Romans Series #3
Romans 1:16
(1 Corinthians 1:18-25 NASB) "For the word of the cross is to those who are perishing foolishness, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. {19} For it is written, "I WILL DESTROY THE WISDOM OF THE WISE, AND THE CLEVERNESS OF THE CLEVER I WILL SET ASIDE." {20} Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? {21} For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. {22} For indeed Jews ask for signs, and Greeks search for wisdom; {23} but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block, and to Gentiles foolishness, {24} but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. {25} Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men." Of these truths and the Gospel connected to them Paul declares in our text for today, (Romans 1:16 NASB) "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek."
"I am not ashamed of the gospel!" What do you suppose prompted Paul to make this strong declaration. Had he heard of some believers who were ashamed to speak of their Lord in Rome? Or, might he be speaking out against his own flesh which was fearful or timid in certain circumstances. Paul elsewhere reveals that he constantly fought against the sinful desires of his flesh. He had to buffet his body to bring it into subjection to God's truth. Still it was only by grace and imparted strength that he made his flesh behave righteously. So, it could be that he speaks for his own ears as well as the ears of others. "I am not ashamed of the Gospel for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek."But why would Paul need to say such a thing to these Romans. Could it be that Christians and Ministers as well were often intimidated by just being in Rome. Think about it. Think of the magnificence of Rome, its power, culture, and the great minds that lived in that day. The great thinkers, writers and teachers were many and are still respected and read by millions today. Think about the religions of Rome. They were old, established, impressive, revered for centuries. Then think about Paul. In the first place an outcast of Judaism, a man of no political import, small in stature say historians, a representative of no recognized King, Governor or Lord. He was a man with a message about a carpenters son brought up in insignificant Judea. Jesus was His name. He lived about thirty three years. He preached the kingdom of God and performed miracles. Then He suffered the death of a criminal in the company of thieves. Paul's message went on to claim that this same Jesus who died had risen from the dead. In His Gospel Paul said that Jesus was no mere man but was in fact the Son of Living God come to earth to save sinners from a certain hell. Surely Rome and all its wise men would laugh at such a tale. Those who only posses human wisdom always do.
Nevertheless this was the message Paul sent by letter and was intent on preaching in person, if the Lord willed. From a human perspective he was a fool. He should have been ashamed of himself for preaching such a fairy tale to the great people of Rome! But instead he declares, "I am not ashamed of the Gospel for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek!"
This is not the only place Paul makes it clear that he is not ashamed of the Gospel of God. Look with me to 2 Timothy 1:7-18 NASB.
"For God has not given us a SPIRIT OF TIMIDITY, but of POWER AND LOVE AND DISCIPLINE. {8} Therefore do not be ASHAMED of the testimony of our Lord, or of me His prisoner; but join with me in SUFFERING FOR THE GOSPEL according to the power of God, {9} who has saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was GRANTED us in Christ Jesus from all eternity, {10} but now has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death, and brought life and immortality to light THROUGH THE GOSPEL, {11} for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle and a teacher. {12} For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am NOT ASHAMED; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day. (Paul had entrusted his soul to God by faith in Christ.) {13} RETAIN THE STANDARD of sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. {14} Guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the TREASURE WHICH HAS BEEN ENTRUSTED TO YOU.
Can you believe it? Paul is in prison facing death. Most of his friends have abandoned him. Yet, he writes to Timothy to encourage him, saying DO NOT BE ASHAMED of Jesus and the Gospel concerning Him. Why? The answer is found in verses nine and ten of this same passage. Do not be ashamed because by the Gospel God {9} . . . has saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity, {10} but now has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death, and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, . . " This is just another way of saying that, "the Gospel is the power of God unto salvation."
Have you ever been ashamed of the Gospel of Christ? Such a question should sober each and every one of us. For most every Christian has been ashamed of the Gospel at one time or another. Folks, to be ashamed of the Gospel is to be ashamed of Christ Himself and that is a very serious matter! Look with me to Luke 9:23-26 NASB.
"And He was saying to them all, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. {24} "For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it. {25} "For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits himself? {26} "For whoever is ASHAMED of Me and My words, (The Gospel) of him will the Son of Man be ASHAMED when He comes in His glory, and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels."
Here, being ashamed of Christ is equated with refusing to follow Him, refusing to bear the reproach that comes when one identifies with Christ. We identify with Him by following Him or obeying Him no matter what. We identify with Christ by speaking of Him without fear of what people might think, say or do to us. We identify with Christ when we share His Gospel with sinners, which Gospel is the power or the means God uses to save them. Have you ever been ashamed of Christ? With shame and a blushed face I must say, "I have," on many occasions. Perhaps, I was in the midst of one or more unbelievers who had just concluded that "all religions are equally good," and I remained silent. By doing so I put my stamp of approval on the lie. What an opportunity such a moment is to reveal that to believe such a lie is be lost forever. Or maybe it was the time I kept silent in the presence of a similar lie, one you have heard many times. "Oh it doesn't matter what you believe about God, or what faith you pursue. After all, we all worship the same God and are headed for the same Heaven. All religious paths lead ultimately to the same place." This is a soul damning lie. The question for us is what keeps one from responding to such madness and damnable human logic? It is the fear of what men might say or do to you. This is what it means to be ashamed of the Gospel.
Many times in the past I found myself in the midst of family members lost as lost can be, and still, out of fear, I kept the Gospel from them. My flesh was afraid of what they might think, of what objections they might raise. In those moments my unwillingness to experience the reproach of men was greater than my desire to see them saved from the wrath that even now rests upon them. At those times in my life I was ashamed to own my Savior and to speak as His Ambassador. May God forgive me and strengthen me for better service in the future.
Brothers and Sisters if we really believe our children and other loved ones are about to be forever consigned to hell, we will ignore their frowns that we might bring them the Gospel. If we really believe that the "Gospel is the POWER of God for the salvation of sinners" we will see to it that all our lost acquaintances have an opportunity to hear it.
Power was the thing Rome boasted of the most. The fear of Rome hung over the Empire like and ominous cloud. But the truth is, for all her military strength Rome was a weak nation, as all ungodly nations are. Example, the philosopher Seneca called the city of Rome, "a cesspool of iniquity." The writer Juvenal called it a "filthy sewer into which the dregs of the empire flood." With all Rome's physical or military power and that was very great, she could not change the hearts of her citizens, she could not defend or free herself from slavery to wickedness. Every one, even the reigning Caesar were slaves of sin, self and of Satan. They were all without hope and without God in their frail little world. That is why Paul was not ashamed of the Gospel for it was Rome's only hope. Paul longed to come, he prayed that God would allow him to come to Rome with the message of the Gospel, the only message with the power to change the hearts and lives of men. God speaks of the power of His Word in Jeremiah 23:29 NASB. "Is not My word like fire?" declares the LORD, "and like a hammer which shatters a rock?" The Gospel, Ladies and Gentlemen, is the POWER of God unto the salvation of sinners.
Our text goes on to say that men are saved by faith. You and I know that saving faith has no human origin but is a GIFT from God. This should be common knowledge among those gathered here this morning. Saving faith toward Jesus Christ is a gift from God. We must also understand that this gift does not come to one apart form the APPOINTED MEANS. The means by which God imparts saving faith to sinners is the Word of God, it is "The Gospel." Hear the word of the Lord.
(Romans 10:12-18 NASB) "For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call upon Him; {13} for "WHOEVER WILL CALL UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED." {14} How then shall they call upon Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? {15} And how shall they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, "HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF THOSE WHO BRING GLAD TIDINGS OF GOOD THINGS!" {16} However, they did not all heed the glad tidings; for Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed our report?" {17} SO FAITH COMES FROM HEARING, AND HEARING BY THE WORD OF CHRIST. {18} But I say, surely they have never heard, have they? Indeed they have; "Their voice HAS GONE out into all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world."
By his letter and later, Lord willing, in person, Paul would preach "The Gospel" in the hearing of these people. He would do so both in the church and in the city. By the power of the Holy Spirit, working WITH that Gospel, faith would be created in the hearts of God's elect children. With this faith they would flee to Jesus Christ for forgiveness and eternal life. This is most amazing since the sinner who runs to Christ is described as "dead." In his unbelieving state he was unable to turn from sin, unable to believe the Gospel, unable to trust in Christ. That is, until the Holy Spirit gave him all things necessary for salvation. Then, he not only wills to come he actually does come to Christ and is saved from the wrath to come. This is POWER, the Power of God, the POWER of the Gospel for the salvation of all who believe.
Paul had seen the Gospel work in other cities such as Corinth and Ephesus. It had transformed him personally from an enemy to a friend and soldier of the Cross of Christ. That is why he was confident that God, through His Gospel could transform the hearts and lives of the lost in any City, however wicked. This is why Paul proclaims "I am not ashamed of the Gospel for it is the Power of God for salvation to EVERYONE WHO BELIEVES, to the Jew first and also to the Greek."
Let me share with you something of what this POWER of God accomplishes on behalf of the believing sinner. The Bible teaches that when one trusts in the crucified and risen Christ for salvation he is immediately;
1. Rescued from the guilt of Sin. (Ephesians 1:7 NASB) "In Him we have redemption through His blood, THE FORGIVENESS OF OUR TRESPASSES, according to the riches of His grace,"
2. The believing sinner is brought into a state of Righteousness. (Romans 5:19 NASB) "For as through the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many WILL BE MADE RIGHTEOUS." (2 Corinthians 5:21 NASB) "He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the RIGHTEOUSNESS of God in Him."
3. The believer is removed from power of sin. (1 Corinthians 15:56-57 NASB) "The sting of death is sin, and the POWER OF SIN is the law; {57} but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."
4. The believer is delivered into a state of Holiness. (Ephesians 1:4 NASB) "just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, THAT WE SHOULD BE HOLY and blameless before Him." (1 Thessalonians 3:11-13 NASB) "Now may our God and Father Himself and Jesus our Lord direct our way to you; {12} and may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another, and for all men, just as we also do for you; {13} so that He may establish your hearts unblamable in HOLINESS before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints."
5. We are delivered from a state of slavery into a state of freedom. (Galatians 5:1 NASB) "It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery." (Romans 6:6 NASB) "knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, that our body of sin might be done away with, that we should NO LONGER BE SLAVES to sin;"(Romans 6:17-18 NASB) "But thanks be to God that though you were SLAVES of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, {18} and having been FREED FROM SIN, you became SLAVES of righteousness." The believing sinner is the only person on earth who is free to live a Godly life, indeed, the believer cannot do anything less.
6. We are rescued from two aspect of God's punishment for sin.
a. Alienation from God in this life. (Ephesians 2:12 NASB) "remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world."
b. Alienation from God in the hereafter which is called the second death. (Revelation 21:8 NASB) "But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death." A person who is saved is rescued from the horrors of separation from God in this life and the next.
7. We are brought into a state of blessedness which consists of;
a. Fellowship with God. (Ephesians 2:13-19 NASB) "But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. . . . {18} for through Him we both have our ACCESS in one Spirit to the Father. {19} So then you are NO LONGER STRANGERS AND ALIENS, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of GOD'S HOUSEHOLD,"
b. The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts. (Romans 5:3-5 NASB) "And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; {4} and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; {5} and hope does not disappoint, because the LOVE OF GOD has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us." That is to say, the Holy Spirit bears witness to us that God loves us through faith in Christ.
c. We enjoy the blessedness of everlasting life. (Ephesians 2:1 NASB) "And you were dead in your trespasses and sins," . . . {4}"But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, {5} even when we were dead in our transgressions, MADE US ALIVE together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)," (John 3:36 NASB) "He who believes in the Son HAS ETERNAL LIFE; but he who does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him."
The salvation of a sinner and the imparting of these benefits occurs when God the Holy Spirit brings the soul to new life. This is the rebirth. In this secret and Divine action the sinner gets a new heart with new faculties for understanding the Gospel Message. With this revelation of Gospel truth comes a new set of desires which turn the will in a new direction. That direction is toward Christ. The turning away from sin is repentance. Turning to trust in Christ is faith. When this gift of faith is exercised toward Jesus Christ the sinner is saved, forgiven and the possessor of eternal life. This salvation comes to "EVERYONE WHO BELIEVES IN CHRIST FOR SALVATION."
But what is this believing or saving faith? It is trust, confidence, leaning on the everlasting arms of God and His promises to sinners. Faith is the conviction, the unshakable confidence that Christ and His atoning sacrifice are the exclusive and only means of my being reconciled to God. It is believing that by His suffering and death the debt I owed to God has been canceled. It is trusting not in my human righteousness but in the perfect spotless righteousness of the Son of the Living God. It is resting in the Good News, that "Jesus came to save sinners from everlasting damnation." It is rejoicing in the fact that by faith in Christ I am now an adopted son, a member of God's household. Believing sinners can therefore speak as their own the words of C.H. Morris.
I am in my Father's keeping;
I am in His tender care
Whether waking, whether sleeping
I am in His care!
What a wonderful and powerful Gospel it is by which God turns a sinner into a saint!
How foolish is the Christian who is ashamed of the Gospel of God. "For it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek." My dear unbelieving friend. You are about to enter eternity. He is the promised reward of all who breathe their last breath without Christ. Forgiveness of sins and eternal life is the certain inheritance of all who turn to rest in the righteousness of Jesus for acceptance with God. I beg you, trust in Christ for salvation today.