The Call of the Gospel – “Shamed” but Unashamed

Romans 1:1-17

Longest letter we have from the Ancient World

Longest letters from 2 famous ancient Roman philosophers, Cicero : 2,500 words & Seneca :4,000 words

Longest letters from 2 famous ancient Roman philosophers, Cicero : 2,500 words & Seneca :4,000 words Apostle Paul’s Romans : > 7,000 words

“If a man understands this book (of Romans), he has a sure road opened for him for the understanding of the whole Scripture.” – John Calvin

What then is Romans all about ? Why is it so important ?

Winning photo of Environmental Photographer Of The Year 2011 competition. Taken by Hong Kong- based photographer Chan Kwok Hung.

Sin

Gospel

For all the sins of the world, God has the solution : Step 1 – Providing the Gospel (the Cure) Step 2 – Giving the Call (the means of delivering the Cure)

Smallpox caused the deaths of between 300 to 500 million people in the 20 th century alone.

What is sin ? Why did Jesus have to die ? What was achieved through His death ? How do we get saved from His death ? What happens after we are saved ? etc

The importance of Romans can be attributed to the fact that this book provides for us the clearest picture of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. St Augustine Martin Luther John Wesley

Dr Martyn Lloyd Jones 29 sermons … from Romans sermons … from Romans

For all the sins of the world, God has the solution : Step 1 – Providing the Gospel (the Cure) Step 2 – Giving the Call (the means of delivering the Cure)

“ 5 Through 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. 6 And you also are among those who are called to belong to Jesus Christ. 7 To 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.” – Romans 1:1-17

3 types of divine callings What does God call us to do in response to the Gospel ?

3 types of divine callings : What does God call us to do in response to the Gospel ? 1.Believe (that Jesus is God becoming man; believe in His suffering, death, resurrection and Second Coming) 2.Behave (in accordance to high moral standards, as we are children of God) 3.Belong (to a church, so that we can grow spiritually).

3 types of divine callings : What does God call us to do in response to the Gospel ? 1.Believe  BELONG to Jesus Christ (Romans 1:6 “ 6 And you also are among those who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.”)

3 types of divine callings : What does God call us to do in response to the Gospel ? 2.Behave  BE HOLY (Whole) (Romans 1:7 “ 7 To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints …)

2.Behave  BE HOLY (Whole) a)Wholeness (God’s Spirit and Word filling every aspect of our lives – body, soul [mind, emotions, will], spirit; thereby making us whole)

2.Behave  BE HOLY (Whole) a)Wholeness (God’s Spirit and Word filling every aspect of our lives – body, soul [mind, emotions, will], spirit; thereby making us whole) Our PersonChristian Holiness SpiritSeeks only after God MindGodly Wisdom/Ideas/Thoughts EmotionsGodly Emotions/Feelings WillGodly Motives BodyGodly Purposes

2.Behave  BE HOLY (Whole) a)Wholeness (God’s Spirit and Word filling every aspect of our lives – body, soul [mind, emotions, will], spirit; thereby making us whole) b)God Himself (“Be Holy, because I, the Lord your God, am holy” [Leviticus 19:2, Matthew 5:48])

2.Behave  BE HOLY (Whole) b)God Himself (“Be Holy, because I, the Lord your God, am holy” [Leviticus 19:2, Matthew 5:48]) Holiness is more than morality – it is modeling after Christ Himself.

3 types of divine callings : What does God call us to do in response to the Gospel ? 3.Belong  BE BOLD for Christ (Romans 1:5 “ 5 Through 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.)

Prayers for the Christmas Outreach Musical Event (COME) 23 rd Dec 2012 : 1.Pray for the preparation that is going into COME and that the Christmas message will come through clearly. 2.Pray that the Lord will reveal 3 persons whom we can pray for and invite. 3.Pray that our guests will experience our warmth and welcome.

What does God call us to do in response to the Gospel ? 1.Believe  BELONG to Jesus CChrist

What does God call us to do in response to the Gospel ? 2.Behave  BE HOLY (Whole)

What does God call us to do in response to the Gospel ? 3.Belong  BE BOLD for Christ

Vaccine discovered in 1796 Wide-spread use since 1840 Why is the disease still able to kill 300 – 500 million people in 20 th century ? Dr Edward Jenner Why ?

Something is Not Working

God’s calls not responded to …

“I 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.” – Romans 1:16

“I am not ashamed … to be an Olympic Medalist.”

“I am not ashamed … to be a Cabinet Minister.”

“I 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.” – Romans 1:16

“I 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.” – Romans 1:16 Because while there is absolutely nothing shameful about the Gospel – people are shamed for their connection with the Gospel.

“I 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.” – Romans 1:16 Because while there is absolutely nothing shameful about the Gospel – people are shamed for their connection with the Gospel.

God calls the world to 1.Believe  BELONG to Jesus Christ People are shamed for responding to the Gospel and belonging to Christ.

God calls His People to 2.Behave  BE HOLY as God is holy God’s People are shamed for not conforming to the world, for wanting to be like Jesus.

“I 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.” – Romans 1:16

God calls His Disciples to 3.Belong  BE BOLD in proclaiming the Gospel God’s Disciples are shamed for sharing the Gospel.

God calls His Disciples to 3.Belong  BE BOLD in proclaiming the Gospel God calls Some of His disciples to be set apart … “ 1 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God” – Romans 1:1

“I 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.” – Romans 1:16

“ 28 Peter said to him, “We have left everything to follow you!” 29 “I tell you the truth,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for Me and the gospel 30 will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life.” – Mark 10:28-30

“I 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.” – Romans 1:16