I am not ashamed of the gospel
Romans 1:8-16
Good morning everyone, if you would turn to New Testament Book of Romans 1:8-16.
Romans 1:8-16 Read slowly and clearly
I want to talk to you about the gospel this morning. the gospel for living it out and the sharing it to others that come into your life.
Tim Keller is quoted saying religion is finish the work and the gospel says receive the finished work.
I would add- receive it and go tell others what Christ has done for us.
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.”
We have to ask ourselves the who, what, where, and why questions.
Who is Paul talking to?
What is Paul talking about?
Why is Paul 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 usually does not have the power to change a life.
A lot of people talk about change- not many people are willing to change.
Application of God’s truth brings change- knowing the truth and not applying it to our lives is not change, it is just information.
The word gospel translated simply means “Good News”.
The gospel message is the death, burial, resurrection of Jesus Christ. It becomes good news for us when we accept it, apply it, and 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 different 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 so 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 (1) not because he has abandoned the gospel, (2) 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: If I could change I would.
Even though Jesus is Lord
I am ashamed of some things that I have done in my past.(I know it is under the blood)
Ashamed of the time that I have wasted and the time I have not given God my best.
Ashamed that the USA (my country) who declares “In God we trust”, but won’t allow prayer in school or godly principals to be the foundation of our decisions.
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: here they are-
The Gospel is powerful
The Gospel is life changing
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 you have a lot to live for… "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 NOW!
The power of the Gospel
Good news of the word of God to change a life!
Hebrews 4:12-
“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any double edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”
God’s word lived out by the incarnate Jesus and Holy Spirit inspired to be written down for us.
It is said by Jesus that His dynamic word is active in accomplishing the purpose of God.
The truth is revealed and the author of Hebrews said it is “living and active”!
The power of the word to judge with an all seeing eye, penetrating a person’s inner most being…soul and spirit, and joints and marrow.
Nothing in creation is hidden from God and His word is powerful to accomplish His purpose in our lives if we will let Him.
The passion version of Hebrews 4:12- “For we have the living word of God, which is full of energy; like a two mouthed sword. It will even penetrate to the very core of our being where soul and spirit, bone and marrow meet. It interprets and reveals the true thoughts and secret motives of our hearts.”
I have the ability to persuade, but not the power to change a life. In my own strength, I am limited.
Apostle Paul understood that there was no power in his words, the gospel power is found in God working through him.
When we lose our first love…that is making Jesus Christ Lord of our lives. We lose kingdom power that comes from the anointing of the Holy Spirit to act and operate in our lives and direct our words and our actions. (Repeat)
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
Definition of 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 to do kingdom work.
“I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.”
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.
Question-
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.
Which one is it in your life?
Turn to Mark 10:17-21 read
Mark 10:17- paraphrasing, we see Jesus encounter with a rich man that approaches Him.
He asks Jesus the ultimate question- “What must I do to inherit eternal life?”
Jesus talks about the 10 Commandments and the rich man is quick to say that he has done that since he was a child.
“One thing you lack”, he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
Scripture says that this unidentified Jewish man’s face fell or saddened. Why? Because the one thing that God asked of him was the one thing that he was not willing to give up- thus it was not a total surrender.
Jesus, talked here about the rich man, and it is easy to blame the rich man for not giving of what he has. If you do that, you will have missed Jesus point here.
What is it that you are not willing to surrender to God? Maybe you don’t have a lot of money, then money is not what He is looking for you to surrender.
It is something else- He will make it known to you what it is. He will show you what is more important in your life than Him and He will want you to be willing to give it up.
You may not have too- (Let me say that again) but if you hold unto to it, it is an indicator that you are not willing to give it up.
(26) “The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, who then can be saved?” (27) Jesus looked at them and said, with man this is impossible, but with God; all things are possible with God.”
No one can surrender to God without God’s help. We are by nature selfish and we want what we want.
But with God, it is possible to have the right prospective on the blessings that God has given us and not have such a tight fist on them that we are not willing to give anything back to God.
(28) “Then Peter spoke up. “ We have left everything to follow you.”
My man Peter! He is the one that says what is on his mind! Even if it is not right, kinda like us at times.
How many would be able to say that they have left everything to follow Jesus?
How many of us are willing to be open handed to things in our lives that God has given if He wanted them back?
He doesn’t take everything , He wants to know that He can take if He desires or if the thing becomes a stumbling block in our lives.
I am a work in progress just like everyone else here. There are things the Lord is working on and there are things that I have a hard time giving up- he will bless in our obedience, and He will work on the things we hold unto.
It is always less painful to open our hand rather than God having to open it for us.
Jesus says follow me- the reason we follow is two-fold. We follow for the sake of Jesus and we follow for the sake of the gospel. The good news that comes from what Christ has done for us.
If total surrender to God is motivated by personal gain, we have missed the reason God wants us to surrender to Him.
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.
Number 1 Best Selling books for the New York Times
The God delusion
The end of faith
God is not great
They say that they don’t believe in God, but say that they are spiritual. That is an oxymoron. It cannot be put together.
It gags me with a spoon how people are willing to listen to some man’s opinion instead of what God has to say about it.
We will make room for what is important to us.
Recap-
There is power in the gospel
The gospel is life changing
And the last one…
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 into my heart, not only hearing it, but began believing it.
Not only that it works for other people, but works 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. 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.
Prayer- maybe after the video time.
