Unashamed?
Read the Text: Romans 1
Memorize the Text:
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek. (Romans 1:16, CSB)
Consider the Text: Romans 1:16-17
The world's influence often causes temptation, which tempts believers to live in a manner of being ashamed of the gospel. Such a temptation happens when the world attempts to mark Christianity as archaic, out of touch, and oppressive. When the world's voices begin to influence believers' worldviews, the response of being ashamed of the gospel can occur. In Romans 1, the apostle Paul declared the importance of never watering down the gospel and never being ashamed of the gospel. He declared the imperative that we must stand boldly for the gospel since the message of the gospel is the only message that leads people to salvation in Christ.
We must desire to PREACH the gospel. When we develop a desire to preach the gospel, we set a course to protect ourselves from the influence of living ashamed of the gospel. The development of this desire flows from seeking to see a ready harvest around us. As the apostle Paul gazed into the first-century culture, he saw a harvest ready for the gathering. As a result, he came under a great conviction of sharing and eagerly proclaimed the gospel. Likewise, when we view the harvest, we must be moved to have a conviction and obligation to share Jesus with others no matter what.
We must NOT BE ASHAMED of the gospel. The ability to declare comes from the foundational relationship with Jesus as Lord and Savior. When Christ becomes Lord of your life, we live in a state of not being ashamed because Christ is in your life. Thus, all confidence rests in Christ and not in the world. Therefore, we lean and place all our hope in Christ and readily declare the gospel unashamed. As a result, we remain unashamed because of the power of the gospel. Paul shows such a lifestyle by trusting in the power of the gospel to change lives and declare a life grounded on the person of Christ.
We must DECLARE righteousness in the gospel. The righteousness needed to stand before the Lord in righteousness cannot be achieved by the ways or efforts of humanity. Instead, righteousness only comes through a relationship with Jesus. Thus, we declare that righteousness is only a gift to humanity that comes from the Lord. This gift is not temporary but has security because of the work of Christ. The apostle Paul declared righteousness in Christ alone and clarified that the needed righteousness could come from nowhere else. Paul lived unashamed of the gospel while declaring the gospel. Thus, we must seek to live out righteousness to support the message of inviting others to receive righteousness in Christ.
How are you living? Are you living in a manner of being unashamed in the gospel? Are you resting on the foundation of Christ and rejecting the temptation of the world? Are you declaring the gospel with clarity and boldness? Are you ashamed or unashamed of the gospel?
This blog is part of the Coffee and Quiet Time with Jesus Devotional Series found at equippingfaith.com. Join the journey of reading through the New Testament this year. More information can be found at equippingfaith.com.
