Beth Emunah Sermon, February 2020
“For I am not ashamed of the Gospel/Good
News for it is the power of God for salvation for everyone who believes, for
the Jew first, and also for the Greek. For in it is revealed God’s
righteousness from faith to faith. As it is written, “But the righteous shall
live by faith.”
Two of the most famous verses in Romans. Perhaps in all of Paul’s letters. Paul had been imprisoned in Philippi, chased out of Thessalonica, smuggled out of Berea, laughed at in Athens, regarded as a fool in Corinth, & stoned in Galatia, yet remained eager to preach in Rome. He was not put off by criticism or physical persecution and he had a Spirit driven motivation. He knew that it was the power. And it cost him everything in a worldly perspective.
In these two verses we have the most life transforming truth God has ever put in our hands. God has a plan for each one of us. It is a perfect plan. It is an eternal plan. It is better than any plan we can make up or find in this world.
Let’s begin to break down these two powerful verses and keep in mind the 7 words that Paul emphasizes in these verses. Gospel, Power, Salvation, Jews, Gentiles, Righteousness, Faith …
“For I am not ashamed of the Gospel” When you consider candidates for a spokesman, would anyone living in those days choose the likes of Paul as a spokesman for Yeshua? No! Yet he was exactly who was needed! Let’s take a look in his letter to the Philippians and see how Paul describes who he was and who he has become. One interesting note, Paul always talks about himself in the present tense…
Philipians 3:4-8…“though I myself might have confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he might depend on the flesh, I far more—circumcised the eighth day; of the nation of Israel; from the tribe of Benjamin; a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the Torah, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting Messiah’s community; as for Torah righteousness, found blameless.
But whatever things were gain to me, these I have considered as loss for the sake of the Messiah. More than that, I consider all things to be loss in comparison to the surpassing value of the knowledge of Messiah Yeshua my Lord. Because of Him I have suffered the loss of all things; and I consider them garbage in order that I might gain Messiah.
“I am not ashamed of the Gospel” means I am not ashamed of the one who the Gospel refers to…Yeshua! Paul was not ashamed even though many other Jews hated him; Gentiles had stoned him; the Greeks had ridiculed him; the Romans would kill him. Paul knew exactly what he was saved from and who was doing the saving. Paul is not ashamed of the gospel because it is...an expression of God's power and the revelation of God's righteousness.
Paul’s second letter to Timothy 1:12 tells us, “For this reason I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him until that day.”
But the gospel “is the “power” of God for salvation for everyone who believes” . Paul is not ashamed of the gospel, because he knows its Godly power. God’s power has no limits—no end. God holds our life in his hands. We serve at God’s pleasure. He Does Not Say The Gospel Contains Power, Or that it is powerful, Or that it has power, Or that it exerts power, Rather, the gospel “IS” power. The Greek word for power is Dunamis which translates into our English word dynamite. Gospel power that is able to destroy sin and the old ways of life.
Paul has seen the gospel’s power. He experienced it on the road to Damascus, where he was going to persecute believers belonging to “The Way”. Instead of condemning Saul, Yeshua used his power to redeem him. Yeshua’s power was manifested on that occasion by the bright light that blinded Saul and the voice from heaven. Since that time, Paul has seen God’s power manifested in many ways. He has seen people healed and people come to faith. In Acts 16, he has been freed from prison by an earthquake. He has preached successfully in some very unlikely places. In 2 Corinthians, he has survived a host of dangers. He has seen his confidence in God justified time after time. How could he be ashamed of the gospel?
This gospel is the power of God for “salvation” for everyone who believes”. Salvation from what? Salvation from whatever would undo us! We are rescued from sin; we are brought to righteousness; We are rescued from a polluted mind; we are made holy; We are rescued from slavery; we are given freedom; We are rescued from punishment; and we are blessed. But the primary thrust of the salvation of which Paul speaks here is Spiritual. Yeshua saves us from separation from God. Yeshua enables us to live eternally in the presence of the Father.
“For everyone”. That word, “everyone,” is hard to believe: There were many Jews who believed that Gentiles could be saved, but only by becoming part of the circumcision. Paul, however, says that the gospel has power to save “everyone who has faith” including Gentiles.
“Who believes” in Greek, this is in the present tense and it denotes an ongoing activity. Salvation belief is not something that happens once, but something that continues. We should not, however, fear that God’s grace is insufficient to forgive doubt. We all doubt. We can all say, with the father who petitioned Yeshua to heal his son in Mark 9:24, “I believe; help my unbelief.”
“For the Jew first, and also for the Greek”. By this time Paul’s ministry is predominantly to Gentiles, but he acknowledges the priority of Jews in God’s plan of salvation. The Jewish people maintain a special covenant-relationship with God and Paul notes not only the distinctiveness of Jews and gentiles, but the common faith they will share.
“In the Gospel, the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith”. When Paul speaks of “God’s righteousness,” it means two things… that righteousness is a characteristic of God, as well as the righteousness that God gives to those who have faith. But the gospel is good news primarily because, He has chosen to justify us “freely” by his grace through the redemption that is in Yeshua”.
Remember, Righteousness is not something we can do, it is who God is! When sin is removed by the grace of God, all that is left is His righteousness in us.
“But the righteous shall live by faith”. Paul’s quotes from Habakkuk 2:4, where the prophet contrasts proud people with people of faith. Habakkuk said that the spirit of proud people “is not right in them,” but “the righteous will live by his faith.” We could know nothing of God’s righteousness or grace unless God revealed them to us. However, it requires faith to see what God has revealed. It is through faith that we see God’s righteousness. It is through faith that we experience righteousness.
So, what was Paul’s Motivation? It is the same motivation that we should have…The Power of the Message. Paul knew something that we need to learn. What changed Him would change them and ultimately us. A changed heart leads to a changed man/woman. Paul says I’m not ashamed…Family, there are a lot of things I am ashamed of. There are a lot of things I am not proud of. There are a lot of things that just flat out embarrass me. BUT brothers and sisters there is one thing I am not ashamed of…I am not ashamed of the gospel of Yeshua because it is the power. It is the power to change a man, a woman, the power to change a Mom, the power to change a dad, to change an ex-spouse, to change a drug addict, to change an adulterer the power to change what we thought we believe WAS true, the power to change our very lives, the power to make us new.
I close with this. There are just some words, expressions, or writings that we take with us through our spiritual journey and for me this is one of them. Nobody truly knows who wrote this following passage. There are several theories out there. But none of that matters. This is simply one of the best earthly descriptions of being unashamed that I have ever come across…
I am part of the "Fellowship of the Unashamed." I have Holy Spirit power. The die has been cast. I've stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I am a disciple of His. I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, and my future is secure.
I am finished and done with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tame visions, mundane talking, chintzy giving, and dwarfed goals! I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don't have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded. I now live by presence, lean by faith, love by patience, lift by prayer, and labor by power.
My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions few, my Guide reliable, my mission clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, diluted, or delayed.
I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of adversity, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity. I won't give up, shut up, let up, or burn up till I've preached up, prayed up, paid up, stored up, and stayed up for the cause of Christ.
I am a disciple of Jesus. I must go till He comes, give till I drop, preach till all know, and work till He stops. And when He comes to get His own, He'll have no problems recognizing me. My colors will be clear.
Shabbat Shalom. Let’s pray…
Two of the most famous verses in Romans. Perhaps in all of Paul’s letters. Paul had been imprisoned in Philippi, chased out of Thessalonica, smuggled out of Berea, laughed at in Athens, regarded as a fool in Corinth, & stoned in Galatia, yet remained eager to preach in Rome. He was not put off by criticism or physical persecution and he had a Spirit driven motivation. He knew that it was the power. And it cost him everything in a worldly perspective.
In these two verses we have the most life transforming truth God has ever put in our hands. God has a plan for each one of us. It is a perfect plan. It is an eternal plan. It is better than any plan we can make up or find in this world.
Let’s begin to break down these two powerful verses and keep in mind the 7 words that Paul emphasizes in these verses. Gospel, Power, Salvation, Jews, Gentiles, Righteousness, Faith …
“For I am not ashamed of the Gospel” When you consider candidates for a spokesman, would anyone living in those days choose the likes of Paul as a spokesman for Yeshua? No! Yet he was exactly who was needed! Let’s take a look in his letter to the Philippians and see how Paul describes who he was and who he has become. One interesting note, Paul always talks about himself in the present tense…
Philipians 3:4-8…“though I myself might have confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he might depend on the flesh, I far more—circumcised the eighth day; of the nation of Israel; from the tribe of Benjamin; a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the Torah, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting Messiah’s community; as for Torah righteousness, found blameless.
But whatever things were gain to me, these I have considered as loss for the sake of the Messiah. More than that, I consider all things to be loss in comparison to the surpassing value of the knowledge of Messiah Yeshua my Lord. Because of Him I have suffered the loss of all things; and I consider them garbage in order that I might gain Messiah.
“I am not ashamed of the Gospel” means I am not ashamed of the one who the Gospel refers to…Yeshua! Paul was not ashamed even though many other Jews hated him; Gentiles had stoned him; the Greeks had ridiculed him; the Romans would kill him. Paul knew exactly what he was saved from and who was doing the saving. Paul is not ashamed of the gospel because it is...an expression of God's power and the revelation of God's righteousness.
Paul’s second letter to Timothy 1:12 tells us, “For this reason I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him until that day.”
But the gospel “is the “power” of God for salvation for everyone who believes” . Paul is not ashamed of the gospel, because he knows its Godly power. God’s power has no limits—no end. God holds our life in his hands. We serve at God’s pleasure. He Does Not Say The Gospel Contains Power, Or that it is powerful, Or that it has power, Or that it exerts power, Rather, the gospel “IS” power. The Greek word for power is Dunamis which translates into our English word dynamite. Gospel power that is able to destroy sin and the old ways of life.
Paul has seen the gospel’s power. He experienced it on the road to Damascus, where he was going to persecute believers belonging to “The Way”. Instead of condemning Saul, Yeshua used his power to redeem him. Yeshua’s power was manifested on that occasion by the bright light that blinded Saul and the voice from heaven. Since that time, Paul has seen God’s power manifested in many ways. He has seen people healed and people come to faith. In Acts 16, he has been freed from prison by an earthquake. He has preached successfully in some very unlikely places. In 2 Corinthians, he has survived a host of dangers. He has seen his confidence in God justified time after time. How could he be ashamed of the gospel?
This gospel is the power of God for “salvation” for everyone who believes”. Salvation from what? Salvation from whatever would undo us! We are rescued from sin; we are brought to righteousness; We are rescued from a polluted mind; we are made holy; We are rescued from slavery; we are given freedom; We are rescued from punishment; and we are blessed. But the primary thrust of the salvation of which Paul speaks here is Spiritual. Yeshua saves us from separation from God. Yeshua enables us to live eternally in the presence of the Father.
“For everyone”. That word, “everyone,” is hard to believe: There were many Jews who believed that Gentiles could be saved, but only by becoming part of the circumcision. Paul, however, says that the gospel has power to save “everyone who has faith” including Gentiles.
“Who believes” in Greek, this is in the present tense and it denotes an ongoing activity. Salvation belief is not something that happens once, but something that continues. We should not, however, fear that God’s grace is insufficient to forgive doubt. We all doubt. We can all say, with the father who petitioned Yeshua to heal his son in Mark 9:24, “I believe; help my unbelief.”
“For the Jew first, and also for the Greek”. By this time Paul’s ministry is predominantly to Gentiles, but he acknowledges the priority of Jews in God’s plan of salvation. The Jewish people maintain a special covenant-relationship with God and Paul notes not only the distinctiveness of Jews and gentiles, but the common faith they will share.
“In the Gospel, the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith”. When Paul speaks of “God’s righteousness,” it means two things… that righteousness is a characteristic of God, as well as the righteousness that God gives to those who have faith. But the gospel is good news primarily because, He has chosen to justify us “freely” by his grace through the redemption that is in Yeshua”.
Remember, Righteousness is not something we can do, it is who God is! When sin is removed by the grace of God, all that is left is His righteousness in us.
“But the righteous shall live by faith”. Paul’s quotes from Habakkuk 2:4, where the prophet contrasts proud people with people of faith. Habakkuk said that the spirit of proud people “is not right in them,” but “the righteous will live by his faith.” We could know nothing of God’s righteousness or grace unless God revealed them to us. However, it requires faith to see what God has revealed. It is through faith that we see God’s righteousness. It is through faith that we experience righteousness.
So, what was Paul’s Motivation? It is the same motivation that we should have…The Power of the Message. Paul knew something that we need to learn. What changed Him would change them and ultimately us. A changed heart leads to a changed man/woman. Paul says I’m not ashamed…Family, there are a lot of things I am ashamed of. There are a lot of things I am not proud of. There are a lot of things that just flat out embarrass me. BUT brothers and sisters there is one thing I am not ashamed of…I am not ashamed of the gospel of Yeshua because it is the power. It is the power to change a man, a woman, the power to change a Mom, the power to change a dad, to change an ex-spouse, to change a drug addict, to change an adulterer the power to change what we thought we believe WAS true, the power to change our very lives, the power to make us new.
I close with this. There are just some words, expressions, or writings that we take with us through our spiritual journey and for me this is one of them. Nobody truly knows who wrote this following passage. There are several theories out there. But none of that matters. This is simply one of the best earthly descriptions of being unashamed that I have ever come across…
I am part of the "Fellowship of the Unashamed." I have Holy Spirit power. The die has been cast. I've stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I am a disciple of His. I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, and my future is secure.
I am finished and done with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tame visions, mundane talking, chintzy giving, and dwarfed goals! I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don't have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded. I now live by presence, lean by faith, love by patience, lift by prayer, and labor by power.
My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions few, my Guide reliable, my mission clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, diluted, or delayed.
I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of adversity, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity. I won't give up, shut up, let up, or burn up till I've preached up, prayed up, paid up, stored up, and stayed up for the cause of Christ.
I am a disciple of Jesus. I must go till He comes, give till I drop, preach till all know, and work till He stops. And when He comes to get His own, He'll have no problems recognizing me. My colors will be clear.
Shabbat Shalom. Let’s pray…
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