Good News For All 2-6-2022

WALK WORTHY GOOD NEWS FOR ALL Sunday February 6, 2022 Scripture Reference: Romans 1:16-17 (NLT) Intro. A. Let's begin today by looking at the verses we want to explore today. We have just two verses to look at but don't worry that doesn't mean this will be a short message, LOL. "For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes-the Jew first and also the Gentile. 17 This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, "It is through faith that a righteous person has life." Romans 1:16-17 (NLT) 1. OK time for another dumb question. Have you ever done something that you were ashamed of? You don't have to answer that because I already know. If you say you haven't, I will have to ask how long you have had this trouble telling the truth. We have all done things we are ashamed of and because we are ashamed, they are things we do not want to talk about them. 2. This next question is not one of my dumb ones. In fact, it is possibly the most serious question I can ask you if you proclaim to be a follower of Jesus today. The question is this, "Are you ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ.?" Now you have probably already answered that question in our mind, but can I ask you to hold off on that answer until I finish this message, because at the end of this message I am going to ask it again and you might actually need to rethink your original conclusion. Trans. Let's take a closer look at what Paul is telling us in these verses. The first thing I would point out is that: I. THE GOSPEL IS A MESSAGE TO BE PROUD OF A. Paul Understood His Duty To Preach. 1. Paul specifically addressed this in V.14 when he said, "For I have a great sense of obligation to people in both the civilized world and the rest of the world, to the educated and uneducated alike." Romans 1:14 (NLT) The word "obligation" Paul uses here can also be translated "debtor". Frankly I like that a little better. For me the idea of an obligation sounds like something I really don't want to do but I feel I have to. I guess the word debtor can mean that too, but I like the idea of debtor because that is what I feel, and I think it is what we all need to feel in light of what God has done for us. It certainly is a debt we cannot repay, but in light of all God has done for us, forgiving our sins, giving us new life now and the promise of Heaven how can we sit still or quiet? 2. A few weeks ago I shared that preaching was not Paul's chosen profession. It was God's Divine call on his life. Here is what he said, "Yet when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, for I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!" 1 Corinthians 9:16 (NIV) You may not have the call of God on your life to stand behind a pulpit like this and proclaim the gospel, but if Jesus is your savior, you have an obligation that is just as real and just as significant, and that obligation is to preach or bare witness to this same good news. As we just saw in V.14 Paul felt this debt or obligation to people everywhere. So how do I fulfill this obligation if I have no call to go to the mission field? The answer is simple. I can give so that those who do feel this call to go where I cannot go, can go. Let me encourage you right now to make giving to world evangelism a regular part giving your tithes and offerings. In the Church of the Nazarene, we have a world missions' program that you can proudly support. (tell a little bit) You might be thinking, "Well why do I need to be giving money for people I will never meet?" Can I let Jesus answer that question? Let me preface this by reminding you that these were the last words of Jesus after his resurrection. He has appeared and spoken to his disciples several times, but these were his very last words before being taking up to Heaven. Let me stress again the importance of last words. So here is what Jesus said that answers the question I just poised. "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere-in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Acts 1:8 (NLT) I want to say again that when we end each worship service and say, "One more for Jesus" (insert slide) you and I might not see that one more here in Chino, but I assure you that that one more is being saved somewhere around the world and if you are giving to get and keep our missionaries on the mission field you are a part of making it possible for that one more to find Jesus this week. Trans. Now Paul not only recognizes that this is his obligation, but he basically tells us he is proud to preach this good new. He says, B. I Am Not Ashamed. 1. Some scholars believe that the tone of what Paul says here and based on what he just said in V.13-15 indicates that there were those in the fellowship of the church at Rome that felt Paul was afraid to come to Rome. Remember Rome is considered at this time in history to be the center of the civilized world. So maybe Paul is afraid to come to Rome and proclaim his allegiance to Christ where the only acceptable allegiance was the Ceaser. 2. Now Paul did have reasons to be ashamed, but not of the gospel. At this time Rome was a moral cesspool. It was filled with every kid of evil and wickedness one could imagine. What the gospel stood for and what Rome stood for were complete opposites. This was certainly not a place that the theme of purity of heart and mind and body would be warmly received. 3. Paul could have been ashamed of his nationality. Paul was a Jew and as such he was deemed to be a part of the world population that was looked at by the people of Rome as sub-human. To Romans Jews were only worthy to be cursed and enslaved. Certainly, Paul could have felt that as a Jew he would not stand a chance of being heard. 4. Paul could have been ashamed of his message. The gospel was a message completely unbelievable to many and especially to those in Rome. First it was a message that came from this despicable race called Jews. It was a message of an innocent man who died for the sins of others. That would seem utterly ridiculous to a population that was total self-absorbed. Then the craziest thing about the gospel message is that this same man rose from the dead. 5. There is one more reason Paul could feel ashamed in his human nature about the gospel. Through-out Paul's ministry his message had been rejected and not just by a few people but sometimes by whole communities. Look at these verses. "Her masters' hopes of wealth were now shattered, so they grabbed Paul and Silas and dragged them before the authorities at the marketplace. 20 "The whole city is in an uproar because of these Jews!" they shouted to the city officials. 21 "They are teaching customs that are illegal for us Romans to practice." 22 A mob quickly formed against Paul and Silas, and the city officials ordered them stripped and beaten with wooden rods. 23 They were severely beaten, and then they were thrown into prison. The jailer was ordered to make sure they didn't escape." Acts 16:19-23 (NLT) Why would someone like Paul subject himself to more abuse and he certainly would have known that he would get its full force in a place like Rome. I will answer that in a moment, but first. 6. The sad truth is that there are those who are ashamed of this gospel. For some the fear is social. They fear that if they proclaim this gospel message that they will be cast out by people and groups they think they want to belong to. They fear being mocked and ridiculed. They fear being rejected and being ignored. Some fear losing friends, family and yes even their own lives. Let's let the Bible speak to this. "For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. 8 So never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord. And don't be ashamed of me, either, even though I'm in prison for him. With the strength God gives you, be ready to suffer with me for the sake of the Good News. 9 For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time-to show us his grace through Christ Jesus." 2 Timothy 1:7-9 (NLT) "If you are insulted because you bear the name of Christ, you will be blessed, for the glorious Spirit of God rests upon you...16 But it is no shame to suffer for being a Christian. Praise God for the privilege of being called by his name!" 1 Peter 4:14 & 16 (NLT) "Fearing people is a dangerous trap, but trusting the LORD means safety. Proverbs 29:25 (NLT) "I, yes I, am the one who comforts you. So why are you afraid of mere humans, who wither like the grass and disappear?" Isaiah 51:12 (NLT) 7. I said in my introduction that we have all done things we are ashamed of. As the prophet Isaiah said, "All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God's paths to follow our own. Isaiah 53:6 (NLT) Now can we be even more honest and admit that even as followers of Jesus we have done things we are ashamed of? Again, you can tell me you never have, but I would have to ask you again how long you have had trouble with the truth. Why did we feel ashamed? Because we did something wrong, we did something we knew we were not supposed to do. **Friends, Paul was not ashamed of the things written in this book and neither should we. Do you know why this is so? It is because what is written in this book is RIGHT and it is TRUTH. I want to let Paul defend his position with his own words. "Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced." Romans 10:11 (NLT) "We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. 4 And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. 5 And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us..." Romans 5:3-5 (NLT) "For I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed, but that I will continue to be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past. And I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die." Philippians 1:20 (NLT) "God warned them of this in the Scriptures when he said, "I am placing a stone in Jerusalem that makes people stumble, a rock that makes them fall. But anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced." Romans 9:33 (NLT) 8. I told you last week that I do not feel I am exaggerating when I say that today we ARE the church in Rome. We are living in a time when the moral condition of our society and culture is not that far from what it was in Rome in Paul's day. I think we dress it up maybe better than they did in Paul's day, but if I might use this expression. It's like putting lipstick on a pig. It doesn't change the fact that it's still a pig. Conclusion A. Well I told you when I begin this morning that even though we would just explore two verses that didn't mean this would be a short message. I was wrong in this respect. Today's message is a bit short, because I can't explore all that is in these two verses in one message so I will finish this look at V.16-17 next Sunday. You will not want to miss the message next Sunday because of what Paul said. Today we have talked about not being ashamed, but next week Paul tells us exactly why we can feel this way towards this gospel. Let's just look at his words again. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes-the Jew first and also the Gentile. 17 This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, "It is through faith that a righteous person has life." Romans 1:16-17 (NLT) 1. There is just too much there to try and squeeze into one message, but can I take you back to my original question? Are you ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ? Now I know that we want to answer that with a resounding "NO" and I hope that is true for us, but just as I have been saying I know that we live in a society and culture that finds this message totally unacceptable. So, are there times when we keep silent about the gospel because we fear being shunned or mocked? Do we keep quiet because we fear we will lose our jobs if it comes out that we are Christ Followers? I know these might not be easy words to hear, but we need to hear what Jesus told us. "Everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. 33 But everyone who denies me here on earth, I will also deny before my Father in heaven." Matthew 10:32-33 (NLT) 2. To be ashamed of the gospel is to be ashamed of Jesus, because as we have been learning the gospel is all about Jesus. His life, death, and resurrection. There was a Christian music group 30 years ago that wrote a song called "I'm Not Ashamed". Here is one verse and chorus. What are we sneaking around for? Who are we trying to please?Shrugging off sin, apologizing like we're spreading some kind of disease I'm saying, "No way, no way" I'm not ashamed to let you know. I want this light in me to show I'm not ashamed to speak the name of Jesus Christ. I hope that you and I are ready to say the same thing. We will not apologize like we are spreading some kind of disease. In fact, what we are doing is offering the ONLY hope that is available to mankind. THE POWER OF THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST!! 2