Are We Ashamed Of The Gospel? – Romans 1.16-17

 16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. 17 For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith” (Romans 1.16-17).[1]
 
Memory Verses: For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes (Romans 1.16).

      In the past several weeks we have studied the longest Psalm, Psalm 119, looking at how God’s Word should be applied to our lives in a variety of ways. Helping us to handle all kinds of situations and circumstances, but most importantly we are always to let His Word be a “lamp unto our path and a light unto our feet” (Psalm 119.105). The reason the Psalmist was so concerned with us knowing God’s Word was so we “could hide it within our hearts so we would not sin against God” (Psalm 119.11).
      Next, we moved through the book of Colossians. Paul wrote this letter to the church at Colossae to encourage them, remind them about Christ, and how they should live their lives as believers. We learned how to be thankful in all things (I Thessalonians 5.17), especially to hope in the Word of truth (Colossians 1.5).
      Finally, we studied the Romans Road; learning verses to help us understand God’s amazing grace, love, and forgiveness. We saw how God’s righteousness was poured out onto us, through His Son Jesus Christ, and His salvation is available to everyone of us regardless of our status, position, or worth. God only cares about our heart and the choice we make, have we said, “yes to His Son’s sacrifice or not?”
      So, for the next several lessons we are going to look deeper into the gospel of Jesus Christ. Into what it means, how it is applied to our lives, it’s amazing truth’s and how it can be applied to our lives. As we started several weeks back there will be a memory verse associated with each lesson, and question which is designed to help us think deeper into the Word of God. The more we take time to read God’s Word and study it the more the Holy Spirit will reveal to us, and help us understand.
      So, let us begin with Paul’s letter to the church at Rome. He had always desired to go to Rome and visit the church there, but was never able to. He wrote this letter to encourage the Christians in Rome to stand fast in the face of adversity, because in the end, no matter what might happen to them Christ would be glorified. Glorified He was, as the Romans Christians were being expelled from Rome by Emperor Claudius in a.d. 49; the “testimony of Jewish Christians had so incited the nonbelieving Jews that the turmoil threatened the peace of the whole city. The believers had, then, a powerful testimony not only in the city, but throughout the whole world.”[2]
      Paul exclaimed how proud he was of their faith in Christ Jesus and how he was trying to come and be part of what God was doing in Rome but was unable to get there. He tells them, he is obligated to spread the gospel to everyone, as he has been doing and really wants to share in Rome. It does not matter to him if they are Greek or non-Greek, he will share the Word of God with anyone who will listen, this is why he wants to get to Rome.
      This is the same type of attitude we all should have with sharing the Word of God, the gospel, it should be a deep burning desire, something we can not get rid of, something which we must do, anywhere, everywhere, at any time, all the time. However, for many of us, we are too afraid to tell someone we are even a Christian, or that we even go to church let alone that we are a believer in Christ Jesus. If we were to carry our Bible to school, or the work place what might people think of us? Would they make fun of us, treat us poorly, mock us, call us names or worse?
      Paul said, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes” (Romans 1.16, ESV).[3] “I am not ashamed…” not ashamed to share, to tell, to go, to do, to obey, to be where God wants us to be; “I am not ashamed…” This does not mean when we feel great, when the mood strikes us right, or when all things are correct for it to be “easy for us.” This is not what Paul means when he said, “I am not ashamed…”
      Of course, what is it we are not ashamed of? The gospel, the gospel of Jesus Christ. There is no other gospel other than that of Jesus Christ. This gospel is the good news of His saving grace and love for each and every one of us. How He died on the cross in our place, was buried and rose again on the third day by the power of God and now sits at the right hand of the Heavenly Father.
      This is the gospel we cannot, must not be ashamed to tell others about. But there is more, so much more. The gospel has “power,” dynamis power, this is where we get our word for dynamite. It is compact, yet is potent and powerful. When the fuse is lit, it can take down the tallest buildings and break the hardest rocks. This is the kind of power the gospel possesses, when we wield it in the power and strength of our Lord and Savior, there is nothing which can stop us. Nothing can prevent its truths from being made known. It has the power of God, for salvation to everyone who will believe. The gospel, is powerful, and we have the opportunity to share it, to see it change the hardest lives for Christ. What will we do with all this power? Will we sit on it, hide it, waste it, or let it run free and share it with the world, the lost and dying world?   
              
Application

1. When was the last time you shared the gospel of Jesus Christ with someone? How did that opportunity go? What would you do differently? Please explain.
2. If you have not shared the gospel with anyone, why not? Is it because you are afraid? What are you afraid of? Write out all your fears of sharing the gospel, now list how God can help you overcome them—place a scripture by each one to remind you of God’s promise to help. Please explain.
3. Deeper Thinking: In I Corinthians 1.18-24 Paul speaks of the ‘Power of God’ how is this ‘power’ the same as the ‘power’ found in Romans 1.16?  Please explain and share some scriptures.
4. Make a commitment today to share the gospel with at least one person and memorize Romans 1.16.

 
 Prayer
         
670          Not ashamed of the Gospel. C. M.
     1 I’M not ashamed to own my Lord,
Or to defend His cause;
Maintain the honour of His word,
The glory of His cross.
     2 Jesus, my God! I know His name,
His name is all my trust;
Nor will He put my soul to shame,
Nor let my hope be lost.
    3 Firm as His throne His promise stands,
And He can well secure
What I’ve committed to His hands,
Till the decisive hour.
    4 Then will He own my worthless name
Before His Father’s face;
And in the New Jerusalem
Appoint my soul a place.[4]

       Our Father Who art in Heaven, how mighty Your Name is, and greatly to be praised. Your kingdom come Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. You’re are the Creator of all, all was created for You and by You. Lord use me as You see fit today as I am Your humble servant. Help me to be bold in sharing Your gospel with others, and not to be ashamed of You or what You have done for me. All this I pray in Your Son Jesus Christ’s Name, Amen.

[1] The New International Version. (2011). (Ro 1:16–17). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
[2] MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (1991). Romans (Vol. 1, pp. 35–36). Chicago: Moody Press.
[3] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Ro 1:16). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
[4] Spurgeon, C. H. (1883). Our Own Hymn Book: A Collection of Psalms and Hymns for Public, Social and Private Worship. London: Passmore & Alabaster.

You Can Download This Blog Here – November 14 – Romans 1.16-17