Unashamed

Our university students are finishing off Reading Week - some of you have been working on papers. If you’ve taken English in University or high school English, for that matter - then you’ve learned that one of the most important aspects of writing an essay - if you want to get a good grade on your paper - if you want your paper to come back without being bathed in a sea of red ink … there are a number of things you need to make sure your paper contains. But one of THE most important things you must have in a paper is … a THESIS STATEMENT. Your thesis statement is where you tell the reader, early in the paper - “This is what I’m writing about - this is the heart of what I want to say ...”.

This morning we come to verses 16 and 17 of . Paul has introduced himself; he’s addressed his readers, he has given thanks for them … and now, when we come to verses 16 and 17, Paul lays out the heart of the letter - the thesis statement of the book. Let’s read it.

We are making our way through the most important letter ever written: The inspired letter, written by Paul, to the Christians in Rome. Not only is this the most important letter ever written - this is also the most important single, theological work in all of Scripture. The book of Romans has literally changed the world. So we are taking our time on this journey through the letter; we’re taking it seriously. Well, this morning, we come to an absolutely critical section of this letter.

READ

Our university students are finishing off Reading Week - some of you have been working on papers. If you’ve taken English in University or high school English, for that matter - then you’ve learned that one of the most important aspects of writing an essay - if you want to get a good grade on your paper - if you want your paper to come back without being bathed in a sea of red ink … there are a number of things you need to make sure your paper contains. But one of THE most important things you must have in a paper is … a THESIS STATEMENT. Your thesis statement is where you tell the reader, early in the paper - “This is what I’m writing about - this is the heart of what I want to say ...”.

In these two verses - we come to a couple of sentences that are the most important in this letter and maybe in all of literature. This is the theme of Romans - so we’re going to take our time here - three weeks at least.

This morning we come to verses 16 and 17 of . Paul has introduced himself; he’s addressed his readers, he has given thanks for them … and now, when we come to verses 16 and 17, Paul lays out the heart of the letter - the thesis statement of the book. Let’s read it.

Now Paul lays out his theme in a way that reminds us of climbing a stairway:

“I am not ashamed of the gospel ....”

WHY? … “for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes ...”

“to the Jew first and also for the Greek.”

How can you say that? … “For in (the gospel) a righteousness from God is revealed”

What kind of righteousness? “from faith for faith … as it is written, ‘the righteous shall live by faith.”

This morning, I want us to focus our attention on verse 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.”

By the way - Could have titled this message, ‘1-1-6’ … and most of the younger generation here who are familiar with some of the prominent names in Christian Hip Hop would instantly recognize the name: Lecrae, Tedashii, Trip Lee, Andy Mineo - call themselves the ‘1-1-6 Crew’ … The name comes from this verse - and it’s a great name because it describes their hearts: “Not Ashamed of the Gospel”

READ

In these two verses - we come to a couple of sentences that are the most important in this letter and maybe in all of literature. This is the theme of Romans - so we’re going to take our time here - three weeks at least.

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Now Paul lays out his theme in a way that reminds us of climbing a stairway:

1 UNASHAMED IN A HOSTILE WORLD

Isn’t this a strange way to introduce your theme - - using a negative? Paul is talking about the gospel - the Good News of Jesus Christ is what he’s writing about - so wouldn’t you expect him to put his thesis positively? “I’m EXCITED about the gospel!” “I’m PROUD to proclaim the Good News.” But he puts it negatively … “I’m not ashamed of the gospel.” Why would he do that?

“I am not ashamed of the gospel ....”

Well, you would only say that you are NOT ashamed, if there was temptation for you to BE ashamed. Paul faces temptation to be ashamed. And every single one of us here, this morning, knows what it’s like to be ashamed. What is it in your life?

WHY? … “for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes ...”

“to the Jew first and also for the Greek.”

I have felt ashamed in my life more times that I care to think about - let alone tell you all about. But I will share one event - my mind does go back to high school - to our basketball team - The Richmond Colts. It was grade 12, we were at the top of the Provincial standings - expected to go all the way (well, we expected to go all the way to the championship game).

How can you say that? … “For in (the gospel) a righteousness from God is revealed”

Well, every year, near the beginning of the season, the Richmond Colts hosted a big tournament of high school basketball teams - kind of like Abbotsford does these days. It was a big deal. The Richmond Newspaper was the big sponsor - got lots of press coverage and there was alowas one of the top teams from the US that came up to play. That year, we had a team from San Diego - Sweetwater High. It was a 3 day tournament: you win, you keep playing; you lose - you’re done.

If you’ve ever been to any type of tournament like that, you know that one of the benefits of being the host team, is that you get to set the schedule. The schedule always seems to, just coincidentally, be set up so that yo uhave the easiest pathway to the finals.

What kind of righteousness? “from faith for faith … as it is written, ‘the righteous shall live by faith.”

We were confident - we were pretty sure we could beat any team there, except maybe Sweetwater - so it didn’t really matter WHO we played - but why take any chances? So the schedule maker had us play our first game against the absolute easiest/ weakest team in the tournament: Alpha High School, from North Burnaby (Don Taylor, from sports radio).

This morning, I want us to focus our attention on verse 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.”

If you want a sense of how bad the team was - their nickname was the Aardvarks. The Alpha Aardvarks. Really?!! Doesn’t that tell you everything you need to know? Richmond Colts; MEI Eagles; Abbotsford Panthers; Mouat Hawks … see a theme there? And … the Alpha Aardvarks.

By the way - Could have titled this message, ‘1-1-6’ … and most of the younger generation here who are familiar with some of the prominent names in Christian Hip Hop would instantly recognize the name: Lecrae, Tedashii, Trip Lee, Andy Mineo - call themselves the ‘1-1-6 Crew’ … The name comes from this verse - and it’s a great name because it describes their hearts: “Not Ashamed of the Gospel”

1. UNASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL

It was going to be a blowout - wouldn’t even work up a sweat. We saw them in warmup - and they looked as bad as their name indicates - only 1 guy on the team was even hitting shots .... Tickets were sold out … Stands were packed.

Then came the tip-off .... and everything went south almost immediately. They may not have had much skill, but they threw up a smothering defense that we couldn’t seem to break through. They worked their tails off and outran us, outworked us - - and the one player they DID have was hitting everything - he threw into the air … went in. Falling down at half-court - - throws up a prayer … and swish.

Isn’t this a strange way to introduce your theme - - using a negative? Paul is talking about the gospel - the Good News of Jesus Christ is what he’s writing about - so wouldn’t you expect him to put his thesis positively? “I’m EXCITED about the gospel!” “I’m PROUD to proclaim the Good News.” But he puts it negatively … “I’m not ashamed of the gospel.” Why would he do that?

By the end of the game - we were knocked out of our own tournament by a team we had never heard of … in front of our home crowd. We were ASHAMED.

Well, you would only say that you are NOT ashamed, if there was temptation for you to BE ashamed. Paul faces temptation to be ashamed. And every single one of us here, this morning, knows what it’s like to be ashamed. What is it in your life?

I have felt ashamed in my life more times that I care to think about - let alone tell you all about. But I will share one event - my mind does go back to high school - to our basketball team - The Richmond Colts. It was grade 12, we were at the top of the Provincial standings - expected to go all the way (well, we expected to go all the way to the championship game).

You can all identify. You’ve had that experience, playing a musical solo, singing a song, taking a drivers’ test, giving a speech at school .... you know what it is to be ASHAMED and embarrassed. So what would keep you from being ashamed or embarrassed - practicing more … working harder … better preparation … or maybe, just don’t put yourself ‘out there’?

When Paul says, in v. 16, “I am NOT ashamed” - what’s the threat to him? Look back at v. 15 - it gives the context and answers that question: “… I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.”

Well, every year, near the beginning of the season, the Richmond Colts hosted a big tournament of high school basketball teams - kind of like Abbotsford does these days. It was a big deal. The Richmond Newspaper was the big sponsor - got lots of press coverage and there was alowas one of the top teams from the US that came up to play. That year, we had a team from San Diego - Sweetwater High. It was a 3 day tournament: you win, you keep playing; you lose - you’re done.

ROME - there’s the temptation to be ASHAMED. Word association for people in Paul’s day: Horse - chariot; Sea - Mediterranean; Power - ROME … Rome was the power. Rome was an awesome power that had changed the entire face of the world. Their roads went everywhere … their ability in construction, their laws, their armies …brought the whole world into subjugation to their hero -

And the power of Rome was associated with Caesar. And one of the great tests for Christians, in the first century (and beyond) was, “Can you say, ‘Caesar is Lord’?” As a Christian - of course you can’t say, “Caesar is Lord” - there is only ONE LORD - and He is Jesus Christ.

But there’s a great cost to anyone who will not acknowledge the supreme power of Caesar - Christians especially.

So the fact that Paul was so dedicated to preach and teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ as Lord - meant that he faced with shame - public humiliation.

A list of ways that a hostile world tried to shame Paul for his witness to Jesus Christ: “… in far more imprisonments, with countless beating, and often near death. (24) Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. (25) Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; (26) on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers, (27) in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure ...”

If you’ve ever been to any type of tournament like that, you know that one of the benefits of being the host team, is that you get to set the schedule. The schedule always seems to, just coincidentally, be set up so that yo uhave the easiest pathway to the finals.

Over and over again in his life - this Paul, who had a career as a Jewish teacher - before he became a Christian … he was climbing the ladder of success and was outpacing all of his peers - this man with the brilliant intellect who could have basked in the glow of the applause of his Jewish world .... He met Jesus Christ. Became a Christian - and began preaching a message that brought him shame after shame after pain after pain.

And when you think about it - why wouldn’t he be shamed … rejected by his hostile cultured objectors … I mean, look at what he’s preaching now:

Always cal

“A LORD who was born in absolute poverty - born in an animal stable … brought up in a nowhere village, trained as a carpenter! That’s who you preach?! One who was executed on a cross at the hands of powerful Rome - nailed to a tree, dies while the mob jeers at Him and mocks him - seemingly calling his bluff: “He saved others - let him save himself, IF He’s REALLY the Christ - the Chosen One of God.” That’s who you’re preaching as the Savior of the world - the real Son of God?

We were confident - we were pretty sure we could beat any team there, except maybe Sweetwater - so it didn’t really matter WHO we played - but why take any chances? So the schedule maker had us play our first game against the absolute easiest/ weakest team in the tournament: Alpha High School, from North Burnaby (Don Taylor, from sports radio).

If you want a sense of how bad the team was - their nickname was the Aardvarks. The Alpha Aardvarks. Really?!! Doesn’t that tell you everything you need to know? Richmond Colts; MEI Eagles; Abbotsford Panthers; Mouat Hawks … see a theme there? And … the Alpha Aardvarks.

And every faithful Christian - from Paul’s day to ours, honestly says, “YES. Yes - that’s exactly who I’m preaching.”

Do you see how relevant this is to us? How much we face the temptation to be ashamed of our message? We are surrounded by people who think the message of Christianity is ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS. It’s always been that way. Cultured despisers of our message - Think of someone? On TV, a blogger ....

Game time arrived. Tickets were sold out … Stands were packed. We saw them in warmup - and they looked as bad as their name indicates - only 1 guy on the team was even hitting shots .... It was going to be a blowout - wouldn’t even work up a sweat.

One of the greatest challenges to the church today is the temptation to try and avoid shame by watering down the message - to make it palatable …

The temptation we face is to water down the message to make it palatable - shape a Christ that fits the mold of the society around us … How many ways

“Oh, I’ve been SHAMED .... but I am NOT ASHAMED … of the gospel.”

Then came the tip-off .... and everything went south almost immediately. They may not have had much skill, but they threw up a smothering defense that we couldn’t seem to break through. They worked their tails off and outran us, outworked us - - and the one player they DID have was hitting everything - he threw into the air … went in. Falling down at half-court - - throws up a prayer … and swish.

By the end of the game - we were knocked out of our own tournament by a team we had never heard of … in front of our home crowd. We were ASHAMED.

___________________________________________________________

You can all identify. You’ve had that experience, playing a musical solo, singing a song, taking a drivers’ test, giving a speech at school .... you know what it is to be ASHAMED and embarrassed. So what would keep you from being ashamed or embarrassed - practicing more … working harder … better preparation … or maybe, just don’t put yourself ‘out there’?

2 THE SAVING POWER OF GOD

When Paul says, in v. 16, “I am NOT ashamed” - what’s the threat to him? Look back at v. 15 - it gives the context and answers that question: “… I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.”

Paul doesn’t just say that he’s not ashamed of the gospel … he goes on to explain WHY he’s not ashamed … why he keeps on preaching while others are trying to shame him. Look at again, “I am not ashamed of the gospel, FOR IT IS THE POWER OF GOD FOR SALVATION to everyone who believes.”

There is much more to say on this subject than we have time for this morning, but in the time we have left - I want us to get a grasp on what Paul means by the Power of God for Salvation that the Gospel is.

We don’t avoid being ashamed by watering down the message of the Gospel. You end up living in slavery that way. No, Paul says,, “You avoid being ashamed by recognizing and remembering the Gospel’s power and watching it be unleashed.”

The very word, ‘power’ in our English translations, is the Greek word, ‘DUNAMIS’ - it’s where we get our English word, ‘dynamite’ from - - Some people say, “See - the Gospel is God’s dynamite for salvation!” A little problem with that idea is the dynamite blows things up - destroys them. You wouldn’t want to be holding out dynamite in your hand for someone else to take.

But the Gospel’s power - ‘dunamis’, is the power of God to bring life to stone cold, dead souls and take them all the way to heaven. This power of God brings broken lives back together again.

GOD’S ELECTING, TRANSFORMING LOVE

And right here is where we need to pause and deal with the exclusiveness of Christianity. You hear it all the time, just like I do … “The problem with Christianity is that it is so intolerant … so bigoted ...”

Every

Sure, unfortunately, there are Christians who come across as bigoted … but to charge Christianity with being intolerant because Jesus says, “No one comes to the Father except through me” … well that’s just not fair. EVERYONE has beliefs about the universe - about reality. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a religious person, an atheist, a scientist, or a skeptic … everyone looks at the world through their own lens and thins, “That’s the way the universe really is.”

And every world view tries to answer 4 question - from Atheism to Confuscianism to Mormonism to Taoism to Zoroastrianism … everyone is trying to answer 4 fundamental questions about reality : 1 CREATION - where did everything come from .... 2 FALL - what’s the problem with this world - everyone knows something is wrong with this world - so what’s the problem at the root ..... 3 REDEMPTION - What’s the solution … how can I be Saved from my problems? And ..... 4 RESTORATION - what will this world look like when the repair is done?

CREATION; FALL; REDEMPTION; and RESTORATION.

When it comes to redemption - every religion and worldview has its own answer - and they are NOT the same answer .... So is Hinduism intolerant? Islam? Buddhism? Atheism? Of course everyone thinks their way is best … so let’s not throw names around - ‘bigot’ or ‘intolerant’. How about if, instead, we examine the answers and see which one fits reality the best.

When it comes to redemption - no other worldview even suggests anything like a Redeemer God who come to our world, takes on our humanity - without losing His Godhood - so that He can take sinners before a holy God, by paying their penalty himself, substituting himself for their failings, crediting them with His perfect righteousness - dying and rising again - to finish the work so that He can save them by faith alone .

No other religion goes anywhere close: Judaism without Christ; Hinduism with its millions of gods to appease, Buddhism with its focus on escaping desire; Islam with its Koran of rules to follow and then to helplessly wait and hope that the balances weigh out in your favor … atheism with its worship of government intervention … Evolution - with its gradual, mindless, unguided, random change - on the pathway to nowhere … there’s no room for salvation - no rescue there.

ROME - there’s the temptation to be ASHAMED. Word association for people in Paul’s day: Horse - chariot; Sea - Mediterranean; Power - ROME … Rome was the power. Rome was an awesome power that had changed the entire face of the world. Their roads went everywhere … their ability in construction, their laws, their armies …brought the whole world into subjugation to their hero -

Every other worldview says: “Here’s the checklist. Follow these steps and hope that it’s enough.”

And I say … “I NEED MORE THAN A CHECKLIST … I NEED A SAVIOR!” And so do you.

And the power of Rome was associated with Caesar. And one of the great tests for Christians, in the first century (and beyond) was, “Can you say, ‘Caesar is Lord’?” As a Christian - of course you can’t say, “Caesar is Lord” - there is only ONE LORD - and He is Jesus Christ.

Paul says, “I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the POWER of God for salvation to EVERYONE who believes ...”

Notice what Paul says about the power of the gospel, in v. 16 - notice what Paul does and does NOT say about power and the Gospel. Start with the negative: He does NOT say, in v. 16, “ … the Gospel is ABOUT the power of God.” No. What the verse DOES say is that the gospel itself, “... IS the power of God”.

This is so important. Paul isn’t talking about a description of the Good News .... not just saying something ABOUT the gospel. He says that the gospel itself IS the power of God. Another way to put it negatively is this: “The message of the Gospel isn’t God telling us what we have to do - It isn’t God saying, ‘I’ve done all of this so that you can be saved .... now, salvation is possible for you. So, won’t you please just finish it off by believing?”

No, the power of the Gospel is MORE THAN That. When Paul says the Gospel is, ‘the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes ...’ he means that the Gospel’s power lies in its effective work of bringing believers to salvation. It effects God’s saving work in everyone whom God calls. Paul spells it out in ...

; - “… we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, ‘(24) but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the POWER of God (dunamis) and the wisdom of God.”

(26) “For consider your calling brothers, not many of you were wise according to worldly standards. Not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth (27) But God CHOSE what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; (28) God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, (29) so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.”

, - Paul tells the Christians in that city that he KNOWS that God chose them. How does he know that? Verse 4, “For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, (5) because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction.”

What

Testing the acoustics in the vast Agricultural Hall, Spurgeon shouted, "Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world." A worker high in the rafters of the building heard this and became converted to Christ as a result.

But there’s a great cost to anyone who will not acknowledge the supreme power of Caesar - Christians especially.

So the fact that Paul was so dedicated to preach and teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ as Lord - meant that he faced with shame - public humiliation.

And everyone here, this morning, who has come to Jesus Christ - in childlike faith - you’ve tasted that power.

-

A list of ways that a hostile world tried to shame Paul for his witness to Jesus Christ: “… in far more imprisonments, with countless beating, and often near death. (24) Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. (25) Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; (26) on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers, (27) in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure ...”

Over and over again in his life - this Paul, who had a career as a Jewish teacher - before he became a Christian … he was climbing the ladder of success and was outpacing all of his peers - this man with the brilliant intellect who could have basked in the glow of the applause of his Jewish world .... He met Jesus Christ. Became a Christian - and began preaching a message that brought him shame after shame after pain after pain.

And when you think about it - why wouldn’t he be shamed … rejected by his hostile cultured objectors … I mean, look at what he’s preaching now:

“A LORD who was born in absolute poverty - born in an animal stable … brought up in a nowhere village, trained as a carpenter! That’s who you preach?! One who was executed on a cross at the hands of powerful Rome - nailed to a tree, dies while the mob jeers at Him and mocks him - seemingly calling his bluff: “He saved others - let him save himself, IF He’s REALLY the Christ - the Chosen One of God.” That’s who you’re preaching as the Savior of the world - the real Son of God?

Your ‘Gospel – your GOOD news – is that there is no other way to

And every faithful Christian - from Paul’s day to ours, honestly says, “YES. Yes - that’s exactly who I’m preaching.”

Do you see how relevant this is to us? How much we face the temptation to be ashamed of our message? We are surrounded by people who think the message of Christianity is ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS. It’s always been that way. Cultured despisers of our message - Think of someone? On TV, a blogger ....

One of the greatest challenges to the church today is the temptation to try and avoid shame by watering down the message - to make it palatable … shape a Christ and message that fits the mold of the dominant society around us … Don’t you find it interesting that what has come to be known as ‘Progressive Christianity’ – deconstructs the historic Christian faith in favor of

… end up with a Jesus that looks a lot like a politically-correct, western, white, urban, vegan, hipster … with a Starbucks cup in hand?

G.K. Chesterton: “Truth is stranger than fiction because we have made fiction to suit ourselves. What we need is not a religion that is right where we are right but one that is right where we are wrong.”

In other words – we don’t need a message that echoes what we already believe … we need a message from the OUTSIDE – We need a Word from God that speaks truth and light into our darkness.

The Christian church has recognized that throughout history – That’s why, from the beginning – Christians have gone to Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the uttermost parts of the earth, with the same unchanging message of the Gospel …

MISSIONS …. Missionaries have left comforts of home behind. Most of

WHITEFIELD … English evangelist – who dedicated his life to spreading the Gospel that Paul is talking about. 13 trips across the Atlantic … when it took months to make each crossing – spent over 2 years of his life on ships. He preached to 10 million people – 300 years ago, before airplanes or cars … seen personally, by 80 percent of the people in the American colonies … seen by more people than George Washington. Oxford education, brilliant man – greatly respected by men like Benjamin Franklin. Whitefield was massively talented. He could have done whatever he wanted – politics and had huge power. But he

On one occasion in 1741 for example he was set upon by a raging mob, attacked with fists and clubs, leaving him covered in blood: “The enemy continued to persecute him… striking him with sticks and staves, until overcome with exhaustion he fell to the ground… They still abused him, though prostrate…”

Now that is persecution. But what is even more appalling is this: these attacks were often instigated by the religious leaders!

“The local clergyman, in what he called an effort ‘to defend the Church,’ opened a barrel of beer on the main street and used it to entice a mob to attack the evangelist.”

A year earlier he was hit in the eye with a stone while preaching, but went right back to it the next day: “We had continual showers of stones, walnuts, dirt, a cat and also a dead dog thrown at us. I was much afraid of the hurt on my eye, but the voice to me was ‘Better endure this than hell!’ I was struck on my forehead and under my right eye again, and also on my side with a stone.”

Wow. In one brutal attack Whitefield was nearly killed. He often allowed spiritual inquirers to visit him with their spiritual problems. One night he let in a man to his room, only to be savagely beaten with a gold-headed cane. A second attacker appeared, but the commotion caused them to flee when others in the house appeared. The pair had intended to murder him.

George Whitefield would say with Paul and countless other faithful ones who have shared the Good News of Jesus Christ …

“Oh, I’ve been SHAMED .... but I am NOT ASHAMED … of the gospel.”

2 THE SAVING POWER OF GOD

Paul doesn’t just say that he’s not ashamed of the gospel … he goes on to explain WHY he’s not ashamed … why he keeps on preaching while others are trying to shame him. Look at

again, “I am not ashamed of the gospel, FOR IT IS THE POWER OF GOD FOR SALVATION to everyone who believes.”