The G-O-S-P-E-L

Introduction

Good Morning. Has there ever been a time in your life when you a bit unsure of something. It could have been something that was too good to believe. That’s until you went to discover the truths for yourself. I was reading about this guy who was tired of shaving. Oh, I’m right there with him. Some of us can get away for maybe a day or two. Others might get away with several days to maybe a week. I’ve considered regrowing a beard, not too sure how long though. So any way, this guy goes to the local barber shop to get trimmed up. Well the barber shop was known to give the best shaves in town. The shop was also owned by the pastor. The guy goes in to get his shave, but the barber’s wife Grace performs the task. Then the time comes to pay the bill. She says 20-bucks. 20-bucks? That seems a bit steep for a shave. The next morning the guys face is still smooth, no sign of the incoming stubble. Two weeks had passed, and still no stubble. The guy could not believe it! Two weeks had passed and he still looked great. He goes back to the shop and says, “I through 20-bucks was a high price to pay, but I got a good deal!” The expression on the guys face was he could not believe what he just received. The pastors wife says, “you were shaved by Grace. Once shaved, always shaved!” This guy knew without a doubt what everyone was talking about was true. He was able to experience this for himself.

That’s the same feeling about the gospel. When we heard the gospel for the very first time. Some of us might have thought — really? There’s got to be more to it than that? Or what’s the catch? For each person who received the gospel and came into faith a bit differently. For some of us it was easier to accept the truth of the gospel. For other’s it took a little more time. We had to investigate what others were saying. We might have even tried to have God prove it to us, or maybe we tried to disprove, only to come the same result that everyone was already saying — Jesus Christ is real, the gospel is real, and He came to His creation.

Paul, including countless others, knew this to be true. You see, if this the first time you’ve heard this, Paul and many others, including many sitting in this room, believed in Jesus Christ and the gospel, that they were ready to die because of what it promised. Our passage this morning takes us into the 1st Chapter of Romans. I’d like to invite you to turn with me there, and let’s read verses 16 and 17 together.

Romans 1:16–17 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. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

Pastoral Prayer

We have come to a very strong, powerful and bold statement. Looking over the course of Paul’s life, he was imprisoned and chased out of areas. He even shared a common trait with Stephen, that they were both stoned. The only difference was Paul lived to tell the story. It’s thought that some pagans in Paul’s day considered Christianity as atheism because of the belief in only on God. With all this going on, there was no way Paul would be intimidated or influenced because of his belief. The gospel in Paul’s day was a stumbling block, just as it is today.

So why is this so hard. Folks, the gospel means good news. Why is this good news? What makes it good news? Jesus Christ is what makes it good news. Long before Jesus was born, His birth was prophesied that a Savior would be born. Jesus’ birth fulfilled all these prophecies. The good news of the gospel is that Jesus came to be the Savior of the world. The world has a significant sickness, and that sickness is sin. So knowing Jesus came as a Savior to the whole world, to save humanity from eternal separation from God is good news. When Paul says, “for I am not ashamed of the gospel,” he glories in it counting it a high honor to proclaim it.

Many Christians keep their faith secret, often avoiding situations where they could be identified as a Christian. These situations might cause us to feel afraid or embarrassed because of the unknown that lays ahead! Many of us like to see what’s coming. It helps us plan and determine a possible course. With God, the course is often hidden requiring us to have faith as God places our foot steps. Paul knew that Christians have the responsibility to proclaim the gospel whenever and wherever they can. Having the honor and privilege to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ, means, like Paul, that we have opportunity on two fronts.

In Acts Chapter 1, we have the promise of the Holy Spirit that will energize and guide us, right down to the very words we will speak. The opportunity we as Christians have is the ability to go. The Bible says in:

Acts 1:8 NIV

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

The Holy Spirit will power and enable to go share the gospel with a lost and dying world. One the flip, there opportunity is for the lost. Those who have not yet received Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior can still be saved, while He can be found. This is the true marrow contained within the gospel. Jesus Christ came for the entire world. He came to die for the sins of the world. This means, when we hear in the news of unspeakable evil people are committing. Say for example, terrorism. Terrorism can happy close or far from home. The thing is Jesus came to die for that terrorist or those who are committing unspeakable acts of evil. Jesus came to die for them too. You might be thinking how can steeling a pen measure against killing a person? They are both sin. And, it is sin that causes eternal separation from God. That is why we need salvation.

Contrary to popular belief, we cannot provide our own salvation. Our sin debt is too great. The only person in all of recorded human history that can provide what is necessary for salvation is Jesus Christ. The word salvation means safe, to be rescued from danger and death, deliverance. The way the word salvation is used here means spiritual deliverance. God’s desire in saving sinners is to forever deliver them from spiritual death, spiritual defilement, spiritual deception and spiritual destruction. Lest we forget, the end of all sinners, outside the Lord Jesus, is the fires of Hell. God’s purpose in giving the Gospel is to change man’s destination in eternity and our life here on earth. This is the magnificent outreach of the gospel.

[Display Verses 16 and 17]

Paul says “to everyone who believes” And, he goes on to say “to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” It’s important to understand this was not an exclusive message. The message was for all people. The Jews were given first invitation because they had been God’s special people for more than 2,000 years. God did not choose them because they deserved to be chosen. He chose them not to play favorites, but so that they would tell the world about his plan of salvation. Being first, then, is simply a statement about the order of God’s plan, rather than an indication of relative value. God does not ask men to behave in order to be saved, but to believe. It’s faith in Christ that saves the sinner. Eternal life in Christ is one gift that is suitable for all people, no matter what our need may be or our station in life.If there had been restrictions on salvation, then I surely would have been left out! I am glad that it is free, by faith and absolutely foolproof!

The word “righteousness” is a very important word. We as sinners are not righteous to stand before God. It is only through Jesus Christ that we are made righteous before God. You see, when Jesus took our sin and in exchange God gave us righteousness. That’s why Paul can say in:

2 Corinthians 5:21 NIV

21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

When Paul says the righteousness of God is revealed, he doesn’t mean it’s just disclosed to our minds. He doesn’t mean it’s just spoken in human history. He means that it’s specifically revealed in the action and the operation of regeneration. That is why the gospel is the power of God onto salvation to every one who believes. And, folks, believing means to have faith. What does the phrase “from faith to faith” mean? It simply refers to the fact that the believer’s life is to be one of faith in God. As the believer’s life is lived in faith day by day, the righteousness of God is revealed in the believer’s life from “beginning faith” to “ending faith.” As this verse concludes, faith is to be the way of life for the child of God. Nothing but faith can put us into the right relationship with God.

Conclusion

We have been given a gospel worth believing and one that is worth sharing. In our time there are many gospels being preached. There is the gospel of religion that says — turn over a new leaf. There is a gospel of materialism that says — your worth is determined by what you have, gain is the goal of life. There is the gospel of liberalism that says — I’m ok and you’re ok, God accepts us like we are and will take us to heaven if heaven really exists. There is the gospel of society that says — do as you please for lift is short. There is only one gospel of Jesus Christ. One gospel that can provide eternal fellowship with God. I thank Lord that He loved us first. The primary purpose of the Gospel message is the salvation of the lost. I don’t know about you all, but I truly enjoy being saved! I am grateful to the Lord that He gave us a salvation that we do not have to worry about.

The gospel is all about good news, opportunity, salvation which gives us peace with God. Part of that peace is knowing that it’s everlasting. And the best part of the gospel is the foundation. It’s foundation is love. Love is the basis for the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ. And, folks there you have it. G-O-S-P-E-L, good news, opportunity, salvation, peace, everlasting and love.

The same message that was able to save then can save now. The same power that worked in Paul’s day is working in our day. All we need to do to see the Gospel work in power is to believe it and to share it. The Gospel of Jesus Christ does not need modification. It does not need alteration. All it needs is for those who know it and believe it to share it with those who do not know it. When we do, the Holy Spirit will take that Gospel and He will draw sinners to faith in Jesus Christ.

Isn’t it amazing that God would take the most important message the world has ever heard and place it is the hands of redeemed sinners? Isn’t it amazing that He would give us His Gospel and then command us to take it to the world, knowing that no one is ever saved apart from the preaching of that Gospel?

Are you trusting the gospel of Jesus Christ for your salvation?

Are you sharing the gospel like Paul did?

How are you doing when it comes to haring that message?

If you’re saved, there is no reason to be ashamed of the gospel message. You know it’s power. You’ve felt that power. Perhaps you’ve seen that power change a persons life for eternity. We should be hot with desire to share it with those who do not yet know its power.

Perhaps you know someone who doesn't know Jesus Christ as their Lord and savior. Why not come to this alter and pray for their heart. Pray that God would give you an opportunity to tell them about Jesus. Pray that God would soften their heart. Perhaps you don’t know Jesus Christ as the Lord and Savior of your life. Today can be the day of the first day of the rest where you are walking with life. Today can be the day you can rejoice “I was once dead, but now I’m alive in Jesus.” How is your heart responding this morning?

Closing Prayer