Convictions That Fuel Gospel Courage

About this sermon

Introduction: Why? That’s a very powerful word. “Why?” gets to the root of motivations. That word gets to the root of understanding. It gets to the core of convictions. It’s amazing how human beings have the capacity and willingness to do all sorts of things without giving much thought to why they do them. But it’s important that we know why. The “why” of anything is what sustains us in it. The answer to “why” reveals whether we understand what we’re doing it, and whether our approach to it is legitimate. Paul has told us that he is not ashamed of the gospel. Most of us would say the same. But is our reason for not being ashamed the same as Paul’s? If someone said, “Why are you not ashamed of the gospel?” Would you answer the way Paul answers? That’s what we have here, Paul’s reasons for not being ashamed of the gospel. Those reasons represent Paul’s convictions. Tonight, we think about CONVICTIONS THAT FUEL GOSPEL COURAGE. Or, we could say, CONVICTIONS THAT ENABLE GOSPEL FAITHFULNESS. PAUL’S CONVICTIONS REGARDING THE GOSPEL (vs.16b-17) Paul is not ashamed of the gospel but what informs that attitude? Paul’s attitude is based squarely on TRUTH. WHAT HE KNOWS ABOUT THE GOSPEL EXPLAINS HIS COURAGE REGARDING THE GOSPEL. If you’re ever tempted to be ashamed of the gospel, then remind yourself of what Paul knows and what he teaches us here. PAUL IS NOT ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL BECAUSE OF WHAT THE GOSPEL IS – THE POWER OF GOD FOR SALVATION Paul knows what the gospel IS. It is the power of God for salvation. God has chosen to save people through the proclamation of a message. That is an amazing reality. Peter gave voice this reality in his report to the church at Jerusalem about God’s saving work among the Gentiles. ESV Acts 11:5 a"I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision, something like a great sheet descending, being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came down to me. 6 Looking at it closely, I observed animals and beasts of prey and reptiles and birds of the air. 7 And I heard a voice saying to me, 'Rise, Peter; kill and eat.' 8 But I said, 'By no means, Lord; for nothing common or unclean has ever entered my mouth.' 9 But the voice answered a second time from heaven, 'What God has made clean, do not call common.' 10 This happened three times, and all was drawn up again into heaven. 11 And behold, at that very moment three men arrived at the house in which we were, sent to me from Caesarea. 12 And the Spirit told me to go with them, amaking no distinction. bThese six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered the man's house. 13 And he told us how he had seen the angel stand in his house and say, 'Send to Joppa and bring Simon who is called Peter; 14 ahe will declare to you a message by which byou will be saved, you and all your household.' That message is the truth concerning God’s Son. That message is the good news of how God has chosen to save sinners. It declares God’s character. It declares man’s character. It declares God’s solution to the problem created by God’s holiness and man’s sinfulness. That message IS GOD’S POWER for salvation. When that message is declared God is working. God’s power is present in the preaching of the gospel. And the power that Paul is emphasizing is the power that results in salvation. That means, then, that this message IS POWER. Harrison and Hagner – “‘Power’ here refers to the intrinsic efficacy of the gospel. It offers something desperately needed by humanity and not to be found anywhere else—a “righteousness from God” (v. 17).” Robert Mounce – “The heart of v. 16 is that the gospel is the saving power of God. Salvation is not only initiated by God but is carried through by his power. To say that the gospel is “power” is to acknowledge the dynamic quality of the message. In the proclamation of the gospel God is actively at work in reaching out to the hearts of people. The gospel is God telling of his love to wayward people. It is not a lifeless message but a vibrant encounter for everyone who responds in faith. Much religious discourse is little more than words and ideas about religious subjects. Not so the gospel. The gospel is God at work. He lives and breathes through the declaration of his redemptive love for people. To really hear the gospel is to experience the presence of God.” Thomas Schreiner – “The δύναμις θεοῦ (dynamis theou, power of God) in the gospel signifies the effective and transforming power that accompanies the preaching of the gospel. Elsewhere Paul describes the gospel as “the word of the cross” (ὁ λόγος ὁ τοῦ σταυροῦ, ho logos ho tou staurou) that is “the power of God (δύναμις θεοῦ) to us who are being saved” (1 Cor. 1:18).

Topics

• Victory Over Fear