Not Ashamed Of The Gospel
Romans 1:14-17
Are we ever ashamed of the gospel of Christ...? Embarrassed to tell others about Jesus? Could this be a reason why many are not active in personal evangelism? [Perhaps by examining how and why Paul was not ashamed of the gospel, we might be more diligent in our efforts to share the good news of Jesus Christ...]
Have you guys heard the sin of silence: William Fay the author of Share Jesus Without
¡§Fear says¡¦ many times your witness is sabotaged not by what you do but what you don¡¦t do.¡¨
¡§If your voice trembles, your hands shake, or you stumble over words, God can use your witness, God cannot, however, use your silence.¡¨
Think of times when you could have witnessed but didn¡¦t. Maybe you didn¡¦t want to risk being rejected, embarrassed, or persecuted, So you choose to be silent, that is a sin.
I. HOW HE WAS NOT ASHAMED...
A. He felt obligated to preach the gospel to everyone
Romans 1:14 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.
„à To Greeks and barbarians (non-Greeks), to wise and unwise. Paul here say¡¦s I am under divine obligation before God on behalf of the Gentiles, because God has directly appointed him as a unique apostle to the Gentiles. Secondly, he had an obligation to the Roman believers. This is the kind of obligation a person has to someone whose house is on fire or who is drowning. Paul sees himself as a man who cannot rest until every gospel cent is paid.
1 Cor. 9:16-17 For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for I am under compulsion; for woe is me if I do not preach the gospel. [17] For if I do this voluntarily, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have a stewardship entrusted to me.
Illustration: Hudson Taylor
It was suggested by someone that he had given his life to the Orient because He loved the Chinese. To this he shook his head and answered thoughtfully,¡§No¡¨ because I loved the Chinese, but because I loved God.¡¨
„à In verse 15 we just don¡¦t see his willingness to preach the gospel, but we also see his eagerness as well.
Acts 20:22-23 "And now, behold, bound by the Spirit, I am on my way to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there, [23] except that the Holy Spirit solemnly testifies to me in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions await me. 24 "But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God.
2.WHY HE WAS NOT ASHAMED...
Romans 1:16 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.
„à Paul said ¡§For I am Not Ashamed¡¨ every true believer knows it is a serious sin to be ashamed of our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ. How do we know it is a serious sin to be silent or ashamed for Christ.
Luke 9:26-27 "For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory, and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels
Mark 8:38 "For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels."
„Ã Was Paul tempted to be ashamed, as we are? Probably. We know that Timothy was, since Paul wrote him to tell him not to be (2 Timothy 1:8).
2 Tim. 1:8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join
with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God,
Four Reasons Why We Should not be Ashamed of the Gospel
1. The first reason why we should not be ashamed of the gospel is the meaning of the word gospel itself. It means good news. It is good news about what God has done for us in Jesus Christ.
2.The second reason why we should not be ashamed of the gospel is that it is about salvation meaning that God has intervened to rescue us through the work of his divine Son, Jesus Christ. He reconciled us to himself, bearing our sins in his own body on the cross.
3. The third reason why Paul was not ashamed of the gospel is because it is powerful. It is important for us to understand that the means by which God accomplishes salvation in those who are being saved.
4. The fourth reason why Paul was not ashamed of this gospel is that it is a gospel for everyone ¡V everyone who believes.
John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
Gospel Presentation
1 Cor. 15:3-4 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, [4] and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,
Romans: offers the clearest outline of the gospel.
„Ã All have Sinned - Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
„Ã There is a Penalty for Sin - Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
„Ã Christ suffered the penalty for our sin on the cross - Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
„Ã We must trust Christ alone for Salvation. - Romans 10:9-10 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; [10] for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.
CONCLUSION - THOSE NOT ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL
1 Thes. 2:19-20 For who is our hope or joy or crown of exultation? Is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming? [20] For you are our glory and joy.
Paul¡¦s joy on earth, they will also be His crown of exultation in the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ at His Coming. Commentator: Joe L. Wall what it will be like for those who received this crown:
When we stand in the presence of Jesus at His royal coming, our hearts will overflow with pride,
joy, and exultation because of those who stand with us at that time ¡V those we have had a share in bringing to the Savior. What a thrill for all eternity we will have walking with the crown of joy living and enjoying with us the glorious presence and unspeakable delights of life in the kingdom of the Prince of Peace.
Imagine standing in heaven surrounded by all the people you have influenced for the sake of the Gospel. Your dear sister or uncle or son. Your coworker or neighbor, the person you sat beside the bus, or the many people who have come to Christ through the missionaries you¡¦ve supported. What a thrill indeed. This crown is for all of us who share the good news of salvation with the many people who flow through our lives. It is available to every believer, not just Billy Graham or Greg Laurie.
Are you ashamed of the gospel of Christ? You may be, if you are not...Doing anything to share the gospel yourself. Involved in helping others to spread the gospel
You have no reason to be ashamed, it is still the same gospel! With power to save the souls of men. Revealing the wonderful righteousness of God to save men
May we never be ashamed of the gospel, or of Jesus Himself...
"Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter." (1 Pet 4:16)
With this in mind let¡¦s invest some time now strengthening our ability to witness ¡V to effectively share Christ.
