Unashamed of the Gospel.
Romans 1: 1-16
Paul – A Jew, Born in Tarsus in Cilicia, Educated in Jerusalem under Gamaliel, a pharisee and also the son of a pharisee, zealous for the OT law, converted on his way to Damascus where he had intended persecuting Christians, Filled with the Holy Spirit when Ananias prayed for him in a house on Straight St in Damascus. In verse one he introduces himself as: a Surrendered Man, bond-servant of Jesus Christ; a Sent Man, called to be an apostle; a Separated Man, separated to the Gospel.
In verse 16 he states I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation to everyone who believes.
In 1 Cor 2:2 he wrote that he determined to know nothing among them save Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
- WHAT IS THE GOSPEL
The Gospel recognizes the sinfulness of mankind
To understand the Gospel we have to go back to the beginning. God had made a perfect man and a perfect woman. He gave them instructions as to how to live, what they could and could not do. He did not make robots but two people with the capacity to choose. They were told they must not eat the fruit of one tree. Satan temps, they yield, sin enters and fellowship is broken. ‘all have sinned and come short of the Glory of God’ Rom 3:23. ‘In Adam all die 1 Cor 15:22 We are all guilty.
The Gospel recognizes mans inability to save himself.
We see this when Cain brought the best he could produce and how he was rejected. And what Jesus said in Lk 18:11 of the pharisee who told God how good he was when he prayed. ‘Not by works of righteousness that we have done’ Tit 3:5
- The Gospel of Christ – Good news of Christ
Good news of Christ’s birth – not like any other – Sinless. Good news of Christ’s life – not like any other – sinless. Good news of Christ’s death-not like any other-substitutionary
- The power of God to Salvation
Salvation from the penalty of sin ‘He was wounded for our transgressions …..Isaiah 53:5. Salvation from the power of sin – ‘Sin shall not have dominion over you’ Rom 6:14. Salvation from the pollution of sin – ‘If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness’ 1Jn 1:9. Salvation from the presence of sin one day – ‘Nothing that defiles will enter in’ Rev 21:27
- TO WHOM IS THE GOSPEL AVAILABLE
‘To everyone who believes’
Believes the Biblical verdict concerning themselves – a sinner. Concerning Jesus Christ and His substitutionary death on the cross on their behalf. God’s promises Rom 10: 9-10 Eph 2:8, Rev 3:20 Jn 3:16
Paul said ‘I am not ashamed of the Gospel…. He had first hand experience of it in his own life, he was a transformed man. He had seen hundreds, more likely thousands of others transformed by the Gospel. He had seen whole cities transformed by the Gospel. Unashamed because it is God at work. There is none too hard for God, there is none too young or none too old for God. None too rich or none too poor. Whosoever believes..
The one place where we read that Jesus could do no mighty miracles was where He found unbelief. Matt 13:58
Paul wrote this as a Christian – He was unashamed of the Gospel. IT WORKS. He is able to save to the uttermost all who come unto Him..Heb 7:25
John Bennett
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