Shameless

what are you ashamed of? There's a real problem in Christianity right now in that we have been apologizing for the gospel. We've started saying things like "I'm sorry, I don't mean to hurt your feelings, but..."

3. I don't know about you, but I can't imagine the Apostle Paul saying he was sorry for speaking the truth. Because Paul was not ashamed of the gospel! We need to stop being ashamed of the gospel!

4. Paul is not ashamed of the gospel because it is...

A. Expression Of God's Power

B. Revelation Of God's Righteousness

5. Let's all stand together as we read Romans 1:16-17.

Proposition: We need to stop being ashamed of the gospel and start being proud of it!

Transition: First, the gospel is the...

I. Expression Of God's Power (16).

A. It Is The Power Of God

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.” (Ro 1:16–17).

There are two aspects of not being ashamed of the Gospel, first, the fearless proclamation of the gospel in difficult circumstances, and second, the positive confession of the saving power of God to the world.

D. The difficulty of shame for the gospel caused by fear of the negative reactions occurred as much in the first century as it does today.

E. Jesus warned the disciples against being ashamed of him (Mark 8:38), and because of Timothy's timidity in condemning the false teachers in 2 Timothy 1:7-8, Paul had to challenge him to not be ashamed of the Lord or of Paul.

F. Mark 8:38 (NLT2)

38 If anyone is ashamed of me and my message in these adulterous and sinful days, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he returns in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

G. The problem of being reluctant to share the gospel, that is in essence shame, is a great problem among Christians today as it was in Biblical times.

H. So Paul stresses that the gospel centers on the righteous judgment is the revelation of God's faithful exercise of his power in bringing about salvation.

3. The main reason he is not ashamed of the gospel is because "...It is the power of God at work.."

A. Paul is not ashamed of the gospel because it is the power of God at work."

B. Divine power produces salvation not human effort. The gospel is a powerful source that carries with it the call to salvation.

The idea is connected to the concept of liberation from evil powers, and in the ultimate sense deliverance from hell itself.

F. Here there is both a present and future dimension comprising liberation from the power of sin, reconciliation with God and deliverance from the final judgment.

The Good News, as the power of God, can be like spiritual dynamite.

J. Under certain circumstances it has a devastating, even destructive effect, demolishing worldviews and traditions - paving the way for new construction.In fact, Paul says the gospel is so powerful it is "...saving everyone who believes..."

A. This power is especially seen in the fact that salvation is given to "everyone who believes," that is each person who comes to God in faith and accepts his offer of salvation.

K. Placed inside a stone-hard heart that is resistant to God, it can shatter the barrier.

L. God's power in the gospel is not only explosive; it also overcomes evil (Barton, 581). The gospel is about the power of God to save sinners and destroy the power of our sin.