"So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.  For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.  For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, the just shall live by faith."                                                            Romans 1:15-17

God has a purpose for everyone; even those who do not claim Him are still recorded in His plans.  Paul said, "I am ready to preach the gospel even to Rome."  Rome was a group of people who were intelligent and had everything going for them, but their hearts were hard.  The Lord prepared Paul to go to them, and Paul was ready and anxious to go.  He couldn't wait!  He said, "I am ready."

I like what Paul said in Verse 16, "I am not ashamed to preach the gospel of Christ."  All week I have thought about this statement, and I have tried to understand exactly what Paul was speaking of when he said, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ."  You say, "Preacher, what he is saying is simple -- he's not ashamed to preach."  That is true, but I believe Paul is trying to say more.  I believe it is something on a deeper level, and it might go like this ---

We live in a time when Christians are looked down upon.  People say, "He's a Christian", as if "Christian" is a dirty word.  We also live in a time when the gospel message is not being preached in a way that leads people down the pathway to Heaven.  Some seem to be ashamed to speak of their salvation.  We should never be ashamed of the gospel.  I do not apologize to anyone for being a Christian.  I am not ashamed of being counted as a child of God.  I am not ashamed of saying I am on my way to Heaven and that my ticket was bought through the blood of Christ.  I know it is not "politically correct" in this turbo-charged atmosphere in which we now live to say, "I am a Christian."  It is not popular to be so exclusive in our Christian belief, but I will tell you one thing. If you want to go to Heaven, you must do it by the way of the Cross.  There is no other way. 

You question, "What about all those other religions?"  I say, "If those people do not go by the way of Christ, they will never enter Heaven."  Jesus said, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life; no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."  [John 14:6]  If you believe that Allah can get you to Heaven, you are deceived.  If you believe some Hindu god can get you to Heaven, you are deceived.  If you believe that you can get to Heaven on your own merit, you are deceived.  If you think that joining the church and being baptized is all it takes to get you to Heaven, you are deceived.  The way you do get there is to claim the precious blood of Jesus Christ; it is there you find favor from Him.

Paul said, "I am not ashamed to proclaim the gospel message."  The Bible tells us that as Christians we all belong to a Royal Priesthood.  As Christians we are responsible for taking the word of God out to a lost and dying world.  Now, you don't have to put on a nice-looking suit like my wife picked out for me this morning and get into a pulpit to deliver your message.  God needs preachers in the factories, on your job, in your school, while you are pumping gas, while you are checking out at the supermarket, and while you are visiting with your neighbors. There is a message to be preached.  You say, "Brother JR, I am not as bold and loud as you are."  To that I say, "Well, you should thank the Lord for that, but you can deliver a gospel message."  You can do it this way -- preach often; use words when necessary.  Do you get that?  Your life can and should be a living sermon, a sermon about a changed creature since you accepted Christ into your life.  People are watching you, Christians.  Sadly, some of you are living a negative example.  You are a Christian only when you are with the Christian crowd.  It is easy to get up and sing loudly on Sunday morning "Oh, How I Love Jesus."  How easy is it to get up in front of a group of non-believers and proclaim the love of Jesus?  Our actions should support our speech.  Christians should live like Christians; we should walk like Christians, talk like Christians, and think like Christians.

You are saying, "Preacher, you are being narrow-minded."  I have no problem being narrow-minded.  I am also Jesus-minded.  I have Him in my heart, on my mind, and in my life.  I am not ashamed to be a Christian.  I know how hard it can be living a Christian life and working in a factory where people laugh and snicker when you enter the scene.  I've been there!  I remember how people would say, "You better watch out; here comes JR Fields."  I would walk up with a strut and say, "Yes, and don't you forget it either."  I was happy to know there was enough evidence of the change in my life.  They were watching me, and people saw that something glorious had taken place.  JR Fields was a changed man.

I will not apologize for being a Christian.  Don't you apologize either.  If you have a salvation that you can put on and take off at will, then you don't have a true salvation.  Never believe that you can do enough good to off-set your bad habits.  No, it's not easy being a Christian, but the end results is our of this world.

Sermon edited by Mary King

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 This page last updated: 03/07/08