I Am Not Ashamed of the Gospel
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This past week I so wished I could have brought all of my dear friends to a listen to a powerful, tremendous sermon with me based on Romans 1:16. A seasoned minister preached of not being ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus - that He died, was buried, rose again, atoned for our sins through faith alone in Him; is seated at the right hand of God the Father; is returning soon and calling His people to join with Him in ruling and reigning.
And here's the point: this Gospel is the power of God to bring salvation to everyone who believes. This is freeing. It's exciting! I want you to be with Him and myself and so many other believers made righteous and clean by Jesus' blood, too. And I'm not ashamed to share that only through Jesus can we be saved.
This will be short, I promise.
It was just so exciting to be reminded once again to not be ashamed of the magnificent Good News of Jesus Christ. Don't be ashamed that God's Word is powerful enough. Don't be ashamed that the Gospel, the Word, Jesus the Word made flesh IS enough. Jesus Alone Is Enough! The Gospel alone is the power of God unto Salvation! Have we fully internalized that?
The Bible in its entirety gives us such a glorious portrait of the glory of Jesus Christ. We are given a powerful, saving, transforming Gospel! It's the only complete joy and peace we can ever have. It's the fullest Love we can ever experience. And it's free!
Though it may sound like foolishness to many, I'm not ashamed of it. Though many may want to add to the Gospel, I'm not ashamed of the simple, glorious, mysterious gospel of Jesus through faith alone in Him.
We may think we need to add additional appeals to make Jesus' Gospel strong enough to save. Let's not fall into the many traps set for us by the deceiver. The Lord alone removes the veil from our eyes by His Spirit so that we see and know this Good News (I Cor. 3 & 4). Our eloquence, our wisdom, our methods are nothing in these jars of clay and through our efforts in the flesh. In case we've missed it, the Gospel itself is the power of God unto salvation.
So fervently the minister asked us as believers not to pressure him and our church leaders to add to the gospel to make it appealing in one way or another. We are tempted to add to the gospel to satisfy ourselves, but let's show discipline that Christ is Enough.
Let us be bold in declaring Jesus as Lord, fully sufficient and holding all things together (Col. 1:17)! Let us not be timid or ashamed in sharing Jesus as the only Way, the Truth and the Life for those who are perishing.
The Gospel is the power of God unto salvation for those who believe.
If anyone believes in their heart and confesses with their mouth, "Jesus Is Lord," and believes in their heart that God raised Him from the dead, they will be saved!" (Romans 10:9) Jesus Saves! Amazing Grace My Chains Are Gone! Hallelujah!
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Dear Heavenly Father, help us to treasure your grace in all its fullness, completeness and never-ending mercies! Help us to declare your marvelous grace with the same boundless joy and thanksgiving that you have for us! We love You and thank You for Grace which found us and gave us a song to sing and a life to live for You! We praise You for your Glorious Good News given to us! In Jesus' Name, Amen.