Unashamed for the Gospel

Introduction:

One thing I don’t want to take for granted is that we all know what the work of God is.

It is very easy for us to throw around terms like ministry, winning the lost, and the gospel; but do we fully understand the message that we are proclaiming.

In short, the work of God is the redemption of mankind and salvation from the condemnation of sin.

How does God redeem the world from his sin?

How does God give grace when a man doesn’t deserve that grace?

How does God’s redemption change a person to walk with God?

What is God doing with Israel today?

How am I supposed to live now because of this message?

We will find the answers to all of these questions and many more as we study the book of Romans. Some of you will discover a salvation in the pages of this book that you have never known and you will have the opportunity to receive it. Others of you will finally understand exactly what God did for you and to you when you received His salvation. And some of you will make this message an active part of your life, because you will see the mission of God.

God has given us the greatest message and ministry that the world has every seen.

When you understand the gospel there is nothing more important.

Mark 8:36 ESV

36 For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?

When you understand the gospel there is nothing more powerful.

Franklin Gram, “There is only one thing powerful enough to transform hearts and lives from the inside out and to deliver us from the penalty and power of sin—it is the Gospel of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.”

What makes us feel ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ?

Franklin Gram, the founder of Samaritans purse said,

“There is only one thing powerful enough to transform hearts and lives from the inside out and to deliver us from the penalty and power of sin—it is the Gospel of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.” Franklin Gram

So why wouldn’t we be overwhelmed and overjoyed to share this beautiful message of the gospel.

What makes us feel ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ?

The Problem

The Problem

A lack of comprehension: misunderstandings.

What if someone asks me a question?

What if I don’t say the right things?

What if I mess it up?

A lack of courage: missed opportunities.

The Spirit is willing but the flesh is week.

I don’t speak well.

Who am I that God would use me.

A lack of consistency in your walk: misdirection.

My walk is saying something different than my talk.

“Don’t follow me as I follow Christ.”

I need to fix some things first.

People who know the real me would not follow me.

A multitude of compounding pressure: misleading.

There are so many beliefs out there.

“He seams smarter than I am.”

They think and talk faster than I do.

“I don’t feel I’m equipped to defend God.”

A compromised past: mistakes.

You will never share God’s love until you are able to receive God’s love.

God would never use someone that has done what I have done.

So let’s dive in and discover what it means to live “Unashamed” for the Gospel.

Romans 1:1 ESV

Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God,

Rom 1:1

To live unashamed for the gospel you must be set apart to it.

A. Separation always comes with a purpose. ()

1. God separates you to reveal his Son in you.

a) The glory of Christ is revealed to you through God’s Word (; )

b) You are to be changed into his glory to reveal it to others.

2. God separates you to preach his Son to the lost.

A. Jesus Christ was set apart to the gospel.

1. The Gospel or “Good news” is God’s plan of redemption through the ages.

Romans 1:2 ESV

which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures,

2. The Gospel is fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

Romans 1:3–4 ESV

concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord,

a) Christ is the King to sit on the throne of David.

b) Christ is God in flesh

John 1:14 ESV

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

, “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”

Matthew 1:21–22 ESV

21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:

Matthew 1:20–21 ESV

20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

Matthew 1:21–23 ESV

21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).

Matt

Matt

b) Christ secured the gospel message of redemption through his death and resurrection for our sins.

c) Christ was raised from the dead by the power of God. ()

B. We are also set apart to the gospel through Jesus Christ.

Romans 1:5 ESV

5 through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations,

3. The result of the good news of Jesus Christ (1:5-7)

Rom 1:5

a) We have recieved grace and new life.

b) We have received new purpose in life.

(1) Be obedient to the faith

(2) Be a witness to all nations

(3) For his name sake

c) We have received a new relationship with God.

1 John 3:1 ESV

1 See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.

(2) We are called to be saints of God

(3) We are at peace with God through His grace.

To live unashamed for the gospel you must be committed to it.

I want to give you 3 things to focus on that will build your confidence and commitment level for the gospel.

Be committed to people

Be committed to prepare

Be committed to proclaim

A. Be committed to people

1. Love People

Romans 1:9–10 ESV

9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you 10 always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God’s will I may now at last succeed in coming to you.

Rom 1:

1. Encourage them in the faith (1:8-9)

1. Encourage them in the faith (1:8-9)

a) Learn to love people with the love of Christ.

b) Pray for the salvation of people.

b) Pray for divine appointments with people.

2. Long For People

Romans 1:10

Romans 1:11 ESV

For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you—

Romans 1:14–15 ESV

14 I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. 15 So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.

Rom 1:14-15

a) Long for people to have what you have with God.

b) Share the blessings of God with those around you.

c) Desire to fellowship with them

C. Link Up With People (1:14)

1. Be sensitive to the culture around you

2. Find some common ground

3. Change to meet their need ()

a) Understand their religion

b) Understand their morals

c) Understand their position in society.

B. Be committed to prepare.

1. Prepare yourself through life changing discipleship.

B. Prepare yourself to fight for the souls of men ()

2. Submit to the truth of the Bible

B. Prepare yourself to fight for the souls of men ()

a) The disciples walked 3 years with Christ in discipleship.

1. Be ready to suffer for righteousness

b) Paul spent 14 years preparing for his ministry of the gospel.

c) I spent 9 years in school learning the ways of the gospel.

d) Discipleship will take you a year of training. There is no quick fix to the problems that hinder the gospel. It just takes time to prepare.

a) Sufferings are produced by evil things

b) Sufferings bring witnessing opportunities

2. Be ready to give an answer for your hope.

1 Peter 3:15–16 ESV

15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, 16 having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.

1 Peter 3:

a) Answer with controlled power (meekness)

b) Answer with respect for God and others (fear)

C. Be committed to proclaim.

Romans 1:16 ESV

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.

1. The gospel is the power to change lives.

2. The gospel produced faith toward God.

b) The gospel is for everybody

c) The gospel is powerful for those that believe.

2. Proclaim the faith and righteousness of God.

1. People must have a relationship with God that only comes through righteousness.

a) This relationship is only obtained through faith

, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:(9) Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

Ephesians 2:8–9 ESV

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

b) Faith produces righteousness of God.

Romans 1:17 ESV

For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

The goal of this study is for you to move from ashamed to unashamed, for you to walk in the power of the gospel and watch God change lives all around you.

So what are the 3 things that cause us to feel ashamed of the gospel

Review:

Everyone of use have choices to make concerning the gospel.

Are you set apart to the gospel?

Have you received the message of Jesus?

Have you separated from the world to follow Christ?

Are you committed to the gospel?

Have you determined that the gospel is worthy of your life?

Are you ready and willing to share the good news no matter what the cost?