Weekly Sermon
In Romans 1:14-16 the apostle Paul gave testimony, saying, “I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise. So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. 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.”
Brethren, how seriously do we take our Lord’s commission to preach the gospel of Christ to the lost world around us? How ready and committed are we to preach the gospel at any given opportunity? How much confidence do we have in the gospel to convict and save the lost? How faithful are we in our gospel witness from day to day? In Romans 1:14-16 the apostle Paul delivered a testimony under the inspiration of God the Holy Spirit concerning his own faithful service in gospel witness. Thereby the apostle is presented as an example for our faithfulness in gospel witness. Even so, by that example we are taught three truths concerning this matter.
In Romans 1:14-16 the apostle Paul gave testimony, saying, “I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise. So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. 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.”
Brethren, how seriously do we take our Lord’s commission to preach the gospel of Christ to the lost world around us? How ready and committed are we to preach the gospel at any given opportunity? How much confidence do we have in the gospel to convict and save the lost? How faithful are we in our gospel witness from day to day? In Romans 1:14-16 the apostle Paul delivered a testimony under the inspiration of God the Holy Spirit concerning his own faithful service in gospel witness. Thereby the apostle is presented as an example for our faithfulness in gospel witness. Even so, by that example we are taught three truths concerning this matter.
We must take seriously our commission to preach the gospel unto the lost.
In Romans 1:14 the apostle gave testimony, saying, “I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.” Previously in verse 1 the apostle had spoken of himself, saying, “Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God.” Certainly we are not called to be apostles as the apostle Paul was. Therefore, we may contend that we are not “separated unto the gospel of God” in the same manner that he was. Yet it remains true that every one of us as believers is “a servant of Jesus Christ.” Even so, as the servants of our Lord Jesus Christ, we are indeed “separated unto the gospel.”
In 2 Corinthians 5:17-20 the truth is given, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.” If we have received the Lord Jesus Christ through faith as our eternal Savior, then we have been spiritually born again as a new spiritual creation in Christ; and then we have been reconciled unto God the Father by Christ. Even so, unto every one of us as regenerated and reconciled believers, God our heavenly Father has now given the ministry of reconciliation and has now committed the word of reconciliation. We are now “ambassadors for Christ.” We now have the God-given responsibility to preach the gospel of Christ unto the lost world and to plead with them to receive Christ as Savior.
This is our Lord’s commission of gospel witness to us. In Mark 16:15 our Lord Jesus Christ declared, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Again in Matthew 28:18-20 our Lord Jesus Christ declared, “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” Yet again in Luke 14:23, by means of a parable, we who are the servants of the Lord are instructed to “go out into the highways and hedges,” and to compel lost sinners to come unto Christ, that our heavenly Father’s heavenly house might be filled. Finally, in Luke 24:47 we are instructed, “That repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his [Christ’s] name among all nations.”
Brethren, we must take seriously our commission to preach the gospel unto the lost. We must view our responsibility of gospel witness as being so great that we join with the apostle Paul in viewing ourselves as debtors toward the lost. Yea, we must view ourselves as spiritual debtors toward the lost, wherein we owe them our gospel witness. Yea, we must view ourselves as such spiritual debtors toward every lost soul, wherein we owe our gospel witness to anyone of any classification, no matter their racial group, age level, intellectual capability, social status, outward appearance, belief system, etc.
We must maintain a ready commitment to preach the gospel at any opportunity.
In Romans 1:15 the apostle gave testimony, saying, “So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.” Brethren, we must maintain a daily commitment to be faithful in fulfilling our God-given responsibility in this matter. Yea, our commitment in this matter must demonstrate itself in a willingness, a readiness, even an eagerness to preach the gospel at each and every opportunity. As much as our Lord grants us ability and opportunity, we must have a willing, ready, eager commitment to preach the gospel unto the lost. We must awaken each day with a desire to be faithful in our gospel witness. We must begin each day with a request that our Lord would grant us opportunity for gospel witness. We must walk through each day with an alertness for those opportunities of gospel witness. Then we must be quick to take hold of each opportunity with a Spirit-filled gospel witness.
We must have a whole-hearted confidence in the gospel that we preach.
In Romans 1:16 the apostle gave testimony, saying, “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.” Certainly we have no need to be ashamed of the gospel of Christ. Certainly we have every reason to possess whole-hearted confidence in the gospel of Christ. It is the very power of God unto eternal salvation. It is the power of God whereby we sinners are delivered from the condemnation of the law. It is the power of God whereby we sinners are delivered from the judgment of hell. It is the power of God whereby the overabundant grace and love of God is bestowed upon us. It is the power of God whereby we sinners are eternally forgiven of our sins. It is the power of God whereby we sinners are eternally redeemed from the power of spiritual darkness through the shed blood and sacrificial death of God the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Furthermore, the gospel of Christ is the power of God whereby we sinners are eternally and freely justified in the sight of God. It is the power of God whereby we sinners receive the perfect righteousness of Christ recorded on our personal, eternal account in heaven. It is the power of God whereby we sinners possess eternal reconciliation and peace with God. It is the power of God whereby we sinners are born again spiritually and made the very children of God. It is the power of God whereby we sinners have our old spiritual man crucified with Christ, and whereby we are raised with Christ in newness of spiritual life. It is the power of God whereby we sinners are made spiritually dead unto sin and spiritually alive unto God. It is the power of God whereby we sinners are empowered to deny sin and unrighteousness and to submit ourselves unto God and righteousness in our daily walk. It is the power of God whereby we sinners receive the seal of the indwelling Holy Spirit of God to assure our hearts and empower our lives. It is the power of God whereby we sinners possess a living hope that we enjoy the glory of in the eternal life to come and that we ourselves shall be glorified and conformed unto the righteous image of Christ. It is the power of God whereby we sinners have absolutely eternal security in the love of God through the intercession of Christ.
Finally, the gospel of Christ is the power of God unto eternal salvation for every single individual who believes on Christ, for every one that places the trust of his or her heart in God the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, as his or her eternal Savior from sin. Yea, the gospel message itself will convict the hearts of sinners and draw them unto the Savior. Even so, Romans 10:17 proclaims, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Yes, there is every reason for us to have whole-hearted confidence in the gospel. No, there is no reason for us to be ashamed of the gospel. Brethren, let us not in any way be ashamed in our gospel witness and testimony of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Rather, no matter what we must face or suffer in our gospel witness, let us be faithful partakers “of the affliction of the gospel according to the power of God.” (2 Timothy 1:8)
Brethren, we must take seriously our commission to preach the gospel unto the lost. This is to be our testimony, even as it was the testimony of the apostle Paul, “I am debtor.”
Brethren, we must maintain a ready commitment to preach the gospel at any opportunity. This is to be our testimony, even as it was the testimony of the apostle Paul, “I am ready.”
Brethren, we must have a whole-hearted confidence in the gospel that we preach. This is to be our testimony, even as it was the testimony of the apostle Paul, “I am not ashamed.”
Posted in Weekly Sermon, Romans, Godly Witnessing, Children of God, Gospel of Christ, Salvation & Eternal Life
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