Aug. 25, 2002 Northwest Bible Church
Rom. 1:16
Not Ashamed of the Gospel
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INTRO
Rom. 1:16-17 have been described as a summary of the content of the whole book of Romans, or as a summary of Paul’s theology as a whole, or as the essence of the doctrine of the whole Word of God.
There are several key elements in these two verses: 1) Paul’s assertion that he is not ashamed of the gospel, 2) Why he is not ashamed of the gospel, 3) A general summary of the gospel.
I. CHRISTIANS MUST NOT BE ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL (v. 16).
A. What being ashamed of the gospel means. We are ashamed of the gospel when we don’t want to be identified with it out of fear of being mocked, ridiculed or despised.
B. Why we are tempted to be ashamed of the gospel.
1) The world ridicules the gospel today just as it did in the first century.
a) The reaction of the political system.
b) The reaction of the cultural centers.
c) The reaction of the intellectual centers.
d) The reaction of the religious institutions.
2) Our faith is sometimes weak and we are prone to fear man more than God.
II. CHRISTIANS SHOULD BE BOLD.
A. Boldness is linked to the nature of discipleship.
We are taught by Christ (Mt. 5:13-16) that we are the light of the world, a city set on a hill which cannot be hidden, that we are to let our light shine before men in such a way that they may see our good works and glorify God, and that we are not to put our light under the lampstand. But the world despises Christ and His gospel and laughs at it and we naturally want to avoid such ridicule. We will never be a bold witness for Christ and stand up against such temptations to cowardness until we deny self, take up our cross and follow Christ.
John Tewkesbury is a shining example of a London merchant who was not ashamed of the gospel.
B. Boldness is the work of the Spirit in us, Acts 1:8.
Don’t fear men, fear God. Matt. 10:28 "And do not fear those who kill the body, but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell."
C. Boldness is essential to true faith.
Matt. 10:32 "Everyone therefore who shall confess Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven.
Matt. 10:33 "But whoever shall deny Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.
Mark 8:38 "For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels."
2 Tim. 2:12 "If we deny Him, He also will deny us."
1John 2:28 "And now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming."
CONCLUSION
Let us resolve, with God’s help, to say with Paul, "I am not ashamed of the gospel."
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