Untitled Sermon

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.”

Life is a learning experience. We use experiences to teach us lessons. For me, teenage years were the most awkward in that, unless everything was perfect, or to use slang even though my youth tell me I should not, chill, I became red faced embarrassed.That’s the thing about having light complexion, everyone knows something is not right because you turn red.

Ford Sport in the Hood with barking dogs.

Classmates had nice vehicles.

Never voted most popular, but I did ahight. Did not want to bring unwanted negative attention to be picked on.

Looking back I cherish the moment. Could not tell you this story if it had not happened.

Being ashamed is inevitable. It happens. So, Paul, insert resume here:

Planted over 20 churches.

Carried the Gospel to every important city of his day.

Preached to huge crowds and packed out every venue.

Great writer, authored at least 13 best sellers.

Was so filled with the Spirit that aprons and napkins he touched were placed on the sick and they were healed.

Just a Champion of Faith. Paul, never being ashamed of the Gospel, knows that Christians will in this world be constantly tempted to be ashamed. The world views it as foolishness. Being associated with what the Gospel represents will:

Change your social status

Alter what you are devoted to

Chance of rejection, laughter, and mockery

He was sneered at in Athens (Acts 17), and like Jesus was mocked, rejected, and abused for the message he spread. The Gospel is Christ crucified, resurrected, and Alive. We are sinners in need of a Savior. It is the Good News of God’s Salvation.

The Power of God

When we think of God’s power, we may think of:

The Sun

The size of the universe

The ability to hear 7 billion people at once

Volcanoes

However, in Scripture, these wonders are never labeled as “the Power of God. We should not be ashamed of the Gospel because “Outside of heaven, the power of God in its highest density is found inside the gospel.”(Milton Vincent) In other words, in all of Scripture,the Person of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit are the only other things described in this way.

When we proclaim the Gospel:

God is actively at work in reaching the hearts of people.

God is telling wayward people How He Loves them.

It is a vibrant encounter for everyone who responds in faith

THE GOSPEL IS GOD AT WORK

D.L. MOODY SAYS THAT THE GOSPEL IS LIKE A LION. ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS OPEN THE CAGE AND GET OUT OF THE WAY

Closing

The Salvation Paul talks about is more than forgiveness of sin. It carries eternal implications. Accept it, eternal life; reject it, death.

Encouragement: Spread the Gospel, Be excited and unashamed, Carry it from this room and into the hallway.

Jesus hung on a cross naked before the world unashamed.