He is Risen, Now Be On Guard

Do Not Be Ashamed

1. There was some embarrassment of Christ and Paul.

a. The Gospel was foolish to the Jews and Greeks. 1 Corinthians 1:27

1 Corinthians 1:27 (ESV)

27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong;

Paul the Apostle was in prison, many were condemning him for his imprisonment.

2. We must remember that the Gospel message is scandalous.

3. D.A. Carson identifies four ironies of the cross:

The man who is mocked as King is the King.

The man who is utterly powerless is powerful.

The man who can’t save himself saves others.

The man who cries out in despair trusts God.

Not the Modern Gospel

1. There is a cost for following Christ.

Luke 14:25–33 (ESV)

25 Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them, 26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. 27 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. 28 For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? 29 Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30 saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ 31 Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32 And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. 33 So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple

2. Suffering is a part of Gospel

Mark 13:13 (ESV)

13 And you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

Luke 6:22 (ESV)

22 “Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man!

3. It is because of the Gospel that we can rejoice in suffering.

2 Timothy 1:10–11 (ESV)

10 and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, 11 for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher,

Romans 5:3 (ESV)

3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance,

1 Peter 4:13 (ESV)

13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.

The Gospel is God’s Grace to Us

This is God’s Powerful Grace

by the power of God,  who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace

2. This is Ancient Grace

which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,

3. This Grace is Not a Myth

and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus

Guard the Deposit

1. We have been entrusted with the message of the Gospel.

a. It is our task to faithfully guard this deposit.

b. This is a unique task, as we are called to protect it while we share it with the world.

2. We are equipped to complete this task, for we have a partner and teacher: the Holy Spirit.

2 Timothy 1:14 (ESV)

14 By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.

How will you respond?

Paul names three people in verses 15-18: Phygelus, Hermogenes and Onesiphorus.

Phygelus and Hermogenes turned away from Paul.

The context shows that they abandoned Paul because of his arrest.

They were embarrassed by his arrest.

Matthew 10:18 (ESV)

18 and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles.

3. Onesiphorus searched for Paul in Rome.

a. He publically aligned himself with Paul and the Gospel.