THE WORTH OF THE GOSPEL

SCRIPTURE PASSAGE

Romans 1:14–17 KJV 1900

14 I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise. 15 So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

PURPOSE STATEMENT

INTRODUCTION

I’d like for you to take the Word of God with me, please, and turn to Romans 1:14-17.

HOOK

What is your most prized possession?

When I was a senior in high school, I had the privilege to go to Europe for my senior trip. We toured many different countries and in each country I would collect a sugar packet. The reason was not only as a memento, but also because I thought the packaging was really cool, keep in mind I was only 17 years old. When my wife and I met, got engaged, and then married, many of my possessions, as well as hers, were combined. She went through them and for her life, she could not understand why these sugar packets were in my memory box. Even after explaining it, she couldn’t get it. I had placed such value on something so small and seemingly insignificant.

As I think about it, how often do we place such high value on things are not that important in the grand scheme of life and how often do we place a lesser value on the more important items?

As we look at Romans 1:14-17 this morning, I want us to begin to reevaluate our lives, specifically in light of the Great Commission and ask ourselves, “How much do I value the Gospel?” In other words, “What is it worth to me?”

Read Romans 1:14-17,

Paul was a singular-minded individual. He lived His life “all-in.” Before Christ, He gave his life to defending his religion, that of Judaism. Then, when he met Christ on the road to Damascus, he pivoted and lived all-in for Christ. To the Corinthians, he even mentioned that he wished everyone was like him as an unmarried person so that they could give more of their waking hours to Jesus.

Today, we might look at him as a fanatic, but this is because we have gotten so far away from understanding the value and worth of the Gospel.

It is the Gospel that is the power of God unto salvation, according to verse 17. It is the Gospel, and only the Gospel of Jesus Christ, that can restore a relationship with the Lord God Almighty. It is the Gospel, and only the Gospel that can save a soul from hell and give an individual eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

I know that we know these truths, but how often do we live our day-to-day lives differently? How often do we by our actions and lifestyle, please a low-emphasis upon the value of the Gospel. For Paul, it was his everything, and God desires the same from us.

As we look at this passage this morning, I want to give you four truths about the worth of the Gospel. As we understand these truths, my desire is that we would live them out in our daily lives.

THE WORTH OF THE GOSPEL DEFINES INDEBTEDNESS | VS. 14

First of all, the worth of the Gospel defines indebtedness. Look again at verse 14,

Romans 1:14 KJV 1900

14 I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.

Paul says, “I am in debt.” “I am a debtor.” I owe a deb and I need to pay it. This debt is living his life for the sake of the Gospel.

THE DEBT ARISES FROM POSSESSION, NOT PRESSURE

Please make sure you understand though, that the deby arises from possession, not pressure. God is not trying to pressure you into living your life for the sake of the Gospel. It is not about pressure, but possession. Listen to Romans 12:1-2 as Paul explains this a little later to the believers in Rome.

Romans 12:1–2 KJV 1900

1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

As believers, we have been forgiven of our sins. Beyond that, we have been given the gift of eternal life. Beyond that we have been given the gift of the Holy Spirit. There is so much we have been given in Christ. In fact, we have been given all things that pertain unto life and godliness. Because of what we possession, our dbt has arisen.

THE DEBT IS PERSONAL

Notice also, the debt is personal. Paul says, “I am a debtor.” This debt simply the pastor’s deby, or the missionary’s deby, or someone else’s debt. No, my friend, this debt is your debt. This debt is a personal debt, and we must see it as such.

Let’s say it together, “I am a debtor.” Ready, begin. “I am a debtor.” Now, emphasize the subject of the sentence, “I am a debtor.” Now, say it again emphasizing the verb, “I AM a debtor.” Now, one more time, emphasizing the reality of being in debt, “I am A DEBTOR.”

THE DEBT IS UNIVERSAL

Notice also, the debt is universal. Paul continues and says, “I am a debtor both to the Greeks and the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.” This is not two separate groups, one of Greeks and Barbarians, and then another of wise, and unwise. Instead, this is the same grouping listed twice. The Greeks were thought of as the wise or sophisticated. The Barbarians were thought of as unwise, or unsophisticated. In this beautifully poetic statement, Paul says, the debt I owe is to the whole world, to everyone.

That is the debt we owe my friends.

THE WORTH OF THE GOSPEL DEMANDS READINESS | VS. 15

Now, make note of a second truth, which builds upon the first. The worth of the Gospel demands readiness. Look at verse 15,

Romans 1:15 KJV 1900

15 So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.

Therefore, because of this deby which I owe because I possess Christ, I am ready to preach the Gospel.

READINESS INVOLVES PREPARATION, NOT OBLIGATION

Readiness to preach the Gospel involves preparation in our lives, not merely obligation. Can I ask you today, “Are you ready to share the Gospel with someone?” God says in 1 Peter 3:15 that you and I are to…

1 Peter 3:15 KJV 1900

15 … be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

We need to have a readiness. Oh listen, we are ready to talk to someone about politics. We are ready to talk to someone about our favorite sport’s team. We are ready to talk about so many things, but yet, we often fail to be ready to talk about the Gospel. Why is that? Could it be because we do not value the Gospel as we ought?

How much time have you spent preparing yourself to be ready to share the Gospel? Did you grab some tracts? Did you read some Scripture? Did you take a course? Did you buy, read, and devour a book on the subject?

READINESS PERSISTS DESPITE DIFFICULTY

Readiness involves preparation, and it also persists despite difficulty. When Paul says he is ready to preach the Gospel at Rome also, he is saying, I am going to Rome in bonds. I have been in prison for a longtime and I know the only way I’m going to Rome is as a prisoner. But that’s okay “for the things which have happened unto me,” he writes the the believers at Philippi, “have happened rather unto the furtherance of the Gospel.”

Paul knew that even in difficulty, the Gospel was still the most valued possession he had. We must learn to use the difficult moments of our lives as Gospel tools, not only to strengthen our own faith, but to also be used to bring the Gospel to others.

THE WORTH OF THE GOSPEL DESTROYS SHAME | VS. 16A

Let me share with you a third truth. We’ve seen the worth of the Gospel defines indebtedness, and the worth of the Gospel demands readiness. Notice from verse 16, thirdly, the worth of the Gospel destroys shame. Look with me at verse 16,

Romans 1:16 KJV 1900

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

Often, when we face difficulty, our flesh uses it, and Satan uses it to pull us further away from the Gospel. We may hear within our minds that if it wasn’t for the Gospel we wouldn’t be suffering like this.

SHAME IS CONFRONTED BY THE GOSPEL

What God wants us to understand is that shame is confronted by the Gospel. Paul saying, “I am not ashamed of the Gospel…” is God’s way of saying, though difficulties come, though sorrows surround, though our enemies abound, the Gospel os greater still. Let the truth of the Gospel shape your life and watch shame dissipate.

THE GOSPEL OUTWEIGHS SOCIAL REJECTION

One challenge we face is social rejection. No matter who you are, and no matter what you think or say, all of us face the pressure of social rejection because of the Gospel. Jesus understood this, and so declared in Luke 14:26-27,

Luke 14:26–27 KJV 1900

26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. 27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.

Jesus came to cause division in families. Not because He desires such, but because He understood the power of sin in people’s lives and how they would choose sin over Jesus. The blinding affect of Satan is powerful for people love darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil.

The issue with us is what we refer to as conviction, or being utterly convinced of something that you would willingly lay down your life for it. Are you willing to face social rejection? Are you willing to lose family members and friends for the Gospel? Are you willig to be written out of a will for the sake of the Gospel? Is it worth that much to you? It needs to be, my friends.

THE WORTH OF THE GOSPEL DISPLAYS POWER | VS. 16B-17

Let’s consider one final truth about the value of the Gospel, and bring it to a positive focus. The worth is the Gospel displays power. Look at the rest of verse 16 and 17,

Romans 1:16–17 KJV 1900

16 …for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

We’ve talked about some pretty steep negatives so far this morning. There is debt we owe, which demands a readiness to live for the sake of the Gospel. And even though the Gospel can bring shame, it has the ability to overcome it, and notice the power that the Gospel displays. Let’ read verse 16 again,

Romans 1:16 KJV 1900

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

THE POWER OF THE GOSPEL ORIGINATES WITH GOD

The power of the Gospel doesn’t come from you and me. Oh no, my friends, it comes from God. The power of the Gospel originates with God. The power, the might, the change agent of the Gospel starts, continues, and concludes with God. It is God who is producing this change in our lives and in the lives of others through the Gospel.

THE POWER OF THE GOSPEL ACCOMPLISHES SALVATION

Notice also the power of the Gospel accomplishes salvation. It is the power of God unto salvation. Never forget that salvation only comes through Jesus Christ and the Gospel, which is Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection. He rose again, so we will rise with Him.

There is no such thing as the social gospel, for it removes Christ. This power to transform lives is found in Christ alone, for there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved.

THE POWER OF THE GOSPEL OPERATES THROUGH FAITH

Lastly, the power of the Gospel operates through faith. The righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith. The Gospel reveals a God-provided righteousness. Our righteousness, as the prophet Isaiah declares, are as filthy rags. The righteousness we have is provided by God through Christ, when we place our faith in Him.

From faith to faith is God’s way of saying, a life of faith is only possible when we start with placing our faith in Christ. From initial faith, to living and continual faith.

CONCLUSION

Do you want this power in your life? Then come to Christ.

Christian, does your life lack this power? It is not because it is not in you. Instead, it is because perhaps you have not placed a correct value on the Gospel. So I ask you one more time, What is the Gospel worth to you?