I am absolutely not ashamed.

For I am not ashamed…

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, 'The righteous shall live by faith.'" (Romans 1:16-17 ESV)

Jesus predicted that people would be at the crux of heaven and hell, of salvation or separation: "For whoever is ashamed of Me and of My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels." (Mark 8:38 HCSB) There are those who are apathetic, ignorant, unbelieving, but those to be most pitied are they who have looked upon the loveliness of Jesus, considered Him and are ashamed of Him.

However, even good believers become tired. They are tried. They are weary and worn. I think of Paul, in the midst of ministry, when he said: "And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling," (1 Corinthians 2:1-3 ESV) Even in this condition, confessing weakness and fear, there was still no shame.

What is there to be ashamed of? THIS IS THE GOOD NEWS! This life is THE life! Maybe we should be ashamed of our former lives. Maybe we should be ashamed of our apathy. Maybe we should be ashamed of a lot of things, but not the Gospel.

For I am not ashamed of the Gospel…

What is the Gospel? When Paul uses the word “gospel,” he is making a royal proclamation that JESUS IS KING and that all should pledge complete allegiance to Him. Jesus said the same, “you are either with ME or against ME.” There is no neutral ground! And, I am not ashamed!

How did Jesus earn this crown? Simple; He came and took the captives from captivity. He, in reclamation, redemption and restoration, defeated a strong enemy. Paul tells us "Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures," (1 Corinthians 15:1-4 ESV) By being obedient to the cross, Jesus died for sinners, and by defeating death, His life was approved of and He was vindicated, proven to be God of very God and righteous and full of power!

This is the Good News! Jesus has taken over! HE IS KING!! And, I am not ashamed!

King of MY life! King of the World!!! HE IS IT!!! And, I am not ashamed!

For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God…

How is it the power of God? It is the power of God by the telling of Him and calling of people to come to Him. To stand on HIS promises, to trust in HIS work; it is the revelation of Christ as KING that sets men free from sin and hell. That’s the power! When one swears allegiance to THE KING, all of the King’s resources and influence are brought to bear in their lives. It's the power of God toward anyone who believes and takes the Father at His word that the Son is both necessary and sufficient.

For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation…

We are set free from Satan. We are set free from the bondage of sin. We are set free from destiny of hell. We are set free from the death of separation from God.

Yes! There is that which we are saved from and that which we are saved to. Upon both, or at the thought of either, I can certainly say with all praise to God, I AM NOT ASHAMED!

Think of some of the benefits of salvation...

...salvation rescues men and women and boys and girls FROM

... ... guilt (Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:14)

... ... pollution of our inner lives with sin (Romans 6:6, 17; 7:21-25)

... ... slavery (Romans 7:24-25; Galatians 5:1)

... ... punishment

... ... alienation from God

... ... the wrath of God

... ... eternal death

... ... spiritual numbness

...salvation delivers men and women and boys and girls TO

... ... righteousness (Romans 3:21-26; 5:1)

... ... holiness before the Lord (Romans 6:1-4; 12:1-2)

... ... freedom! (Galatians 5:1; 2 Corinthians 3:17)

... ... blessedness

... ... fellowship with God

... ... the love of God alive in our hearts

... ... everlasting life

... ... spiritual pain that brings healing and spiritual joy in Christ.

For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every that believeth…

Even this is a gift…believing, you know, it is! The spiritually dead do not rise up and believe; they are stirred and any faith is a gift of God!

God draws; Jesus said none of us come to Him unless the Father draws them (see John 6:44). That I can believe is because He has bid me to believe, and surely, for that, among much more, I can say I AM NOT ASHAMED!

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...

Perhaps this is the most beautiful part…IT’S FOR ANYONE!!!

Maybe it's for you, here, right now, even as you are reading this, He is drawing you...maybe it is for YOU to believe. To trust with simple and wholehearted faith that Jesus is necessary and that He is enough. If you come to the Father through the Son, believing on the death and resurrection, that belief in Jesus will be counted to you as righteousness, and you will have no reason to fear God nor any reason to be ashamed before Him.

Do you believe?

If so, don't be ashamed. Never be ashamed! Don't be ashamed, but also, don't be proud. One can have shameless thankfulness without having shameful arrogance.

Do you believe, beloved? Are you ashamed of the gospel? Are you ashamed of Jesus?