SPIT IT OUT!
Text: Rom 1:16-17
(16) For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. (17) For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
Humor: Spit it Out!
One Sunday morning after church as I was shaking hands with a young dad, suddenly he said, “Pastor, excuse me, please.” He had noticed his little 4-year-old with something in her mouth. Fearing what she may have in her mouth, he demanded her to spit it out. She shook her head “No!” And jaws bulging out, she kept chewing. Then, again with more authority, her dad demanded, “Spit it out.” She refused. He put his hand under her mouth and loudly demanded, “Spit It Out, and Spit it out now!” Knowing that her dad meant business, directing her mouth down to his outstretched hand, into his palm she spit out a mouthful of spit and a gooey mess which was obviously once an Oreo cookie. It looked detestable. We all had a good laugh.
His little daughter did not want to share what she had but was compelled to do so.
We could also say that we are also compelled to share the Gospel. But not because we have our heavenly father threatening us. No, because it is the most powerful and needful message in the world, and because “The Love of Christ compels us to!”
©Loyd C Taylor, Sr.
INTRODUCTION:
After introducing the Messenger, the Message, and his Motives in the first 15 verses of this book, the Apostle Paul turns the spotlight on the Gospel that he is going to be writing about.
In these 2 verses, we are given one of the greatest summaries of the Gospel ever written by a man.
In these verses, we can see a clear declaration of God's power and purpose in the Gospel message.
Paul's statements about the Gospel begin strangely. He says, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ..." He seems to answer a challenge by bringing us the fact that he is not "ashamed of the Gospel."
This may have been strange to those who knew Paul, just as it may seem strange to us today; for who, or why would anyone ever be ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ?
Why would anyone be ashamed of the Gospel. The reasons in Paul's day are the same today!
SOME REASONS WHY SOME WOULD HAVE BEEN ASHAMED.
1. THE MORAL CONDITION OF THAT DAY: Sinful!
Nero was the Emperor of Rome. He was a wicked, degenerate man.
The city of Rome was a cesspool of sin and wicked living.
The Gospel Paul preached was opposed to everything Rome was.
2. THE BLOOD-LINE OF PAUL: Jewish!
Most know that Paul was a Jew.
Jews were considered by many to be a sub-human race.
They were fit for nothing but to be despised, mistreated, and enslaved.
Ordinary Jews would have been tempted to shy away from non-Jews.
3. THE MESSAGE PAUL PREACHED: Faith in Jesus, a Jew, God’s Son!
Understanding, that the Gospel Paul was preaching was almost unbelievable.
Think of it, the Savior Paul was preaching was a male member of the despised Jewish race, He was said to be the Savior of man, He claimed to be the Son of God, even God Himself, yet He claimed to be a man.
His death was different than other men in that He died on a Roman cross, a symbol of shame, but in dying this death, He was said to have died for all men.
And, if that wasn't enough, this man was said to have risen from the dead the third day after His death. To many people, the claims of the Gospel were just too bizarre to believe.
ILL. THINGS HAVEN'T CHANGED MUCH - 1Co 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
4. THE TREATMENT PAUL ENDURED: Persecuted, rejected, hated!
You see, everywhere Paul went preaching the cross, he was ridiculed, cast out, imprisoned, or treated cruelly.
Many would not have been able to endure the shame of the cross.
With all these things in mind, it is easy to see why Paul would want to be clear about his commitment to the Gospel message.
He would want these people to know that they were hearing from a man who believed his message and was willing to pay the price to share it.
SUMMARY: Now that we know why some would have been ashamed, why wasn't Paul?
After all, many in our day are ashamed of the Gospel message!
What did he know that made him keep on going for God?
What was it about the Gospel that invigorated the Apostle and kept driving him around the world preaching the same hated message?
The answer to those questions is found in the truths that Paul reveals to us about the Gospel.
Notice our Text: Rom 1:16-17 (16) For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. (17) For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
Paul reminds us that we have A GOSPEL WORTH SHARING…
So, Spit it Out!
As the Oreo cookie was sweet to the little girl, so is the Gospel sweet to those who receive it! Let's investigate these 2 verses and see why.
I. THE GOSPEL’S POWER: “The power of God unto salvation…”
A. The Gospel is the "power of God".
The word "power" comes from a word that refers to the "might, energy, force, and strength that dwell within God."
B. The Gospel reveals “The grace of God!”
God could have revealed His power against sin in any way that He chose.
He could have wiped men from the face of the earth. He could have done anything that He wanted because He is the all-powerful God. He can do anything!
Praise God that the Lord blessed mankind by dealing with our sins in sending to us the Gospel of Grace.
Nowhere is the POWER OF GOD so visible as it is in the GOSPEL OF CHRIST!
Think about it! When God takes a lost sinner and saves him by His grace and makes him a new creature, that is a powerful thing. God could have sent us all to Hell, but He instead chose to send us His love wrapped up in His Son, the Lord Jesus.
Romans 5:20, Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:
Grace Greater Than Our Sins
Julia H. Johnston, 1849–1919
Marvelous grace of our loving Lord,
Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt!
Yonder on Calvary’s mount outpoured,
There where the blood of the Lamb was spilled.
Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;
Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that is greater than all our sin.
I thank the Lord that He loved us first - 1 John 4:19. We love him, because he first loved us.
C. The Gospel is "The gospel of Christ." The story of Jesus!
Make no mistake about it, many different gospels are being preached in our day.
There is the Gospel of Religion that says, "Turn over a new leaf."
There is the Gospel of Good Works that says “You can be good enough!”
There is the Gospel of Materialism that says, "Your worth is determined by what you have. Gain is the goal of life."
There is the Gospel of Liberalism that says "I'm OK and you're OK. God accepts us like we are and will take us to Heaven if Heaven really exists."
There is the Gospel of Society that says, "Do as you please for life is short."
The Gospel message Paul preached was “The Gospel of God!”
"You are a sinner, and if you die in your sins, you will go the Hell. However, God loves you and sent His Son, the Lord Jesus into the world. Jesus died for your sins and rose from the dead. If you will place your faith in Him, then you can and will be eternally saved."
Tell me, Which Gospel are you trusting in?
Next, notice…
II. THE GOSPEL’S PURPOSE: Salvation! Deliverance!
A. Why did God go to such lengths for men?
Why did He give up His Son to die on the cross for the sins of humanity?
The primary answer is simply that He loves us.
However, there is more to it than that. God's plan and God's purpose in giving the Gospel message is "salvation."
B. The word "salvation" is very important.
It means, "safety, preservation, deliverance."
It carries the idea of "being rescued from all harm and danger."
God's desire in saving sinners is to forever deliver them from spiritual death, spiritual defilement, spiritual deception, and spiritual destruction.
Lest we forget, the end of all sinners, outside the Lord Jesus, is the fire of Hell.
God's purpose in giving the Gospel is to change man's destination in eternity and his life here on earth as well.
C. The PRIMARY PURPOSE of the Gospel message is THE SALVATION OF THE LOST.
I don't know about you all, but I truly enjoy being saved! I am grateful to the Lord that He gave us a salvation that we do not have to worry about. It is good for as long as He lives!
Next, notice…
III. THE GOSPEL’S PLAN: To the Jew first, then Gentile, then the World!
A. Verse 16 tells us in no uncertain terms exactly how this Gospel message of salvation is activated. Notice that it is "to everyone that believeth."
B. This makes it clear that biblical salvation does not involve complicated religious rituals or ornate and elaborate religious exercises.
Salvation is the product of faith and faith alone! (Ill. Eph. 2:8-9; Titus 2:5).
C. This is the point where many people stumble.
People like to do things for themselves.
They like to feel that they have a part of everything in their lives. However, in the matter of salvation, the sinner can have no part. It is all God, all the way.
Salvation comes to the person who is willing to simply receive the message of Christ by faith, John 6:47; John 3:16; John 5:24; Acts. 16:31.
D. I am thankful that the Lord kept His Gospel inexpensive and easy to understand! My question for you is this, "What are you trusting in this evening?"
Next, notice…
IV. THE GOSPEL’S PLEDGE: Everyone who Believes will be Saved!
Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Rom 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
A. This great, saving Gospel message is for every single person in the world!
No one is beyond the reach of the Gospel of grace.
Notice these words from our Savior:
Rev. 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
John 6:37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
THE GOSPEL pledges that anyone who hears the message and needs the cure can be saved by God's precious grace!
B. Some have been concerned over the term "to the Jew first and also to the Greek."
This shouldn't bother us! God didn't give the Gospel to the Jew first as it relates to priority.
He gave the Gospel to the Jew first as it relates to time.
He had been dealing with the Jewish people for thousands of years, and when He sent His Son into the world to be the Messiah of the Jewish people, they rejected Him, John 1:11, “He came unto his own, and his own received him not.”
Now, the Lord has turned to the Gentile peoples of the world to offer them salvation as well, John 1:12, “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.”
Therefore, salvation is available to every person on the face of God's earth. John 5:24 “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”
C. These verses make it clear that salvation is for anyone regardless of their race, their social standing, education, their ability, their wickedness, etc.
There is nothing that can prevent anyone who wants to be saved from being saved.
The pledge of the Gospel is for every man, everywhere!
Thank God that it is so!
(Ill. If there had been restrictions on salvation, then I surely would have been left out! I am glad that it is free, by faith, and foolproof!)
Next, notice…
V. THE GOSPEL’S PRODUCT: God’s Righteousness, from Faith to Faith!
(16) For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. (17) For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
A. The product of the Gospel in the life of the believer is "righteousness."
You see, man has 2 great problems.
First, Man thinks he is righteous and is therefore acceptable to the Lord.
Second, Man is wrong about the first thing. Man is not righteous, and cannot produce righteousness by self-will, or his works.
B. However, when faith is placed in the Message of the Gospel, and Jesus is believed in the heart, then God takes the sinners and declares them to be righteous!
What man cannot do by effort; God does by His power…
1 Cor. 6:9-11, “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, (10) Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. (11) And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.”
Rom. 8:33, “Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.
C. Simply stated, everything man looks for in religion: peace with God, acceptance by God, a right relationship with God, etc., are all given to the believer when he receives the Gospel message. That is a message worth sharing!
D. What does the phrase "from faith to faith" mean?
It simply refers to the fact that the believer's life is to be one of faith in God, and as life is lived in faith, the righteousness of God is revealed in the believer's life from "beginning faith" to "ending faith."
As this verse concludes, faith is to be the way of life for the child of God.
CONCLUSION:
We have been given a Gospel worth believing and one that is worth sharing.
Illustration: Now if you had a mouthful of Oreo cookie, you may be tempted to swallow it, and not to share it with anyone, even when your earthly Dad is demanding you to “Give it to him!” But if you have received The Gospel of Jesus Christ, and you understand that it is the only hope for mankind, then you must allow your love for sinners to compel you to share it! Spit it out!
Inventory:
Are you trusting in the Gospel of Christ for salvation?
Are you sharing the Gospel as Paul did?
Are you ashamed of the Gospel of Christ?
The same message that was able to save then, can save now.
The same power that worked in Paul's day is working in our day.
All we need to do to see the Gospel work in power is to believe it and to share. When we do these, God will do the rest!
I Know Whom I Have Believed
I know not why God’s wondrous grace to me He hath made known,
Nor why, unworthy, Christ in love redeemed me for His own.
Refrain:
But “I know Whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able
To keep that which I’ve committed unto Him against that day.”
James McGranahan, pub.1883
Disclaimer: First let me say that a large part of this sermon is not original with me, but I cannot recall where I heard it. If this was your original sermon, please let me know so I can give you credit. It blessed my heart and I wanted to share it with you. I am sharing this as one beggar to another; many have blessed me with their sermons, and I hope this will be a blessing to you. This sermon is an accumulation from several sources for which and to whom I am grateful, so I claim only partial originality for it. I have tried to tailor it to develop the sermon to fit my style and audience. I have sought to acknowledge credit to whom credit is due. I hope it will bless you.
