The Relationship between Power & Shame
To me it was a beauty! It was my first and in it I would go places! Independence!
However, what to me was so good, to others it was anything but… friends at the Blacktown Church Youthclub even had a special name for it: ‘Canardly’
My Ford Cortina 440, they said “would go down a hill and could hardly get up the next one!” My beloved ride was short on power and was the butt of many jokes à much shame on my part. Needless to say, when the subject of cars came up among the boys… I kept quiet!
For many Christians this is the danger with regard to what we believe about the Gospel. We may feel it is hard to defend what we believe about the Gospel.. We may think it POWERRFUL but are intimidated by those who think it is NONESENSE & WEAK
Speaking of our faith and what Christ means to us is ‘risky’ and we fear being the butt of jokes. When we feel this way, we do not appreciate the immeasurable ‘power’ of the Gospel A power so great, we never need to be ashamed of our faith.
What is it about the Gospel that speaks to its power à confidence for us to speak up and not be ashamed?
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- ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT THE GOSPEL
- THE POWER OF THE GOSPEL
- POWERFUL TO SAVE THROUGH CHRIST ALONE
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Readings reproduced on this page:
The Holy Bible: New International Version. 1996, 1984. Grand Rapids: Zondervan
Readings
Romans 1:1–17 (NIV84)
1Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God—
2the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures
3regarding his Son, who as to his human nature was a descendant of David,
4and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.
5Through him and for his name’s sake, we received grace and apostleship to call people from among all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith.
6And you also are among those who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.
7To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
8First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world.
9God, whom I serve with my whole heart in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you
10in my prayers at all times; and I pray that now at last by God’s will the way may be opened for me to come to you.
11I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong—
12that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.
13I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that I planned many times to come to you (but have been prevented from doing so until now) in order that I might have a harvest among you, just as I have had among the other Gentiles.
14I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish.
15That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are at Rome.
16I 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.
17For 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.”
Text
Romans 1:16–17 (NIV84)
16I 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.
17For 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.”
