Recurrent Thought
The Gospel is a game changer in every way possible. It changes lives and reputations. And many times people are so embarrassed over these changes. The challenge today is that You should not be ashamed of the Gospel

Epistle Introduction

Today we begin a Looking at the Book of Romans from which we picked this Year’s theme Manifesting for His Glory (8:19). This book is the most doctrinal and theological masterpiece Paul wrote. He wrote it from Corinth, while on his third missionary journey, in about 57 A.D. He wrote it while being hosted by Gaius an early convert in Corinth (Rom. 16:23, 1 Cor.1:14). And he sent it through Sister Phoebe a Deaconess of Cencrea (Rom. 16:1). The writing of the letter was from a Missional perspective. He believed the Lord had allowed him to open up all the frontiers of Asia Minor for the Gospel and wanted new lands. Thus, he now wanted to go to Spain, the land that was not yet opened up for the gospel. He writes to encourage them to stay steadfast in the faith and righteousness of God. Furthermore, he writes to prepare them to become partners for this new missionary work into Spain.

There are many big thoughts such as Sin, Faith, and Grace that are emphasized in this book, however, the theme of God’s Righteousness looms bigger than any other. Imagine, two out of every five times the Greek word “righteousness,” appears in the New Testament, it is in this book (36 out of 92 times), a usage five times that of any other book. The verb “to make righteous” occurs only 40 times in the New Testament, 15 (or three out of every eight) of which are in this book. The book is about the righteousness of God being brought to humanity.

Series Introduction: Righteousness for Sinful People Like Me

Today, we start a Series we have called Righteousness for Sinful People like Me. In this series we explore how this righteousness is provided to humanity. We also deal with the Sin issue which is the main challenge against the walk of the life of Righteousness. As our first message, we deal with the subject Don’t Be Ashamed of the Gospel, which is taken from what is considered the Key Verses of the Book of Romans. Ch. 1: 16-17

16 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. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith,[e] as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.” ESV

In this statement, Paul expresses his confidence in the Gospel and the reasons for it. Thereafter, the rest of the letter explains the reasons of believing in the power, authority and authenticity of the Gospel. You will notice that after the Salutation and his introduction as to why he wanted to visit them, he proceeds to state clearly and definitively that He was not Ashamed of the Gospel. In the scriptures the Word Gospel means Good News; however, this is Good News in relation to the life of a person in the kingdom of God. As You read, you should notice the confidence Paul expresses in the all-sufficiency of the Gospel. Notice the expression of his confidence of the Gospel as he deals with its respectability to the end that one does not need to be ashamed; he expresses its powerful nature, its aim, scope.

Paul gives Four Reasons why he was not ashamed of the Gospel Similarly, todays Christ Devoted Followers should not be Ashamed of the (Gospel)

By history, the life of Paul looked scandalous He had been imprisoned in Philippi, chased out of Thessalonica, smuggled out of Berea, ignored in Athens, laughed at in Corinth, stoned and left for dead in Lystra. Paul, how can you even dare to come to Rome with a record like that?

However, he gives four reasons why he was not ashamed despite the optics of shame!

1. Because the Gospel is the Power of God for Salvation (Romans 1:16)
   • They are not ashamed because the Gospel to which they associate themselves is the power of God
   • First it is the Power for Salvation, but it also can keep safe from anything that comes agains me. The Gospel is the Power to Save
   • The Gospel has power to Forgive sins (past); impart new life (present) and admit one into heaven (future);
   • The Gospel has the Power to save those who believe: those who commit to trust God. The Gospel demands a personal response
   • The Gospel has the Power to save without regard to human distinctions: Whether You a Jew, it can save; or if you are a Greek it can save too. This shows the Universal dimension of the Gospel..The gospel has the power to save people without regard to the distinctions that divide us. It has the power to save without regard to: Race, Education, Age, Income, Skin Color, Family Background, Religious Preference, Moral Degradation. No wonder Paul wasn’t ashamed to preach the gospel in Rome. He knew it had the power to save anyone who would believe it.
2. Because the Gospel Reveals the Righteousness of God (Romans 1: 17)
   • This is the verse that changed Martin Luther’s life. “For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written, ’The righteous will live by faith.’”
   • Why is the gospel so powerful? Because it reveals a righteousness which comes only by faith. 17a
   • Righteousness means to have a right standing in God’s eyes. It’s a legal term taken from the courtrooms of the ancient world. It means to declare “not guilty” and to declare “innocent of all charges.” The one who is righteous in God’s eyes is the one who can stand before him and be declared “not guilty.”
   • This is where the Gospel’s power and greatness revealed. It has the capacity provide for ourselves what we could not do. On our own merits we all stand condemned before the Almighty. Who is there who would dare to say, “I am good enough to go to heaven.”
   • Righteousness is what we need but do not have. Therefore, God, knowing that we could never be righteous on our own, has provided a righteousness which comes down to us from heaven above. It’s not earned or deserved, but is given to us by God as a free gift.
   • We believe that salvation comes simply and only as a free gift of God, received by faith alone. It is not earned or merited by anything we have done or ever could do.
3. Because the Righteousness that is in the Gospel is received only by faith (Ch. 1:17b)
   • The Verse 7 is first stated by Habakkuk. At this stage, he had prophesized that because of the Judah’s Sin, Judgment was coming and the only way was to live by Faith. In essence, he was declaring that although destruction was decreed for the nation, there was hope for individuals who held fast their confidence in God. This Old Testament text lays the foundation on the NT doctrine of justification by Faith.
   • The reason the just live by faith is that the just are justified by faith. As Paul puts it (and with this invitation I close), “They are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as an expiation by his blood, to be received by faith” (Romans 3:24).
   • The word used here infers “faith from first to last.” Implying that it is only faith alone and faith always.
   • We can only be right with God by receiving the righteousness of God that comes only by faith.
4. Because the Righteousness found in the Gospel declares those who believe Just (justified)
   • The Just shall live by Faith. It means anyone can do this; any one can access it
   • What is Faith? Faith is complete reliance upon another person to do that which you could never do for yourself. It is to trust him; it is to entrust our lives
   • This text changed Martin Luther and on its basis it became the impetus for the Reformation of 600 Years ago
   • The Reformation started emphasis the Latin Phrase Sola Fide: By Faith Alone. This became a battle cry. It gives a clear declaration of what it means to relate to God. time.

The Power of Convictions (Immediate Application)

Paul’s faith in the Gospel expresses strong Convictions. A conviction is a strong belief, view or principle over something to the end that one does not easily shift position about it. Such Convictions become part of one’s value code to the end that they determine action or reaction to things. Paul’s knowledge and understanding of the efficacy of the Gospel is so clear and strong to the end that it determines almost everything about his life. Convictions in Life are critical to have. People of Convictions are the ones that make things happen. Paul’s Conviction over the gospel led him to declare that he was never disappointed or ashamed. Having understood what, he believed about the Gospel it is easier to see the following three aspects of the Convictions in His Life

1. Convictions Brands or Marks Your Life
   Your Convictions will always brand or mark Your life. Paul’s Conviction over the Gospel (His Product) branded or marked his life (Paul was a branded man)
   
2. Convictions compels You to Recruit Others to Your Way of Life
   One’s convictions over the truthfulness of your product compels you to tell others about it. Paul’s firm belief over the efficacy of the Gospel compelled him to sell or evangelize it to others.
   
3. Convictions have a Cost Price.
   People of Strong Convictions are willing to pay a cost for their realizations. Paul is willing to try what he believes in, makes him to travel hundreds of miles to deliver that which he believes

As I wrap up this Message let me return to Issue of Saving Faith
Saving faith is putting your trust in Jesus Christ and him alone. In order to do that you have to stop trying to save yourself. Would you like to receive the righteousness of God? You can. The righteousness of God is wrapped up in the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is simple to have this power of Salvation. The Bible in Romans 10: 32, it says whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be Saved. How do you do this? Romans 10:9, 10 says If you confess Jesus as Lord and believe God that raised him from the dead you will be Saved. Can You do that today?

Conclusion
Don’t be ashamed of the gospel. Don’t be ashamed to preach it, to teach it, to share it with those you meet. It alone has the power to meet the deepest needs of mankind. It can do what mere philosophy can never do. It has the power to wipe away the darkest stain of sin. No one is beyond the reach of the life-changing gospel of Jesus Christ.