Not Ashamed of the Gospel

We might call verses 16-17 Paul’s thesis statement of the letter to the Romans. These verses summarize this book. In this letter he fleshes out what the gospel is and how it is to be lived out. Paul is not ashamed of the message.

What is the message?

1) All people have sinned against God and are in danger of the judgment of hell.

2) God became man in the Person of Jesus Christ. He lived, died, and resurrected. He was punished by God for the sins of the world.

3) The only hope for salvation is found in repentance of sin and faith in Christ.

Notice the progression:

Under obligation to preach it (14)

Eager to preach it (15)

Not ashamed to preach it (16)

It was the gospel he preached that transformed him into the warrior for Christ he had become.

In the past Paul was ashamed of the Christians. He couldn’t believe anyone would follow Jesus. He had Christians, beaten, arrested, forced to blaspheme, and even killed.

Galatians 1:13

For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it.

Because of his past Paul called himself the least of the Apostles (1 Cor. 15:8-10).

Paul hated the gospel, and he was proud of it!

Now he loved the gospel and was unashamed of it!

If you’re saved, you love the gospel. You will be tempted to be ashamed of the gospel. This morning I am going to encourage you to never be ashamed of the gospel that brought you to salvation.

1. The world wants us to be ashamed (16).

A. It will attempt to humiliate us through persecution.

Rome crucified tens of thousands of people. One stands out among them all. His name is Jesus. Three things about crucifixion:

1) To shame- publicly beaten, stripped naked, hung often for days, a public spectacle

2) To torture- carried the beam, pierced/tied, slow death, bugs and birds.

3) To kill – capital punishment

Crucifixion was humiliating to the Romans. To identify with one who was crucified was considered shameful.

We took their instrument of shame, torture and death! We hang it in our homes, wear it around our necks, display it in our churches because we are not ashamed of the One they crucified!

Jesus was killed under Tiberius. Nero came and he was worse (54-68 AD).

Had Christians covered in animal skins and given to the wild dogs.

Had Christians dipped in pitch, tied to posts, and lit on fire.

Had Christians crucified/beheaded.

Other emperors would continue the persecution against Christians. It always involved shame, humiliating them.

B. It will attempt to humiliate us through philosophy.

The Greeks gloried in their intellect. Rome was a place of:

Many gods

Loose morality

Pride

Rejection of resurrection/life after death

To the Greek philosophers Paul was a fool, narrow minded, unlearned.

Paul’s response to the Greeks was:

“the foolishness of God is wiser than men!” (1 Cor. 1:25)

I am a fool for Christ’s sake (1 Cor. 4:10).

Our young people are at risk today through the philosophies of this world.

The “learned” of our day will mock them, laugh at them.

You believe the Bible?

You believe in sin?

You believe in an afterlife?

These are people who offer no answers, only critiques. They are not sure enough to say anything is true. When they do they make fools of themselves.

Richard Dawkins- One of the most famous evolutionists of our time on how life came to earth- Possible an evolved alien race came to earth and planted life here.

When pressed the smartest of people sound foolish.

The world is telling you:

Something came from nothing.

Boys can be girls and girls can be boys.

A living, kicking, breathing baby in a womb is not a person.

C. We boast in the gospel.

Not only are we not ashamed of it- We glory in it! It was an understatement to say Paul was not ashamed of the gospel.

Someone says “You believe the gospel? We say “You don’t? Why wouldn’t you?”

Because of the gospel I have:

Peace with God- my guilt is gone

Purpose in suffering- all things are working together

Place to go when I leave this world- best days are always ahead.

I’ll tell the world, that I’m a christian,

I’m not ashamed, His name to bear;

I’ll tell the world, that I’m a christian,

I’ll take Him with me anywhere.

I’ll tell the world, how Jesus saved me,

and how He gave me a life brand new;

And I know that if you trust Him,

that all He gave me, He’ll give to you.

2. The gospel is nothing to be ashamed of (16).

A. It’s power is nothing to be ashamed of.

“power” The gospel works.

Paul had seen its power in:

Corinth

Ephesus

Thessalonica

Galatia

All over the Eastern part of the Roman Empire

“unto salvation” people were getting saved everywhere.

Salvation includes:

Regeneration-In his own life on that Damascus Road.

Justification

Sanctification

Glorification

The Gospel takes us from the new birth to the New Jerusalem.

How’d you get saved?- The gospel!

How’d you get such confidence with God?- The gospel!

How’d you change your life?- The gospel!

How’d you get to heaven?- The gospel!

B. It’s simplicity is nothing to be ashamed of.

“everyone who believes”

Objections to simplicity:

1) “I know someone who believes, and they are no different than me.”

Dead faith/Living faith

If the gospel did not work, it was not believed. If it is believed it will change a person’s life.

2) “That’s too easy!” Anything else would be too hard!

Salvation by works is impossible. Who can live a perfect life?

Christmas Evans (one eyed Baptist preacher from the late 1700’s and early 1800’s) used to say, “You could put a man in a barrel, ties his hands, handcuff him, nail the lid on, and whisper through a knothole how to be saved and he could be saved.”

Simplicity!

Easy? No! Simple? Yes!

Nothing easy about what Jesus did on that cross for you!

C. It’s diversity is nothing to be ashamed of.

“The Jew first and also to the Greek”

God brought both Jew and gentile, in that order, to himself through the gospel.

In an age of diversity people should love the gospel.

Anyone can be saved. Anyone can go to heaven.

Two conditions:

Repentance

Faith

You will never encounter a person or culture that does not benefit from the gospel. Everyone needs to be saved. Anyone can be saved.

In addition to that, no matter what sin a person is trapped in, they can be saved.

2 Cor. 5:17 “If any man…”

The Muslim can have his religion changed

The drunk can have his addiction removed.

The homosexual can have his desires changed

The violent man can become gentle

Our world has given up on people- That’s just the way they’ll always be!”

God doesn’t give up! The gospel can change anyone!

3. The gospel cannot be stopped (17).

A. God has revealed the gospel.

“The righteousness of God is revealed”

God revealed to us how we would be saved.

The gospel shows us that God is righteous. God is holy, we have sinned, we deserve judgment.

The gospel shows us how to be made righteous. Jesus takes our place and gives us His righteousness (imputed).

We would have never thought of this!

Left to figure it out on our own we would have:

Clung to our own righteousness.

Invented a system of worship that is idolatrous.

God has revealed the gpospel. The gospel will always be revealed.

Until Jesus comes back it will be preached.

In heaven the gospel will be proclaimed. Not salvation, but for glorifying the Lord.

Listen to these words from Revelation 5:

And they sang a new song, saying,

“Worthy are you to take the scroll

and to open its seals,

for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”

Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice,

“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain,

to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might

and honor and glory and blessing!”

You can’t put the gospel away. It has been revealed and always will be.

B. The saved persevere (17).

“from faith for faith”

Saving faith leads to sanctifying faith.

The faith one has on the gospel continues. Those who are truly saved don’t stop believing the gospel.

The righteous will live by faith. Not just a moment of faith. It’s ongoing.

If you’re saved today, you’ll be saved tomorrow. If you’re not saved tomorrow, you weren’t saved today.

God will make sure there are believers in this world. You may not have much company in this world but you will have some.

Elijah thought he was the only prophet left in the world. The Lord had o rebuke him (1 Kings 19:18).

The devil might tempt you to be ashamed by telling you you’re the only one that believes. Don’t believe him.

C. When everything comes to an end the gospel will prevail.

When you die you will love the gospel even more than you do now.

The old hymn says:

When this poor lisping, stammering tongue

Lies silent in the grave,

Then in a nobler, sweeter song,

I’ll sing Thy power to save:

If you live until Jesus returns you will see the gospel prevails.

Those looking believed the gospel. Hallelujah or help?

There will be a separation by the gospel: sheep and goats

To be ashamed of the gospel is to be ashamed of Jesus. Don’t do that.

Love the gospel.

Live the gospel.

Proclaim the gospel.

Defend the gospel.