Introduction:

A. Special emphasis on the "I am"! Conviction.

B. Being ashamed of the gospel, many have turned to social substitution and experiences, even testimonial meetings.

C. Divine provisions to make sinful man acceptable with God are found only in the gospel (Rom. 6:17; 3:22).

D. Sufferings and imprisonment for having preached the gospel could never make Paul ashamed of the message.

Body:

I. I am not ashamed of the basis of the gospel.

A. The cross of Christ is the basis (1 Cor. 1:17-21).

B. The preaching of the cross is God's power to the saved (1 Cor. 1:18; 15:2, middle voice: "being saved").

C. It is God's power to save the believer (Rom. 1:16).

D. The cross is to some foolishness and a stumbling block, but it is the very foundation of the gospel (1 Cor. 1:18).

E. The preaching of the gospel cannot be done with the wisdom of words (1 Cor. 1:17,21; 2:1).

II. I am not ashamed of the wisdom of the gospel.

A. The design and function of the gospel is contrary to the thinking and wisdom of men.

1. The beatitudes illustrate the difference (Matt. 5).

2. Paul's Philippian epistle from the Roman prison is one of rejoicing (1:18, 25-26; 2:17-18; 3:1; 4:4).

B. The self-exalted shall be abased (Lk. 14:11).

C. The wisdom of the gospel says, "do good for evil" (Matt. 5:43-45; Rom. 12:19-21).

D. "Lose your life to save it" (Matt. 8:34-35).

III. I am not ashamed of the supernatural in the gospel.

A. I believe and rejoice in the virgin birth, the miracles, resurrection, ascension, and promise of His second coming.

B. I am not ashamed of the inspiration of the gospel (2 Tim. 3:15-16; Gal. 1:11-12; 1 Cor. 2:10-13).

C. I am not ashamed of its finality (Jude 3).

IV. I am not ashamed of the oneness of the gospel.

A. The gospel allows no rivals, substitutes or mixtures: its claim is the gospel or nothing (Gal. 1:6-12).

B. It is the faith once delivered (Jude 3).

C. Only the gospel offers hope to men in Christ (Eph. 3:1-7).

D. "Same rule" demands unity of doctrine (Phil. 3:16; 2 Thess. 2:13-14; 2 Tim. 1:9; Gal. 6:16).

V. I am not ashamed of the product of the gospel.

A. The Word is the seed and it produces after its kind (Lk. 8:11).

B. The gospel produces salvation (Rom. 1:16).

C. The gospel produces undenominational, anti-denominational, non-sectarian churches of Christ. Cf. Paul's tours of gospel preaching (Acts 13ff).

D. It produces consistent acts of worship (Jn. 4:23-24).

E. It produces the same polity and work in each church (Acts 14:23; Eph. 4:11-16).

F. "Receiving the end of your faith" (purpose of your faith, 1 Pet. 1:9).

Conclusion

1. Those who are ashamed of Jesus and His Word have no hope (Lk. 9:26).

2. Hope created in faithful gospel obedience "maketh not ashamed" (Rom. 5:5).

3. The faithful Christian is not ashamed of the gospel or suffering saints (2 Tim. 1:8).

4. The call of the gospel is: 1 Thess. 2:13; Rom. 10: 17. (a) "Study to show thyself . . . ashamed" (2 Tim. 2:15).

Guardian of Truth XXXI: 2, p. 49
January 15, 1987