I.        INTRODUCTION

A.      This is the first lesson in a series to be taken from Paul’s epistle to the Romans.  The intention of this series is not to give an exhaustive, detailed study of the book, but rather it is to draw practical lessons from each chapter that Christians can use to better serve God.

B.      This lesson focuses on Romans 1:1-17, where Paul explained that he was not ashamed of the gospel.

II.      “THE GOSPEL OF GOD”

A.      In 1:1, Paul said that he was “set apart for the gospel of God,” which he declared in throughout this epistle.

                                                             1.      The word “gospel” means “good news,” so Paul recognized that he was specially designated for the preaching of the good news of God.

                                                             2.      The epistle to the Roman Christians is perhaps the most complete, detailed statement of the good news of God contained in the New Testament.  Maybe Paul wrote such a detailed epistle because he had not been able to be present to teach them personally.

B.      A summary of the gospel of God is given in 1:1-4.

                                                             1.      The gospel of God was “promised beforehand through His prophets in the holy Scriptures.”

a.       The Old Testament contains over three-hundred prophecies concerning the Christ.  Jesus perfectly fulfills every one of them.

b.       The New Testament leans heavily upon these prophecies, making many references to them to prove that Jesus is Christ.

                                                             2.      The gospel of God concerns His Son.

a.       Jesus was the son of David by fleshly descent.

i.         The records of His lineage prove that He descended from David (Matt. 1:1-17).

ii.        This lineage was prophesied in the Scriptures (1Chron. 17:11-15; Ps. 132:11).

b.       However, Christ was declared to be the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead.  This was the ultimate sign and proof that Jesus is both Lord and Christ (Acts 2:36).

C.      Everything within the gospel of God is founded upon the fact that Jesus is the Christ.

                                                             1.      Every detail of the gospel is significant because of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ (1Cor. 15:1-4).

                                                             2.      Let us never lose sight of this truth nor be tempted to compromise the gospel, for every point of it is important because of Christ.

III.    “I AM EAGER TO PREACH THE GOSPEL”

A.      Paul’s opening message was that he desired to go to these Roman Christians.  Notice 1:8-13.

                                                             1.      Rome was a city of over one million residents, and there were many Christians living there.

a.       At this time, Rome was the greatest city in the world.  It was filled with magnificent buildings and technology, but most of its residents were slaves.

b.       The church had been established in Rome for years (notice 15:23).  Just a few years after Paul wrote this epistle, the Roman historian Tacitus described the Christians of Rome as “an immense multitude” in A.D. 64.

                                                             2.      This epistle was written around A.D. 57, near the end of Paul’s third missionary journey.  At that time, his travels had not yet taken him to Rome, although he wanted to go there.

a.       In 15:20-25, Paul explained that he had not gone to Rome because it was more necessary for him to go to places where the gospel had not yet been preached.

b.       However, he was still eager to go to Rome to preach the gospel.

i.         Paul wanted to go to them so that he could impart spiritual gifts to them.

ii.        He also wanted to be encouraged together with them.

iii.      Most of all he wanted to preach the gospel to them.

B.      Paul recognized that he was obligated to preach the gospel to all men.  Notice 1:14-15.

                                                             1.      When the Lord called Saul of Tarsus to become His apostle, He told him that he would be sent to the Gentiles to bear witness of the Lord and suffer for Christ’s name (Acts 9:15-16; 22:14-21; 26:16-20).

                                                             2.      Paul accepted his obligation as the will of Christ and embraced his work with eagerness.

C.      All Christians should likewise recognize their obligations to demonstrate the gospel to others around them and be eager to carry out their work.

                                                             1.      We also have been sent by the Lord to go into the world and preach the gospel (Mark 16:15-16; 2Tim. 2:2).  Therefore, we are also obligated by the will of Christ.

                                                             2.      Not only are we to teach the world, but are to teach one another as well.  The Lord’s church is a self-edifying body, and its members are to “speak the truth in love” to one another (Eph. 4:11-16).

IV.    “I AM NOT ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL”

A.      Paul was not ashamed to preach the gospel, for he knew it was the message of salvation.  Notice 1:16-17.

                                                             1.      Paul was not ashamed of the gospel because he believed it.

a.       Notice 2Timothy 1:12 – “For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.”

b.       Paul believed that the gospel was true, and this belief gave Him assurance that he was right to preach it.  There is no shame in truth, assurance, and righteousness.

                                                             2.      He was not ashamed because he knew the gospel’s power.

a.       The gospel is God’s power for salvation to all who believe.

i.         God is the only one who could have the power for salvation, and He has extended His power to man in the form of the gospel.

ii.        See 1Corinthians 1:18-24.

b.       Paul knew that all the problems in the world are the results of sin and that the gospel was the solution for the problem of sin.  For such a wonderful power as that, there is no shame.

c.        Paul knew all of this for himself firsthand, for he had been a persecutor of Christ’s church, but God had mercy on him through the gospel of Christ (1Tim. 1:12-17).

B.      Any shame suffered by Paul because of the gospel was glorious to him.

                                                             1.      Paul suffered tremendously as a result of preaching the gospel.

a.       He sacrificed everything that had previously been meaningful to him (Phil. 3:7-11).

b.       He suffered personal injuries and persecution (2Cor. 4:16-18; 11:16-33).

                                                             2.      If Paul had suffered these things for any other cause, he may have been ashamed.  Yet because he suffered for the gospel of Christ, he rejoiced.

a.       Notice Paul’s attitude about his imprisonment in Philippians 1:12-18.  He rejoiced in his circumstances because they resulted in the progress of the gospel.

b.       This is because Paul had dedicated his life to Christ: “For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Phil. 1:21).

C.      No Christian should ever be ashamed of the gospel of Christ for any reason.

                                                             1.      When the truth about the gospel is stated plainly as in Romans 1:16-17, no Christian would dare admit to being ashamed of it.  Yet we often behave as if we are ashamed.

a.       We remain silent when we know that we ought to speak the truth to someone.

b.       We cower and compromise the truth rather than standing boldly on the truth.

c.        We sin and indulge ourselves in the sinful pleasures of the world.

                                                             2.      Why do some Christians behave as if they are ashamed of the gospel?

a.       Some struggle with disbelief as they are not fully convinced that the gospel is the power of God for salvation.

b.       Some are more concerned with the approval of men rather than the approval of God (John 12:42-43).

c.        Some love the world and the pleasures of the world and lack love for God (1John 2:15-17).

V.      CONCLUSION

A.      Paul told the Roman Christians that he was eager to preach the gospel to them because he was not ashamed of it.

                                                             1.      The remainder of this epistle records the truth that Paul was so desperate for these Christians to know.

                                                             2.      To Paul, the gospel was important, for it was a matter of spiritual life and death.

B.      Every Christian should imitate the attitude of Paul and be likewise eager to tell the gospel to others.