February 23, 2025 - Gospel Unashamed
Notes
Transcript
For the past several weeks, we've been discussing how Paul has addressed these Christians in Rome (this Christian community in Rome)...early on in this book of Romans
We've talked about - how Paul, understanding the context that he's in...
understanding his lack of a relationship with these people (has not met these people up to this point)...
...knowing this...
It affects how he's approaching them....in writing.
He wants to establish for himself a platform...WE LOOKED AT IT as a BRIDGE...
...A BRIDGE that connected Paul - TO THE PEOPLE ...in love.
A bridge of Gratefulness (his gratefulness to God - for the people)
Edification (he let them know that he was writing to STRENGTHEN them...AND so that HE could be strengthened)
Commission (Paul said that he was OBLIGATED to the people - to tell them the GOSPEL!)
And he constructs this BRIDGE, in the text...
AND - We can see it in the text that the base of this BRIDGE(foundation) is....the gospel itself....
...That he sees the needs of these people, and he knows that the remedy for the needs...is the gospel of Christ
Our verses today will cover the ESSENTIAL PILLAR of Christianity!
And when we come to verses (like today’s verses) - in scripture...
...Verses that are basically the core of Christianity...
It's hard to breeze right by them...
We need to hover here...today and really examine this gospel that Paul is going to speak of.
What can we learn about the gospel that maybe we've never learned before?
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.
17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”
It says - the GOSPEL is the POWER of God FOR salvation...
Sooo - this gospel (the gospel of Jesus Christ) strengthens our faith.
This gospel is about more than just the forgiveness of sins.
*YET some/most people believe that’s ALL it’s about. Most people believe the gospel is merely that DOOR that we walk through (the door of salvation) - at the beginning of our FAITH journey.
But it’s not - it’s SOO much more than that!
And I’m gonna START today - with WHAT IT IS - and then we’ll go look at it in the Bible.
But we need to know that...
The Gospel is more than just...
...the door that we walk through by faith...and then close behind us.
The gospel is not only the door that we walk thru, but also the floor that we walk on.
It holds us up...sustains us and our faith
Not only that, but it's the ceiling above us...that we walk under...
...our lives in submission to it.
It's the walls on either side...that guide us thru trials and thru life.
So THIS is the gospel he is speaking of.
We’re gonna see that the Gospel is...
SLIDE:
The Gospel is...
The door that we walk through by faith
The floor that we walk on, sustaining us and our faith
The ceiling above us, in authority over us
The wall on either side of us, guiding us through life
The Gospel of Christ is ALL of these things...
And so maybe for some of us, it's THIS gospel that we have yet to fully taste.
QUESTIONS TO ASK:
Have we forgotten the gospel?
Have we neglected the gospel as we walk through life?
Have we not yielded ourselves to its power?
THIS is the gospel he is speaking of...the POWER of GOD UNTO SALVATION
So it would be helpful...to first establish what the gospel is.
And THEN - break down the word...Salvation.
What is this gospel Paul speaks of?
SLIDE:
The Gospel - What is it?
Let's go to 1 Corinthians chapter 15 to see this:
3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures,
4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,
3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received:
First off, we see here again, that Paul is declaring that this gospel is not something he invented.
Paul's saying - I received this message...this message according to the Scriptures.
What message?
...that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures...
What's on the table here?
Our sin
A transaction needed to be made...why?
Because by default, death is our destination (eternity apart from God)
So it's clear we have a problem....
An eternal problem.
We need a remedy.
Back to
3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures,
12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—
3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures,
4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,
The remedy?
Christ died for our sins...and therefore removed our punishment of eternal damnation.
God the Son became flesh to save His people from their sins.
10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
Christ died for OUR sins because HE HIMSELF was sinless.
21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
5 You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin.
A sinless savior taking on the sins of the world.
You murder someone, and the day you're set to be executed for your crime, a man comes and says, "put ME to death instead...you're now free...
NOT ONLY are you forgiven....you're NOT GUILTY!"
Back to verses 3-4.
3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures,
4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,
So Jesus died for you.
He was dead.
What do they do with the dead?
They bury them.
He was buried!
Then what happened?
Let's finish verse 4:
3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,
Crucified...
Buried....
and Raised....
Who raised Jesus?
10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well.
19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”
Romans 8:11 - says the Holy Spirit raised Jesus from the dead. (look it up - homework)
This is the gospel of Jesus Christ...
God doing what only God could do...
Reconciling all things to Himself thru the death of the Son of God...
Removing the wrath of God for all those who believe in the Son.
The Son's righteousness (Christ's righteousness) being imputed to God's people...thru faith in the Son.
9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—
This is the gospel of which Paul is unashamed.
NOW -
What are some of the promises/blessings of the gospel of Christ?
Peace with God
1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
2. New Birth
23 since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God;
3. Eternal Life
John 3:16
16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
4. The Gift of the Holy Spirit
38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
5. Adoption into God's Family
5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,
This is the gospel that leads to eternal life...even today.
This is the same gospel in which Paul was unashamed.
And this gospel is about more than just the forgiveness of sins...
1 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.
Do you see this in the text? (3 phrases that we’ll be focusing on)
1 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.
1 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.
1 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.
The Gospel:
...Which you received (justification)
...in which you stand (sanctification)
...and by which you are being saved (glorification)
And all of this under the banner of what? -- salvation
SLIDE:
Salvation consists of: Justification, Sanctification, and Glorification.
AND SO - if PAUL SAID...
“The gospel is the power of God unto SALVATION - and salvation entails ALL of these things...
THEN - -
We COULD ALSO SAY _
SLIDE:
The Gospel is the Power of God Unto Justification: (that which you received)
Because God is a holy God, His justice must be satisfied.
Meaning, when this holy God looks upon sin, that sin must be punished...
...and God is just in punishing that sin.
The Gospel allows for the justice of God to be satisfied in punishing...(punishment poured out on Christ)
...while at the same time, the gospel allows His mercy to be extended freely to His children...
...thru faith in Christ.
So this Gospel is the power of God unto our standing justified before God.
The Gospel allows for...
God’s justice to be satisfied, and His mercy extended.
When a criminal gets away with murder...we say what - "Justice was not served"
With the Gospel, justice IS served (poured out on Christ) and mercy extended in justifying those who believe and trust in Christ.
God's Justice Displays His Righteousness:
4 “The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he.
And so because God is perfectly holy, perfectly righteous...His standard is perfection.
Well, we can't attain perfection....on our own!
Because of this we see that our justification before God rests not in our merits, our abilities, our morality, our good works, our ANYTHING!!
BUT only in the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ unto our justification.
Nothing in that equation about our effort at all!
The Gospel is the Power of God unto Justification.
But that’s NOT ALL...
SLIDE:
The Gospel is the Power of God unto Sanctification: (in which you stand)
1 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand,
So we just discussed the door, right?
The Gospel being the door we walk thru when justified.
But now this verse here says what? - this gospel...in which you stand
This Gospel is also the floor we walk on...
At the end of Romans...
25 Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages
The Gospel strengthens us in our Christian walk.
It strengthens our faith...
AND it sheds a whole new light on Romans 1:17.
17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”
The righteous shall live by faith.
The righteous - who's that referring to?
It's referring to those who have received salvation thru the power of God....thru faith alone in Christ.
Who's righteousness is that referring to? (the righteous shall live by faith)
Their own righteousness?
No - Christ's righteousness.
Those who have received the righteousness of God thru faith in Christ, shall live by faith.
...from Faith to Faith.
And so the gospel is the power of God unto our sanctification...unto our growing in faith...in holiness.
And we really begin to see this when we realize what faith is...
If we're going to live by faith, we need to know what Faith is right?
1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
If you struggle with assurance in Christ...
meditate on the Gospel.
The gospel is the power of God to strengthen our faith...strengthen our assurance.
Let's look at some characteristics of faith now with the understanding that it's the Gospel that strengthens our faith.
So think through these as we go… The Gospel SPEAKS INTO each of these aspect of Faith.
FAITH WORSHIPS GOD ALONE
4 By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks.
• The background of this story of Cain and Abel is found in Genesis 4.
• Abel was a righteous man because of "faith".
• God had revealed to Adam and his descendants the true way to worship, and Abel obeyed what God wanted, and how He wanted it, by faith.
• Abel made a better sacrifice than Cain, and his sacrifice was accepted.
• Cain, who didn't have faith (1 John 3:12), had his sacrifice rejected, got angry, and killed Abel.
• So Abel, being an example of "faith worshipping God alone", obeyed God, and his obedience cost him his life.
And so -
The Gospel strengthens our faith to Worship God alone, regardless of the cost.
FAITH SEEKS GOD ALONE
5 By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God.
6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
• Our faith in God grows as we fellowship with Him, seeking after Him.
• Do you desire to please God?
• Are you diligent in your seeking after Him?
• Do the decisions you make reflect an attitude of "I've gotta have HIM!!" - "I want more of Him!!"
• There's Bible Study tonight? Where? What time? I'm there!
• Where there's a lack of diligence, there's a lack of "faith".
Where "faith" seeks after God alone, unbelief chases its own tail.
• Faith will search for God in all situations and circumstances...
• ...Unbelief will search for solutions, remedies, and outcomes outside of God….and then when those don’t work, it’s back to unbelief…
- which starts the cycle all over again.
And so the Gospel is the power of God to strengthen our faith so that we seek God alone.
FAITH WORKS
7 By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.
From this verse we can see:
• Substance (assurance) - Noah was confident that God would do what He said He would do - bring the rain...That's faith...and this faith works.
• Noah's work demonstrated his faith...
For lack of works reveals dead faith.
And so the Gospel is the power of God to strengthen our faith so that our works reveal that faith.
FAITH OBEYS GOD
8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.
9 By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise.
10 For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.
So by faith, Abraham obeyed, going out, not knowing where he was going.
Longing after the paths of righteousness delights the Lord...
• God calls Abraham to go out...so he goes.
He shows God - Here's my life, here's a blank check, do what You will!
And so the Gospel is the power of God to strengthen our faith so that obedience is our delight.
FAITH WARS AGAINST THE FLESH
23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.
24 By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter,
25 choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.
26 He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward.
This world will do everything that it can to destroy us.
It will dangle in front of us every earthly desire that besets us.
Now, apart from faith, without faith in Jesus, we'll jump at those desires (we'll give in without thinking about it)
I should say it this way - WHEN we give in to earthly desires - NOT IF WE DO - - WHEN we do - we display a lack of faith in that moment.
With faith, we'll make war on those desires.
Sometimes we'll lose that battle, but we'll fight!
WHY?
Because Faith wars against the flesh...that's what Faith does!
And the Gospel strengthens our faith!
And so the Gospel is the power of God to strengthen our faith so that we win more of those battles.
FAITH IS FEARLESS
When pharaoh was closing in on Moses at the Red Sea, Moses didn't fear what he saw...
....he didn't fear what is seen, he pursued that which was unseen.
Walked by faith - Not by sight.
This is fearlessness.
And so the Gospel is the power of God to strengthen our faith so that we have nothing to fear but fear itself.
FAITH IS VICTORIOUS
By faith men and women of old conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, and put foreign armies to flight.
We won't always see the victory on this side of forever, but we know the war has been won.
Faith is victorious!
Of course it is!
Why?
The Gospel.
And so the Gospel is the power of God to strengthen our faith so that we embrace walking in victory.
And so the Gospel is the power of God to strengthen our faith so that we:
WORSHIP GOD ALONE
SEEK GOD ALONE
WORK
WAIT ON THE LORD
HOLD POSSESSIONS LOOSELY
WAR AGAINST THE FLESH
OBEYS GOD
BE FEARLESS
WALK IN VICTORY
And all of this encapsolated in the phrase - the just shall live by faith.
To put it another way...
SLIDE:
The just shall live by faith...strengthened by the Gospel...in which we stand.
We'll see this later in Romans as well:
1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound?
2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?
3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?
4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
Think about it - within 20-25 years after the death and resurrection of Christ, people were already looking to treat the "Good News" of the gospel as a license to sin...
Could it be any more clear?
verse 4 - read it...
The Gospel is the power of God unto our Sanctification. (growing in Holiness)
And lastly for today...
SLIDE:
The Gospel is the Power of God unto our Glorification: (by which we are being saved)
Glorification is God's final removal of sin from the life of all believers...
When Jesus comes back...
The very glory of God will be realized in us.
Instead of being mortals plagued by sin...
...we'll be changed into immortals with direct and unhindered access in God's presence...
...and we'll enjoy eternal holy communion with Him.
52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.
53 For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality.
54 When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”
So these verses are here discussing our glorification...and it ends in verse 54 saying what - "Death is swallowed up in victory".
Who's victory?
55 “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”
56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.
57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Gospel is the Power of God unto our Glorification
And so looking back now:
The Gospel is not just the door we walk thru when we get saved.
It IS that door, but it's also the floor we walk on, pursuing Christ with every step.
It's also the ceiling above us as we walk in submission to it.
It's also the walls around us that will guide us thru life.
SUMMARY:
This gospel is the power of God unto salvation...
the power of God unto justification
the power of God unto sanctification
the power of God unto glorification
IN THIS Gospel - Paul was - - unashamed. (how about you?)
Every step in obedience that Paul took...
Every step in suffering that Paul took...was powered by the Gospel.
AND SO - as life comes at you..
When the WALLS begin to crumble...
When the WALLS COLLAPSE...
AND ALL YOU SEE is the darkened smoke around you...
Preach the GOSPEL to yourself!
FILTER your heartache...
your loss
your worry
your anxieties
your troubles
your illness
your pain
your QUESTIONS
ALL through the Gospel of Christ...
And this REMEDY has ALWAYS BEEN the remedy....
Listen to the writer of the Psalms...
5 Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.
you hear it?
PREACHING to yourself!
Yes, trouble has come...
Your TRIAL is here… - - BUT - - HOPE in God!
PRESS INTO GOD!
He’ll RESPOND!
maybe tomorrow!
Maybe the next day...!
SLIDE:
The Gospel of Christ - the power of God unto salvation (our justification, our sanctification, and our glorification)
May this Gospel (the Gospel of Christ) - be UNASHAMED in our hearts - and our heart's cry...
...for our justification
...for our sanctification
...for our glorification
...and for the lost of this world.
We close with this...
SLIDE:
An unashamed gospel is a gospel that is believed, beloved, and bellowed
Held, Hallowed, and Heralded
Claimed and Proclaimed!
May we be unashamed of the Gospel of Christ - and may we be willing to BE shamed FOR the Gospel of Christ.
Let's pray...
