Not ashamed of the gospel

[0:00] Sian Yin, can you predict it? Alright. So I think it's appropriate for us to have a mini icebreaker session since this is my first time speaking here with the congregation.

[0:15] So let's have a session called Getting to Know Clinton. So one thing you should know about me is that I'm a very much... I mean, I am a hardcore supporter of Man United.

[0:27] So, yeah, I know there's some of us who, you know... Anyway, I've been supporting them since 2003 because they were formidable at that time with a lot of good players.

[0:43] Four years before that, 1999, they won a treble. So as you can observe, as a Man United fan, I could argue with you for hours why they are the best team in the world due to the fact that they have won a lot of trophies.

[1:02] But now, well, I'm a bit embarrassed, you know, and ashamed to let people know that I'm supporting them. Why, you may ask.

[1:13] Just look at their recent poor performance, you know. Lost a lot of games and everything. And that's the first thing. The second thing you should know about me is that...

[1:25] Wait a minute. Technical problem. Next slide. Next slide, Siany.

[1:39] No, okay. Regardless of the technicality problem.

[1:52] Now, the second thing you should know about me is that... I am an iPhone user. Okay? Before this, when people ask me, what phone do I use?

[2:05] I will gladly say I am using iPhone by showing the logo here and there, you know, flashing here and there. So I will gladly say I am using iPhone by showing the logo.

[2:17] But now, when people are asking me, why do you even use iPhone? Give me some reason why iPhone is better than Samsung, Huawei, etc.

[2:29] So I answer them. Well, you know, I choose iPhone because... Then I scratch my head. I choose iPhone because it's iPhone.

[2:40] There's no other reason of it, you know. So I cannot claim it is superior to the other phone. In fact, I'm a bit ashamed to let people know that I'm an iPhone user. Now, you know, this is a very strange kind of icebreaker session, isn't it?

[2:57] Normally, people don't talk about the things that are ashamed to them, the things that embarrass them. Yet, I am telling you all of this. The truth is, all of us has many things that we get embarrassed about, don't we?

[3:12] Example, football team we support. Which phone do we use? The uncool TV show or books that we like. But could one of those things we are ashamed of be the gospel?

[3:29] Are we ashamed to call ourselves followers of Jesus? Do we treat the gospel like I treat my football team and iPhone? How do we even know if we are ashamed of the gospel?

[3:42] Here are some ways I can think of that show that maybe we are a bit ashamed of the gospel. Firstly, we worry about offending people when we want to share the gospel.

[4:03] Secondly, we feel ashamed because we are afraid that we cannot answer any objection. Thirdly, we feel more worried of what other things than what God thinks.

[4:18] Fourthly, we might feel ashamed because we don't really take the lordship of Jesus seriously. Number five, we might be ashamed because truth is we don't really know the gospel.

[4:34] Or even worse, some of us that call ourselves Christians doesn't know what's the gospel. Well, Paul was not ashamed of the gospel.

[4:47] So let's turn today to our passage, to our verse of the day. Romans chapter 1, verse 16 and 17. Keep your Bible open to that verse as I'm going to read it.

[5:01] Let's read it together. For I am not ashamed of the gospel because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.

[5:19] For in the gospel, the righteousness of God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written, the righteous will live by faith.

[5:35] So your first reaction might be to say, wow, so amazing. Then your second reaction might be to say that, oh, but Paul is an apostle, right?

[5:48] No wonder that he is not ashamed of the gospel. So how about us then? I am certainly not an apostle, but the good news of Romans chapter 1 is that today, is that Paul shows us we too cannot be ashamed of the gospel.

[6:07] If so, how can I not be ashamed of it? Well, there are two ways in today's passages on how not to be ashamed of the gospel.

[6:19] In the ability, you can find the sermon outline that you can use as a guidance for you to follow me. The first thing, the two ways that you can not be ashamed of the gospel, is that by going back to the core message of Christianity, which you can find in verse 1 to 7.

[6:40] The second way is that by following the example of the apostle Paul. So let's go straight to our first point, going back to the core message of Christianity.

[6:54] So one of the best ways to overcome this, you know, by being ashamed of the gospel, is by going back to the gospel, isn't it?

[7:05] To strengthen our knowledge to the core message of the gospel, of Christianity in general. We will not be ashamed of the gospel when we recognize what the gospel at its core actually is.

[7:18] So here is a quick test for you. Imagine that you are flying from Kuching to Cebu. It's a short flight. It takes about 30 to 40 minutes.

[7:31] Just because you want to have the world's best K&K, Kompia and Kampua, and you are, on the day, you are wearing a shirt.

[7:44] We say, I am Christian and I am proud of it. Then a person next to you, in the plane, he asks you, he or she asks you, tell me about Christianity.

[7:59] How would you share it? Would you go all the way from the Genesis and Revelation in 40 minutes? Can you do that? Or which story would you focus on?

[8:11] Which part of the Bible would you use to summarize what is Christianity? Here in Romans chapter 1, verse 1 to 4, Paul is so clear in outlining for us the core message of Christianity.

[8:28] So he tells us key characteristics of the Gospel. So let us read chapter 1, verse 1 to 4. Romans chapter 1, verse 1 to 4.

[8:42] Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the Gospel of God, the Gospel he promised beforehand through his prophet in the Holy Scripture, regarding his son, who as to his earthly life was a descendant of David, and who through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord.

[9:24] So in verse 1, Paul told us he is set apart for the Gospel of God. Notice this. So where does this Gospel come from?

[9:35] Its origin is found in God. This is the Gospel of God. That means this Gospel is not a man-made story, but it is a divine news.

[9:48] The Gospel just means good news, and it's good news from God, about God himself. Secondly, in verse 2, this Gospel is not new.

[10:00] How is this Gospel being promised? Verse 2 says, It is through his prophets, Old Testament prophets.

[10:13] So then the man might ask you, Hold on a second. So what if it's not new then? It doesn't matter anyway. Well, it shows that God is sovereign over all things.

[10:26] God always has a plan to rescue his world when the world got really bad, when people like us messed it up. And God was so faithful to carry out his plan from the Old Testament onwards.

[10:43] So prophets like Moses, for example, Isaiah, always knew a rescuer was coming. Okay, says the man, now we know that the Gospel has origin in God, and it's not new, but what it's actually about?

[11:03] In verse 3, it's very clear that the Gospel is about regarding his son. The Gospel is not primarily about us, but it is all about Jesus.

[11:16] So, you know, we often get sidetracked into thinking that the Gospel is about us. You know, you always think about how might we think, how might we think the Gospel is about us?

[11:31] You know, perhaps we think the Gospel is about my purpose in life, on how, or how to improve myself, or is it teaching about to live morally, etc.

[11:42] But that's not the teaching of Paul, isn't it? That's not how Paul described the Gospel. He said it's about Jesus. It's about what he has done, not about what we have to do. Well, it is a relief that the Gospel is not about us.

[11:58] Otherwise, we'd definitely be ashamed to preach it, because it is about Jesus, the all-forgiving kind, and Lord, and Savior. Therefore, we have nothing to be ashamed about.

[12:11] So let those who want to boast, boast in the Lord alone. Next one, in the same verse, verse 3, the Gospel is about a king and a man.

[12:25] And I want to draw to you two particular features which God wishes us to know about his Son. That he was truly man, and also that he was also a king.

[12:37] In the Old Testament, God had promised David to send a king to rule over his people forever. How is it someone going to rule over the world forever?

[12:54] All the other gods died. All the other influential persons died. Buddha, Muhammad, Gandhi, Hitler, etc. while this King Jesus is sitting at the right hand of the Father.

[13:10] So if this is true, that we have a Savior King whose rescue and reign is forever, what a delight that is, isn't it?

[13:21] This is something we should be boast about rather than be ashamed about it. The King alive. So let's continue on verse 4.

[13:35] Now that we already know that this Jesus is king, being as a son of David, but also we are now being told that he is indeed the king.

[13:49] So just a mini disclaimer here. Please do not confuse the term son of God with God the Son. So Jesus is the second person of Trinity, but this is not what being said here.

[14:03] What being said here is that Jesus is the promised Messiah who ruled over God's world forever. Oh, just a few minutes ago, right, I mentioned that all the other gods and influenced person died.

[14:18] So how could someone rule over something forever? That was my question in the beginning. Can a dead king rule over his people? Can a dead prime minister rule over the government?

[14:30] But this is a special king. He rules forever. He was appointed as the son of God. How?

[14:41] Verse 4 says, by his resurrection from the dead. It is the resurrection of the Lord Jesus that demonstrates with power that he is undoubtedly the one.

[14:54] He is the king, the promised king. So when we know this man called Jesus, when we truly know he has defeated our greatest enemy, which is death itself, we wouldn't be ashamed to tell and preach and declare the gospel.

[15:15] The next sentence tells us the heart of the gospel. Jesus Christ, our Lord. and that is the gospel for you by using only Romans 1, chapter 1, verse 1 to 4.

[15:33] So by the time we share the gospel from these few verses with the person next to you on the flight to Shivu just now, you still haven't landed yet and you better still, you still have time for Q&A station or even better, you can ask her, you can ask him or her another question.

[15:54] Do you believe? What's next? So in verse 5, I'll read verse 5, through him we receive grace and apostleship to call all the Gentiles to the obedience that come from faith for his name's sake and you also are among those Gentiles who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.

[16:26] To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be his holy people, grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. So Paul's mission is to preach the gospel to the Gentiles for the sake of who?

[16:43] For the sake of Jesus' name. It is to call all to the obedience that come from faith in verse 5. Now before I further elaborate what does it mean, let me address one common misunderstanding.

[17:00] So people always think that the correct response means obeying certain rules then we are to be safe. I want to say this strongly this is the wrong teaching of Christianity.

[17:16] Instead we put our trust in him alone. Our response comes after we have been safe not before for us to be safe which is to truly follow what he says hence the obedience that come from faith.

[17:36] True Christian response to the gospel in the Lord Jesus is in true obedience and true repentance. True biblical obedience is to hear trust submit and surrender to God and his word.

[17:55] True repentance is not about feeling sorry or mourn over our sins but it is more about following God's way. If I were to illustrate this so this is your way but you repent and turn 180 degree and follow God's way and that is repentant in a sense not just feeling sorry or mourn of your sins.

[18:24] So Paul continues to greet the people in Romans that there are also many of those who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.

[18:34] So brother and sister now that you have the gospel with you and it is limitless I would encourage you to share this amazing news of Jesus who was dead and rose again for the dead and will come again to judge the living and the dead.

[18:58] So let's move on to the next point. For the next point I will be jumping around a bit so I will go to verse 16 first before I go to verse 8 and 15.

[19:19] So let's reflect upon what we have heard. This is the gospel that have power to save. Having heard of that let's re-examine ourselves.

[19:34] In verse of the day Paul say he is not ashamed of the gospel because it is the power of God that brings salvation verse 16 to everyone first to the Jew and then to the Gentile.

[19:49] So if you are a Christian today it's good to ask and do a spiritual check. Do you not just intellectually agree with this but in your heart truly grabs that the gospel alone is not just the message but it is indeed the power to bring salvation to those who believe.

[20:14] now if you are non-Christian or perhaps this is your first time hearing this hearing about this salvation then you might be wondering what do we need saving from?

[20:29] Okay let's jump a bit and go to Romans chapter 2 verse 5 to answer that question. I will read it. Chapter 2 of Romans verse 5 But because of your stubbornness and your unrepetent heart you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God's wrath when his righteousness judgment will be revealed.

[21:00] Ultimately we need saving from God from his righteous anger. Why? Because God is righteous God himself alone has the perfect standard to judge this world.

[21:15] God has perfect standard but we disobey him. We want to determine what is right and wrong ourselves aren't we? And that is why we deserve God's righteous anger.

[21:28] And back in chapter 1 verse 17 it said that God's righteousness is being revealed. It revealed his perfect standard. it is all about God's righteousness.

[21:42] It's all about God's faithfulness to his own standard. From the beginning to end ultimately it is God's faithfulness to his standard in Jesus. Because unlike us Jesus obeyed his father faithfully to the point of death.

[22:01] He was nailed to the cross of wood for our sin. and if you discover more into Romans all the anger of God we should have poured to you and me will turn aside from us unto Jesus so that we can be safe from God's anger safe from God's judgment.

[22:23] This is the new in which we shouldn't be ashamed of. all we need to do is to put our faith and trust in Jesus faithfulness because him alone met God's standard that we didn't meet and this is how God's righteousness being revealed.

[22:45] He kept his own standard in Jesus. Jesus perfectly obeyed from first to last. Here's the thing. If we put our trust, our faith in Jesus who alone meet God's standard, he will declare us righteous.

[23:02] He will declare us as people who met God's standard. Not because of what I do, not because of what we do, but because of Jesus and we are no longer at the receiving end of God's anger.

[23:16] Is this something that we are ashamed of? That's why the righteous shall live by faith. In other words, by trusting in Jesus alone, not what I do, but what Jesus has done.

[23:32] So some might argue that we put our trust in Jesus 99.99% like the toilet ads and I got to do 0.01% in order to be safe.

[23:45] No! Jesus has done 100% of meeting those standards because you and me can't do it. Jesus rose again from the dead to offer you and me salvation from God's righteous anger.

[24:05] So here are the three questions that I want to ask today. Number one, have you been saved by Jesus?

[24:20] doesn't matter how long you have been going to church or how actively you serve. The important thing is do you trust, do you rely on Jesus who ensures you no longer face God's righteous anger because that's the gospel or do you believe in some other gospel which is more about you than about Jesus.

[24:48] Secondly, do you realize that to say you are a gospel believer means you are making Jesus your king over your life forever?

[25:02] If so, are you exercising the obedience that come from faith? Are you done with sin? Have you resolved your problem with sin? Are you following him?

[25:17] Lastly, if you have been saved and you have committed to obey God in every aspect of your life, would you consider unashamedly telling others about Jesus so that they too will be saved?

[25:38] So having thought about that, then you might wonder how we can live the life of being unashamed of the gospel gospel there's no need to go far and just examine Paul's life as a result of him not being ashamed of the gospel let's turn to verse 8 to 15 I will read the whole verse chapter 1 verse 8 to 15 first I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you because your faith is being reported all over the world God whom I serve in my spirit in preaching the gospel of his son is my witness how constantly I remember you in my prayers at all times and I pray now at last by God's will the way may be open for me to come to you I long I long to you strong that is that you and

[26:41] I may be mutually encouraged by each other faith I do not want you to be unaware brother and sister that I plan many times to come to you but have been prevented from doing so until now in order that I might have harvest among you just as I have had among the other Gentiles I am obligated both to Greeks and non Greeks both to the wise and the foolish that is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome notice that Paul is thankful not for any personal benefit instead his goal has always been for the kingdom of God for the kingdom of God to advance throughout the world Paul assure that the believer in Rome that he constantly include them in prayers he always include a specific request that God enable him to visit them doubtless the people in

[27:43] Rome have heard about Paul and his work they have wondered maybe why he had not visited the city and the strategic church there but each time he purposed to come Paul says something prevented him Paul wanted to have a productive ministry among the believers in Rome so as the people of God ourselves we have so much to pray and giving thanks for isn't it like Paul I hope I'm so hopeful that all of us here ideally has this ministry mindset regardless which ministry that you are involved in regardless how busy you are how busy you think you are be it minister to the sick be it the kids ministry be it reaching out to non believer colleagues and even play an active role in your home in your own home group secondly

[28:49] Paul was an encourager Paul continued to express the depth of his longing to visit the believer in Rome so Paul purpose in visiting them is so that both they and he may be built up as believer so in verse in verse 11 and 12 he long to impart some spiritual gifts to strengthen them so the praise of spiritual gift here does not indicate any special gift of spirit such as of those listed in 1 Corinthians 12 or Romans 12 6 to 8 rather Paul likely had in mind imparting to believers spirit given insight that would strengthen them in the faith he long that they may strengthen one another in mutual faith now this is something that we sometimes struggle to do if you found out that some of us here having the hardship pray for each other bear each other burden keep flowing up on their progress preach the gospel to each other build each other up encourage one another it is very important to understand that this gospel not only to be preached to non christian but also among christian too so encourage one another by reming each other of god's great love so in another part of romans chapter 5 verse 8 to 9 you should tell each other that our justification and how are we being safe despite what we think about our unworthiness just last week we heard from

[30:37] Joshua about encouraging one another in faith hope and love be an encourager to the people of god among us lastly paul is a very passionate isn't it in verse 15 paul said he's eager to preach the gospel paul felt deeply and took seriously his responsibility to proclaim the good news to all people paul had received the good news of salvation by grace true faith and christ entrusted him with it as the lord's representative paul was indebted to all people to give them the gospel you see when we realize the huge debt jesus had paid for us we can't help but want others to know that they too can be forgiven the same debt we would want to share this wonderful news of salvation instead of being ashamed of it well you might think that you don't have the capacity or the capability to do it but there are so many ways that we could participate can share the gospel you wouldn't want the gospel to stop in you right if you feel as though you don't have great knowledge of the Bible we have a lot of new resources in the library there we can discover by yourself and it is exactly one month before Christmas right so if you miss out on most or even all this opportunity may I encourage you to pray and to think about to open your house to your non-believing friend instead of just thinking on how to decorate your house and also bake some cake etc but if you have too many cake to be finished you can just call me and I will be finishing it you know in all seriousness share why you follow Jesus be grateful about it be intentional

[33:43] Paul says he is not ashamed of the gospel because it is the power of God that brings salvation I hope all of you do grasp the power of this gospel and as a result of it you are not ashamed of it so before I end my sermon I want all of you to reflect upon your your own journey in knowing this gospel how did you receive how did you receive the gospel who told you reflect upon that church unnumbered souls are dying and pass into the night would we unashamedly go to all the world because there is no other name that has power to save but only Jesus Christ as we are also facing a task unfinished to tell others about this powerful news may I encourage the congregation to take a couple of minutes to pray one or two people but the more the merrier that you eagerly want to share this powerful news with list out their name somewhere that you could refer to or you can also write their name in the space that I provided in the bulletin let's set aside one minute to think about this as the musicians take their place and I will end in prayer prayer and ich will Grüß bring it to you to you to have a another thank you verse

[35:32] I청 too through verse and I will add this as the person in prayer as the people and I will use as the people and I will send this to you as the people as the people and I will aid this and I will teach you