Let Us Not Be Ashamed

1. Read: Romans 1:16, 17

2. About the Text:

1) Herein lies the theme of the book of Romans.

2) The gospel is God’s power for salvation.

3) Paul talked about three things leading up to and including this great statement.

4) Paul said in verse 14, “I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.”

5) Paul said in verse 15, ” So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.”

6) Then he concludes with verse 16 ” For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”

7) Do we have the same attitude that Paul had?

3. Ref. to S, T, P, O, and A.

1. 1 Peter 4:16 “Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.”

2. We may be tempted to be ashamed to suffer as a Christian.

1) The world pressures us to conform to it (Romans 12:1).

2) To be different from the world brings scorn from the world.

3) With this scorn is the internal desire we may have to be ashamed of ourselves for being different.

4) Let us not do this.

3. Jesus told his disciples to expect the world to hate them. “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you” (John 15:18, 19).

4. Jesus said that we are blessed when we suffer. “Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.” (Matthew 5:10-12).

5. The Apostles thought it joyful that they were worthy enough to suffer. “And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.” (Acts 5:41).

6. James speaks regarding the benefits of suffering. “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” (James 1:2-4).

7. In Hebrews we read that suffering leads to holiness and righteousness. “For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.” (Hebrews 12:10, 11).

8. So Peter writes: “If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.” (1 Peter 4:14).

1. Romans 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”

2. God chose the foolishness of the world to save men (1 Cor.1:21 “For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.”)

1) To the world this is foolishness.

2) Nobody wants to be a fool.

3) And so the temptation for us to be ashamed of the gospel.

3. The gospel is the only message in this world that really matters. “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.” (Matthew 13:44-46).

4. Paul said, “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.” (2 Cor.4:7).

5. “For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!” (1 Cor.9:16)

6. The Apostles said in Acts 4:20, “For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.”

7. Galatians 6:14 “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.”

8. So let us follow after 2 Timothy 2:15 “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

9. And then let us practice 1 Peter 3:15 “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:”

1. 2 Timothy 1:12 “For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.”

2. Are we ashamed to own Jesus as our Lord?

1) When temptation arises to do wrong, do we proudly say, “I don’t do those things?”

2) Do we kowtow to the pressure of friends and family to go along with something that is wrong even though we know we shouldn’t?

3) Is Jesus truly our Lord?

3. Paul told Timothy, “Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;” (2 Timothy 1:8).

4. We should count all things as loss for Christ. Philippians 3:8-11 “Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.”

5. We should be ashamed in nothing regarding our relationship with the Lord. Philippians 1:20 “According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.”

6. Let us shout with David: “Unto thee, O LORD, do I lift up my soul. O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me. Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed: let them be ashamed which transgress without cause. Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths. Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.”

1. Let us not be ashamed…

1) To suffer as a Christian.

2) To preach and teach the gospel.

3) To own Jesus as our Lord.

2. If we believe in Him, we will not be ashamed (Romans 10:11 “For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.”).

3. If we are ashamed of Him, then He will be ashamed of us. (Mark 8:38 “Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”)

4. Let us live so as not to be ashamed at his coming! “And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.” (1 John 2:28)

5. Let us so live so that God will not be ashamed of us. “But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.” (Hebrews 11:16).

6. Invitation

1) If you are a Christian, are you ashamed?

2) If you are not a Christian this morning, you will not be ashamed by believing on Him!

a. Hear the word; Romans 10:17 “Faith comes by hearing . . .”

b. Believe with all your heart; Hebrews 11:6 “For without faith it is impossible . . . .”

c. Repent of your sins (Acts 17:30).

d. Confess Jesus as the Son of God (Matt.16:16).

e. Be Baptized for the remission of your sins (Mark 16:15,16).