We Are Not Ashamed of the Gospel

By Samuel E. Ward   August 5, 2012   Luigi Tarisio was found dead one morning with scarce a comfort in his home, but with 246 exquisite violins, which he had been collecting all his life, crammed into an attic, the best in the bottom drawer of an old rickety bureau. In his very devotion to the violin, he had robbed the world of all that music all the time he treasured them; others before him had done the same, so that when the greatest of his collection, a Stradivarius, was first played it had had 147 speechless years. Yet, how many of Christ's people are like old Tarisio? In our very love of the church we fail to give the glad tidings to the world; in our zeal for the truth we forget to publish it. When shall we all learn that the Good News needs not just to be cherished, but needs to be told? All people need to hear it.[1] Reviewing our place in our study entitled,  "We Are Not Ashamed of the Gospel," we have considered two very clear responsibilities each Christian has relative to the Gospel. I. We Are Communicators of the Gospel:  If we aren't communicating it then we are being disobedient to the Lord's command to share Him with others. II. We Are Carriers of the Gospel:  We have a worldwide mission to complete and each of us is called to witness wherever and whenever we find and make the opportunities. We are in the process of considering a third responsibility toward the gospel as Christians. III. We Are Contenders of the Gospel:  Because the gospel contains truths that are so essential to its nature and purpose, they must be defended and protected lest they be stripped of their saving message. (Jude 1:3 NIV)  Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints. We must contend for these truths! A. Jesus Is Lord and Christ, Acts 2:36 B. Jesus Is the Christ, Acts, 5:42 C. There Is a Resurrection of the Dead, Acts 4:2 D. Jesus Is the Only Means of Salvation, Acts 4:12 Let us continue to reflect on other truths we must protect. E. Jesus Christ Rose from the Dead, Acts 2:32; 4:33 1. There were eye-witnesses of the resurrected Christ, Acts 2:32. (Acts 2:32 NIV)  God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact. 2. Christ's resurrection was the theme of the gospel message, Acts 4:33.  (Acts 4:33 NIV)  With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. F. Christ's Life and Ministry Is the Historical Basis of the Gospel, Acts 10:36-43 (Acts 10:36-43 NIV)  You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. {37} You know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached— {38} how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him. {39} "We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a tree, {40} but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. {41} He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. {42} He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. {43} All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name." Peter's key points in his message to Cornelius and his household about what God's message to mankind are: 1. They can find peace with God through Jesus Christ who is Lord of all. 2. They can know Jesus, who was anointed with the Holy Spirit and empowered to do and heal all  those who were under the power of the devil. 3. They can be assured that Jesus was killed on a tree, resurrected from the dead, seen by eye-witnesses, had food and drink with Him. 4. They can know the mission of the church to preach to the people and testify to the fact that every living and dead person will one day be judged by Him. 5. They can believe that everyone who believes in Jesus receives forgiveness of sins through His name. Of the many passages one could memorize from the scriptures, this might be one of the most important.  In it is encapsulated the whole gospel. It communicates the essential truths about Jesus, man's deepest need for peace with God and forgiveness of sins. Responding by faith in Jesus' to do these things for us means we need not fear His judgment. We must protect the gospel from those who would add or detract from these simple truths.  It is no more complex or simple than what is stated in Acts 10:36-43. Another truth that must be defended is . . . G. Forgiveness of Sins Is through Christ, Acts 13:38 Acts 13:38-39 NIV)  "Therefore, my brothers, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. {39} Through him everyone who believes is justified from everything you could not be justified from by the law of Moses. There are many ways offered to men as the way to remove the guilt they feel from acts and thoughts they instinctively know to be wrong.  They range from denying that guilt even exists to following a set of rules, regulations, or "religious" acts performed as penance to cover their sins.  The reality is, according to the gospel as presented in the scriptures, the only thing we can actually do is believe in Jesus' payment for our sins on the cross and ask for forgiveness based on His work and not our own.  We do not do good in order to gain salvation.  We do good to others as acts of worship and gratitude for having been saved and as confirmation that we indeed have been re-born into God's family.  James 2:21-22 gives us the order of efficient faith relative to works.  Faith comes first and then is validated by action.  Abraham first had to believe that God could raise his son from the dead should he sacrifice his only heir, the one promised to be the one through God's covenant promises to him would continue.  Until Abraham showed his willingness to obey God, it was merely an untested profession of faith which may or may not have been true.  Abraham's obedience was confirmation.  (James 2:21-24 NIV)  Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? {22} You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. {23} And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called God's friend. {24} You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone. We must also defend the truth that . . . H. Righteousness Comes Only by Faith in God, Not by Our Own Acts, Rom 1:16-17 1. No person can enter the kingdom of God on the basis of their own goodness or righteousness, Rom 1:16-17. (Rom 1:16-17 NIV)  I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. {17} 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." 2. Entrance into the kingdom of God is by Christ's righteousness only as received from Him by faith, 1 Cor 1:30-3. (1 Cor 1:30-31 NIV)  It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God--that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. {31} Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord." One of the most essential truths that speaks directly to humanity's accountability before God for how their lives are lived is also to be protected from error and distortion. It is that . . . I. God Will Judge Men's Secrets through Jesus Christ, Rom 2:16 (Rom 2:12-16 NIV)  All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law. {13} For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God's sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous.  {14} (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law, {15} since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.) {16} This will take place on the day when God will judge men's secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares. 1. These are the facts concerning God's judgment of men's secrets: a. All sinners, with or without the law, will be judged. b. All sinners have a moral sense by nature which is evident in the laws they enact among themselves without consulting God's law. They also struggle within their consciences when they violate their own standard. c. All men will have their deepest secrets revealed by God. That all men shall be judged is a legitimate aspect of the gospel and needs to be presented.  Heaven will not be the final destination for everyone—only those who have repented of sin and have by faith trusted in Christ to be their Lord and Savior. It is clear that God does not support the view of universal salvation—the idea that everyone will eventually enter the kingdom of God.  (1 Cor 6:9-10 NIV)  Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders {10} nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 2. Merely professing Jesus as Lord will not guarantee one a place in the kingdom, either. (Mat 7:21 NIV)  "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 3. Even some Christians will come through the evaluation of their lives and ministry with the "smell of smoke" on them as the fires of the testing of their lives and ministry as servant of Christ reveals that they have nothing to offer as glory to God. (1 Cor 3:11-15 NIV)  For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. {12} If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, {13} his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. {14} If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. {15} If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames. If judgment awaits every person at the end of their lives, then it is important that we defend the truth that . . . J. The Gospel Offers Hope for an Eternal Future, Col 1:21-23 1. The gospel holds out hope to those who hold on to the end, Col 1:21-23. The more we focus on the hope we have in Christ, the less hopelessness we will succumb to.  (Col 1:21-23 NIV)  Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. {22} But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation—{23} if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant. 2. Christians have a hope for the future that the world needs offered to them, as well. (1 Th 4:13-14 NIV)  Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. {14} We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. It is also important that we preserve the truth . . . K. Destruction of Death, and the Possibility of Life, and Immortality Are Brought to Light through the Gospel, 2 Tim 1:9-10. (2 Tim 1:9b-10 NIV)  Grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, {10} but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. Where else can one find such credible revelation from God concerning knowledge about life after death not as mere theory or philosophical speculation?  God has given us the historically credible record of the resurrection of Jesus Christ as a promise that if we accept His grace by faith, we shall also be resurrected to eternal life with Him! [1] James S. Hewett, Illustrations Unlimited (Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc, 1988), p. 492.