When you find yourself tempted to keep quiet about Christ because of the opposition of the surrounding culture, we should take heart and remember the reasons why the apostle Paul said: I’m not ashamed of the gospel. He, by the grace of God, is an excellent example for all Christians.
For me living is Christ
The Christian faith in Paul’s time was highly controversial for what it means, which it is today.
This apostle was despised and endured many more things. In addition, he was whipped, imprisoned, and on countless occasions, he also came to the brink of death.
He suffered as a shipwreck and was stoned. He was attacked by false Christians, Jews, and non-Jews, he went days and nights without eating or sleeping during his travels; and even he came to suffer naked and cold, you can find this in (2 Cor. 11:21-28)
Yet after this Paul was not afraid to go to Rome, to the pagan and immoral capital of the empire that ruled the entire known world, and where all Christians were facing suffering and persecution.
Paul not only wanted to serve the Christians there, but his longing was also to see new conversions. He had the desire and passion to share the gospel with all people. (Romans. 1:11 – 15)
He was not afraid of anything that could happen to him since he knew that if he died he would go to heaven, and if he continued living God would be in control (Romans 8:28). He fully trusted the promises of our heavenly Father. (Philippians 1:23)
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Paul had more interest in pleasing God than in being popular, and despite all the things he suffered he remained faithful to the preaching of the gospel, of the truth for love of God and for love of people. His joy and his gratitude did not depend on his circumstances, but on the Lord. Jesus was enough for him (Philippians 1:21) Paul said: “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”Taking Paul as an example, who was the one who expressed these words, which you must apply today in your walk with Christ.
Reasons Why I’m Not Ashamed Of The Gospel
1.- Because the gospel is the power of God.
(Romans 1:16-17) “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes; from the Jew first and also from the Greek. Because in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed by faith and for faith; as it is written: but the just shall live by faith.”
Paul knew that the greatest news there is is the gospel, he knew this truth. This truth is so marvelous that it was prophesied in (Romans.1:1-2) the whole universe deals with it, since God created all things, executed and outlined the plan of redemption before the foundation of the world, for the praise and glory of his grace.
When some people say they are Christians and know the gospel, but are ashamed of it and don’t talk about it, it’s hard to believe that their faith is genuine.
Silencing the gospel is a sin that we commit, plus we are acting against God and how great the gospel is. This is powerful, eternity-changing good news for those who believe it. Our life only depends on knowing the “gospel of the glory of Christ”
(2 Corinthians 4:3-4) “But if our gospel is still hidden, among those who are lost it is hidden; this is among the unbelievers, to whom the god of this world has blinded their understanding, so that the light may not shine.” light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God”
As we can see in these verses, the apostle Paul mentions the importance of making known and spreading the gospel, if we as Christians deny this truth to people, we will be denying them the light of Christ that they must know to come out of darkness into light.
If we are denying the gospel then we will be those unbelievers to whom the god of this world has blinded their understanding, we cannot see that by denying the glory of the gospel that is the image of God, then we do not know God, and we will be rejecting the identity that God gave us as children.
2.- Because the wrath of God is revealed from heaven
(Romans. 1:18-20) “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all impiety and injustice of men, who with injustice restrict the truth; because what is known of God is evident within them, since God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world, his invisible attributes, his eternal power and divinity, have been seen with all clarity, being understood through creation, so that they are without excuse.”
Although the people knew God, they did not give him honor or thanks, but man becomes vain in his logic and reasoning, then his mind is darkened, that is, it is filled with darkness, not knowing the light and the truth that Jesus manifested through his walk and his bloody redemption
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(Romans 3:23) “Because all have sinned they fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is Christ Jesus.”
In this other verse, a panorama of our reality clearly opens up for us, a truth that no one and nothing can change, men, all humanity is destitute of the glory of God, because of the sins of our ancestors and ours, then the only The way that we can have access to God is through the redemption that is Christ, the gospel, there is no more. there Paul does not make them clear.
3.- He knew who he had believed in
(2 Timothy. 1:12) “Therefore I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; because I know in whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to keep my deposit until that day.”
Paul was not ashamed of the gospel because he knew God. Our heavenly Father is faithful forever and ever, he will finish what he started not only in us, but also in the whole world. Believing in God brings you closer to the promises he has for you.
Nothing can separate us from the love of God, because there is nothing greater than God. Nothing escapes his hands about everything that happens in our lives.
Paul knew that even if the vision of things around us is small, in everything that God works in each person’s life he is perfect, but if we do not see him in this life, we will have the certainty that we will see him in eternity.
4.- He believed in the sovereign grace of God.
(2 Corinthians 4:5-6) “For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said that light will shine out of darkness, he is the one who has shined in our hearts, to illuminate the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ ”
One of the things that prompted Paul not to be ashamed of the gospel was the fact that God has chosen ones for salvation and that his sovereign grace overcomes any resistance from people, he trusted in the supernaturality of God to work in hearts.
(Acts 18:9-10) “And by means of a vision during the night, the Lord said to Paul: Do not be afraid, keep speaking and do not be silent; because I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, because I have a lot of people in this city.”
This filled Paul with courage. For this reason he expressed that he endured everything out of love for the chosen ones. Paul was passionate that God had called him to be the instrument and the channel to bring the message of salvation to his chosen ones and effectively save them.
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Pablo was confident that there would be guaranteed success. That although not all people would receive Christ, many would, sooner or later, because God had chosen them. Paul knew that God could grant repentance to people, overcoming all resistance and harshness in them.
5.- Because he was saved and forgiven
Paul had the understanding that nothing the world did to him compared to what he first did to Jesus. For this reason, he did not get discouraged in the midst of the difficulties that he had to face and the bad things that people did to him.
Furthermore, he knew that he would have permission to complain about whatever was done to him or whatever suffering he faced, the day when he would do more for Jesus than Christ had done for him, and he clearly knew that day would not come.
He really knew the truth of the gospel and believed it. If you also believe it, we encourage you to say forcefully I am not ashamed of the gospel. There is no greater truth, and impressive and worthy of being proclaimed than what Jesus did and has left us for us to proclaim and give glory to him.
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