to find everyone (men and women) who were Christians and to arrest them and bring them to Jerusalem.
But we know the story: He is on the road to Damascus “and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him” and Jesus appeared to Saul, leading to his conversion and to one of the most amazing 180 degree changes in a life that has EVER been seen! This man who “was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor” received the mercy and grace of God that made him a new creation. Paul saw in himself what kind of changes the gospel of Jesus Christ can make in a wicked and rebellious life. But he also saw what the gospel can do to others.
When Paul went to Corinth in Acts 18, he came to a city that was full of idolatry and immorality. He states in 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, “Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, 10 nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.”
Paul didn’t convert any “good” people to Christ! The people of Corinth were a sinful people as we just saw in the list of sins that we just looked at. I’m sure that this list was not even an exhaustive list either! These people were wicked, but they were changed by the gospel of Jesus Christ!
Romans 1
From Paul’s past experiences in his own life and of the lives of those who were converted to Christ through his preaching, he was led to make this amazing proclamation about his faith towards the gospel:
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”
This gospel that Paul was preaching has a power behind it that could change lives! He saw this from his experiences. This gospel was reaching the hearts of many through his preaching, Jew and Gentile alike, and was leading men and women to change their lives completely. They left their sinful lifestyles and gave themselves to the Lord!
The question that I would like us all to answer is, “Would we make this same statement about the gospel?” “I am not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ, for it is the power of salvation to everyone who believes.”
I am sure that almost everyone who is a Christian would make that statement. But I would like to suggest that saying it with our mouths and showing what we believe about the gospel in our actions are two different things. We may often say that we are not ashamed of this powerful gospel, but in reality not show it by our actions. Our actions show the complete opposite. Our actions show shame for the Lord and the gospel.
You may be asking the question, “How does my life show shame for the gospel?” I will answer your question with another question, “How did Paul show he was not ashamed?”
NOT BELIEVING IN ITS POWER
First, he believed in what the gospel was capable of. He believed that it was powerful and could change lives. We have already looked at examples of this in Paul’s own conversion and in the conversions of the Corinthian brethren. Do we believe the same thing about the power of the gospel?
I’m sure that most of us would be guilty of making statements like these: “That person is in an adulterous marriage, they won’t be receptive to the gospel.” “That person seems like such an angry or hard-hearted person. He would not be receptive.” “That person is just too worldly and sinful to be receptive to the gospel.” Have you ever made a statement like one of these? Have you made these statements and decided not to share the gospel with those kinds of people? Whenever we make statements like this, are we not saying that the gospel is not capable of changing these kinds of people?
Anyone, no matter what kind of sin they are in, can be receptive to the gospel and convicted of their sin! If the gospel can change Paul, if the gospel can change adulterers, fornicators, homosexuals, and idolaters like the Corinthians, it can change anybody!
On a side note, I would say that we also have a misunderstanding about a lot of people. We tend to be more willing to share the gospel with those who we consider as “good people.” But honestly, when you examine everyone with the standards of God’s word, no one is a “good person.” Paul, quoting Psalm 53 in Romans 3:11-12 states, "THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE; 11 THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS, THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD; 12 ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS; THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD, THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE."
Everyone sins. Everyone needs to change their lives and give themselves fully to the Lord. Just because someone has less sin does not make them a “good person.” Jesus said to the rich young ruler there is only one who is to be considered good, and that is God.
SHARING THE GOSPEL
Paul also showed his faith in this gospel by doing whatever he could to share the message with others!
Right before he makes his statement in Romans 1:16, in verse 14-15 he says, “I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. 15 So, for my part, I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.”
Paul showed his faith by preaching! He wanted to come to Rome so that he could see the gospel at work. He wanted to come so he could see people converted to Jesus Christ. He believed what the gospel was capable of and acted. Could we say the same about ourselves? Could we say that we even have the eagerness to preach the gospel that he speaks of in Romans 1:15? Just the thought of preaching the gospel was something that excited him. He looked forward to the opportunities that the Lord gave him. Do we do the same?
I believe Satan is just thrilled when we are not taking the battle to him. Satan is thrilled when we are spending much time among ourselves talking about the most effective evangelism techniques; “what is better, door knocking, handing out flyers, walking up to stranger and talking to them, just talking to people you know and are close to, inviting our neighbors to our assemblies? Is it more effective to go through a gospel when you study with the lost or to use correspondence courses or a series of lessons that teach the gospel? Satan loves it when we are discussing these things among ourselves if we are not actually going out and sharing the gospel. Can we say that at times we are guilty of talking about evangelism more than we actually do it?
We need to grow in our desire to share the gospel and grow in actually getting out of our comfort zones to do the work of the Lord. If we are not shining the light of God from our lives; if we are hiding our light, we are not being useful to the Lord and fulfilling our purpose as His people. We are showing shame towards the gospel.
FEAR
A third way we can show shame for the Lord and His word (closely connected with my prior point) is through fear of what may happen if we do try to share the gospel.
Read 2 Tim 1:6-7
It seems from the letter of 2 Timothy that Timothy had fear that was keeping him from using the gifts that the Lord had given him. Timothy was not being as bold as he needed to be, quite possibly to limit the persecution that he would receive.
We allow fear to get in the way! We are afraid of suffering for the Lord, which would be nothing in comparison to what Timothy could have received for his preaching.
Paul continues in 2 Tim 1:8, “Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God.”
If we are not ashamed of the gospel, we will not allow our fears of mocking, ridicule, or having a door slammed in our face keep us from doing what we need to be doing for the Lord.
CONQUERING OUR FEARS
We need to conquer our fears! We can do this in quite a few ways.
First, we need to remember that the Lord promises that when we go out to do His work HE WILL BE WITH US! This is what got many godly men through their fears.
This is what got Paul through his tough circumstances (acts 18). Everywhere Paul went he went through many trials. He faced threats against his life. For his preaching he was beaten times without number, stoned and left for dead, and imprisoned. He was followed by Judaizing teachers that would contradict him and harass him everywhere he went. He suffered hunger and thirst, many sleepless nights, and so many other things that 1 Corinthians 11 speaks about. Paul’s life was not easy as a Christian.
When Paul entered the city of Corinth, he had quite a task before him. We see in the chapters before this chapter that Paul went to many cities to preach the gospel where for the most part, the gospel was rejected. But Paul preached anyway. Paul boldly preached Christ no matter what he faced. But when Paul reaches Corinth, we see something kind of strange. We read in 1 Corinthians 2:3 that Paul was afraid. Paul said that when he was among the Corinthians, that he was with them in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. Those are 3 words I would never use when describing Paul. But why was Paul afraid? It could be because Corinth was such a godless society, it could be that all of his previous persecution just wore him out, or it could be that we just don't have the other times he was afraid recorded. But the fact is that at this point, He was afraid. He needed some encouragement.
In Acts 18:9-10, we see the Lord speak to Paul in a vision… "Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent; for I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you; for I have many people in this city." Paul received this encouragement from the Lord to continue his preaching.
The outcome of Paul’s preaching in Corinth --> there was difficulty, but disciples made! Look at text
This is what got Jesus through His suffering (Isaiah 50:4-10). If someone would have had the right to fear and not to endure what He did, it was Jesus! But we see Jesus in right before His suffering in prayer to the Lord to get strength to endure what he would. The angels came and gave Him strength. He knew that no matter what, the Lord was His help!
He also remembered the joy set before Him! (Hebrews 12:1-2)
Is there really a reason to be afraid? Matthew 28:19-20/ Hebrews 12
MAKE TIME FOR THE LORD’S WORK/ SEE THE NEED!
The Lord’s work at times is just not the highest priority to us. It doesn’t affect us much that each day people are being lost and going to hell!
What was the purpose of Jesus’ work?
Do we want to be like Jesus?
REMEMBER THE CONSEQUENCES OF OUR SHAME!
We don’t want the Lord to be ashamed of us! (Luke 9:23-27)
2 Tim 4-Preach the word!
