October 19, 2011 No Shame in the Gospel

No Shame in the Gospel
Read Romans 1:16 – 32

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.

I’M ASHAMED to say I can’t say, “I’m not ashamed of the Gospel.” One time I had a conversation with a “good, church-going man”. He has done things in his church and in his community. The conversation shifted to Heaven and the likelihood of him going there. I asked him if he was sure Heaven was his eternal home.
His answer surprised me. After all, he had earlier spoken of Jesus. But then he said, “I hope so.” He thought that if he did the best he could, helped people and did good, that God would allow him to be in Heaven. I paused and thought for a minute—then I said, “There’s nothing you can do to be welcomed into Heaven. It is what Jesus did for you on the cross.”
He stopped talking and sat silent—then I said, “Do you believe that Jesus is your Lord and Savior?” I didn’t get a reply. And that’s as far as it went. Two things I ask myself—Why did I wait and ponder if I should talk to him about “works versus faith”? And Why didn’t I push the conversation further?
Is it because I am ashamed of the gospel? Could be. It could be I don’t trust Jesus’ words enough to press the point to someone I just met. Perhaps it is because I didn’t want him to feel awkward or challenged. I do know I needed to lovingly and patiently take the conversation further.
One thing that I am feeling about this is that I am more ready to ask the questions the next time. I don’t feel I am a gifted evangelist, but I’ve never really tried. I’ve never really opened my mouth for the gospel. But I want to try. I want to present Christ. This is what he has commanded me to do, and I want to do it.


Pause and Consider: how important it is to tell people the Gospel is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.