Ashamed of the Gospel?
Romans 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; 19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in themf; for God hath shewed it unto them. 20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even† his eternal power and Godhead; sog that they are without excuse: 21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.[1]
I. Revealed
A. Ungodliness
B. Unrighteousness
II. Reviewed
A. Visible
B. Viable
III. Reviled
A. Vain
B. Vanquished
Introduction: Last week we discussed why things are going so far away from where God expects this world to be. We know that God is in control and we put our faith in that. We who truly are saved understand that nothing happens that He does not allow so we don’t lose faith. There are those less mature Christians who don’t know what to think as they watch those who are against God seem to have more influence over the conversation than those who are for God.
How can it be that God is totally in control when things are spiraling out of control? For the observer that is waiting and wishing for things to be back to His normal it appears that things aren’t getting better and the bads are winning. Remember my Uncle Alberts greeting, “Who’s winning the goods or the bads?” To those who have not passed the tests of His trials in their lives yet, it sure looks like the bads are winning, but they are not. They have already lost the war.
If you decide to be aggravated over what life has given you, don’t blame what has happened in your past or what God has allowed in your past. God allowed everything in your past as a building block to where He expects you to be now.
Fail the test and He will bring you through it again and again if He loves you. If you don’t love Him enough and you tell Him to stop, He will stop testing you and you will go off in your own little world to be used by Him as what not to be.
You see, He really is and always will be in control. Today we will hear about people back in Paul’s day who were getting apprehensive about current events. They knew that they had faith but couldn’t understand why things were allowed to happen that were affecting them even though they had faith. In other words they needed reassurance. Do you? Who’s winning in your life, the good or the bads?
Scripture: The scripture is Romans 1:18-21. When you have found it please rise to your feet for the reading of God’s written word.
Prayer: Please be seated as we pray because today might be a long prayer.
Message: It amazes me how people can be so wrong yet they speak the truth in spite of themselves. These crazies are talking again about the world coming to an end because of what man is doing to the world. It’s crazy because God is less concerned about what we are doing to the world but more concerned about what we are doing to ourselves. It’s crazy because they believe the truth is untruth.
That is why He is showing His wrath against this thing we are standing on, because we are not standing on His truth. His truth is the only solid thing there is to stand on. Everything else is shaky ground and it will fail one day because we choose to ignore Him.
Those who want to control are the same that He will allow to defeat themselves. Do not be confused! He is in control! He knows what was going on and it is still going on today because all who can be saved have not yet accepted Him. Those who live by faith! Do you?? In who? In Him or in you?
Revealed from heaven… We are seeing the weather change this planet and the changes can be literally seen in the sky. Tornados and Hurricanes are more powerful than they have been and they will get worse. We know that because we read that when we studied Revelation
Verse eighteen explains why. Ungodliness and unrighteousness are why God is allowing this planet to suffer. Those without God are without Him because they refuse Him. It is their choice, not His. They would rather be wrong than right.
Let’s see what those people were doing starting at Romans 1:22-23. KJV
Let me read a paraphrase that may make it more plain. “22They say they are wise, but they are fools; 23*instead of worshipping the immortal God, they worship images made to look like mortal human beings or birds or animals or reptiles.” [2]
People who refuse to honor God seem to have a need for something to worship that they have made and can control. We cringe when we see people tearing down statues that we have come to respect but really they are not our memories, they are only statues. We are offended because others are attempting to take our memories but that won’t happen unless we fail to learn from our past successes and failures. The statues really mean more to the one tearing them down if you think about it.
Yes they are trying to take down the cross in many places but they will never hide the truth with a lie that they have made to worship unless you let them. Both the KJV and the paraphrase agree, they are fools in worshipping the created instead of the creator.
Verse 19 - 20 show that people who refuse to acknowledge Him have no excuse. All a person has to do is look and see that what is there was not made by that person. A quick review of how you are even living will show you that you can’t will yourself to live. Did you make the air that you just breathed in? Did you feel it? That water that you drank, what did it taste like, can you describe what water tastes like? You know it’s necessary and you had nothing to do with it. They know it too but they are attempting to convince others that they know how to control that which you require and is absolutely necessary for your existence here and in eternity.
God gives us the ability to understand until we insist that we want to believe the unbelievable. Verse 24-25 tells what happens when a person refuses God. God gives them over to their own control and leaves them to their twisted desires. Romans 1:24-25 KJV
Here it is from that paraphrase, “24 And so God has given those people over to do the filthy things their hearts desire, and they do shameful things with each other. 25They exchange the truth about God for a lie; they worship and serve what God has created instead of the Creator himself, who is to be praised for ever! Amen.” [3]
So here is what happens in verse 21 from our text today. If a person refuses to give their faith to God and decides instead to have faith in what they themselves can do, God will not only allow them to have their own way, He will darken their path so that they can no longer see, hear, feel, smell, or taste; I added in the other senses. They will not be able to give God honor or even credit because God will take away their light. He is the light of the world and their world will be darkened for ever and ever amen.
Reviled by those who know the truth they will not be set free, their vanity in loving only what they can control will vanquish them from what they could have been and they will have nobody to blame but themselves because the only ones that they trust are themselves.
Ashamed of the Gospel? Paul said He was not ashamed of the gospel. Do you think there were those even back them who were trying to make Christians ashamed for loving the teachings of Jesus?
Prayer:
Invitation: We have a real decision to make today that even Paul and those in that day had to make. Are you going to join the crowd that believe the world is getting worse because of what we are doing with things God has given us or are you going to tell the truth when you leave this place and go back out into that place where people need the only Hope that can be trusted. Are you ashamed of the Gospel?
The thing that we can control, that has a real effect on this world, is how much love we show. If we continue to be affected by forces around us that are attempting to influence you into thinking hardly of that person in your mind just now, the bads will win. Those who are ashamed of the gospel will influence those who could be influenced by you. Be a disciple of Jesus and not those who refuse Him and His Spirit.
What do you want? To show the world that you trust God enough to believe Him, or to show the world that you aren’t sure enough of God to rest in that assurance. You can show the world by showing His peace which passes all understanding.
Let go! Let God! Let’s sing…
f in them: or, to them
† A Greek word occurs that is not directly translated in the King James Version.
Greek Strongs: 3739
Greek Strongs: 5037
g so...: or, that they may be
[1] The Holy Bible: King James Version. (1995). (electronic ed. of the 1769 edition of the 1611 Authorized Version., Ro 1:18–21). Bellingham WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
* 1.23: Dt 4:16–18
[2] American Bible Society. (1992). The Holy Bible: The Good news Translation (2nd ed., Ro 1:22–23). New York: American Bible Society.
[3] American Bible Society. (1992). The Holy Bible: The Good news Translation (2nd ed., Ro 1:24–25). New York: American Bible Society.
