Romans 1:16-17 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. (17) For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
In the book of Romans God, through Paul the Apostle, is establishing the basics of Christianity. He establishes a foundation before building thereon, and makes it clear that the foundation of God’s eternal plan is Jesus Christ! 1 Corinthians 3:11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Paul establishes early in this letter that he is not ashamed of the gospel message he is proclaiming and he gives some reasons why that is. Gospel – Greek euaggelion; the good message.
God wants to take away the devil’s weapons of shame and embarrassment, and hopefully replace them with complete confidence about proclaiming the gospel message of Jesus Christ through our everyday lives! We are going to look at Paul’s reasons for not being ashamed and hopefully apply these same reasons to our lives as well.
The Gospel of Christ is the Power of God
Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation…
“unto salvation” – The direct aim of the gospel is to bring salvation from the penalty and power of sin to all who will receive its message, and sanctification for the rest of our lives after that. One reason not to be ashamed of the gospel of Christ is that it is the power of God!
“To everyone that believeth“
This removes dependence all works of the flesh and external works. Ephesians 2:8-9 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. This is one reason simply believing is not enough. People quickly rely on the fact that “I believe in God”…who does the believing? “I do”
Another reason simply believing is not enough is found in James 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. All it takes is sincere faith and reliance on Christ from Luke 8:15 …an honest and good heart…in the power of Christ alone. One reason not to be ashamed of the gospel of Christ is that it is the power of God to everyone that believeth!
The Gospel of Christ is for everyone equally
Salvation and then sanctification are available to everyone. This concept is captured in the phrase “to the Jew first, and also to the Greek”. The Bible says John 3:16 For God so loved the world…, but then the Bible says James 4:4 …whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. 1 John 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world…
This is because salvation is available to those who may have bitter opposition toward other people or even toward God Himself! God’s salvation can heal bitterness! One reason not to be ashamed of the gospel of Christ is that in the Gospel is the power of God that is extended to everyone equally!
The Gospel of Christ Gives Revelations
Revelations About God’s character
“for therein is the righteousness of God revealed”. John Wesley – “This expression sometimes means God’s eternal, essential righteousness, which includes both justice (judging sin) and mercy (forgiving sin), and is eminently shown in condemning sin, and yet justifying the sinner.”
God is righteous because He measures out sufficient mercy and proper judgment. God’s mercy goes ahead and prepares the way for His judgment. How? By making known to us the impending judgment of God upon sin and offering to help us get out of the way…by faith in Christ and true repentance! It’s by His righteousness that He judges sin! It’s by His mercy that He warns us! It’s by His grace that He delivers us!
Revelations about God’s method of revealing truth
“from faith to faith” – in other words “from truth to truth”. God’s method of revealing His truth to us is to do it step by step, one truth at a time. As we embrace the truth that is presented before us, whatever that truth may be at the time, we may then take the next step with God into deeper truth.
It could be a Biblical truth we are to implement, it could be a personal truth we are to deal with, it could be a truth about God Himself, or any other kind of truth that God deals with us about at the moment!
God does NOT heap every truth on us at once nor does He expect us to know everything in order that we may follow Him…we simply walk with God one truth at a time! Another reason not to be ashamed of the Gospel of Christ is because of the Gospel’s revelations!
The Gospel of Christ Gives Assurances
Assurances of our acceptance with God
“…as it is written, the just shall live by faith”. Paul reaches all the way back and quotes Habakkuk_2:4 …the just shall live by his faith. Even in Habakkuk’s day, there were people who were proud and who lifted up themselves against God’s truth. They were not as upright (holy) as they pretended they were. But, they who are justified, and have submitted to the divine judgments of God, shall live by their faith and not die like those who lift themselves up against God!
Assurances of being able to please God
John 8:29 …for I do always those things that please him. 1 John 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
If the Overcomer and Conqueror lives in us, then we are made Romans 8:37 …more than conquerors through him that loved us. If you try to please God by yourself, you have a long road ahead of you, but with Jesus in us, we can please God and the gospel shows us how!
Assurances of eternal life
Yet another reason not to be ashamed of the gospel of Christ is because of the Gospel’s assurances of eternal life!
Conclusion:
The Gospel (good news message) is that which delivers to us all we need to know in order to make it Heaven and be victorious on our way there! Never be ashamed of that which draws you closer to God and makes you more like Jesus!
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