Honey From The Rock

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Honey From The Rock
Psalm 81:16

"Sweet Stuff From God's Word"

A daily Bible study with Victor Knowles
Copyright 2007

"I AM NOT ASHAMED"

This entry was posted on 09-16-2009 and is filed under uncategorized.

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek" (Rom. 1:16 NKJV). Today we come to the third "I am" statement of Paul. I remember memorizing this verse when I was a young boy. It is such an important truth for every Christian to internalize. Matthew Henry said, "I reckon him a Christian indeed who is not ashamed of the Gospel, not is a shame to it." Both parts of Henry's definition of a Christian are true and needful. We must never be ashamed the the Gospel, not be a shame to it by our lives.

The essence of the gospel (good news, glad tidings) is that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day (see 1 Cor. 15:1-4). We must never be ashamed of those divine truths. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. The way to life is by accepting the truth about Jesus. He is who He claimed to be - the Son of God. He did what He came to do - die on the cross for our sins. He commissioned us to go into all the world and preach His Gospel to every creature - and that we must do, never once being ashamed of being an ambassador for Christ. You may be assailed or reviled for saying that Jesus is the only way to salvation, but be that as it may. We cannot alter the Gospel. Bob Russell said, "We are to deliver the message, not rewrite the mail." All of us are postal carriers for Christ. Never be ashamed of Christ or His gospel. Jesus said, "For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father's, and of the holy angels" (Luke 9:26 NKJV). The choice is clear. Let us all say with Paul, "I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ!'

Hymn: "Ashamed of Jesus! that dear friend On whom my homes of heav'n depend! No; when I blush, be this my shame, that I no more revere His name. Till then, nor is my boasting vain, Till then I boast a Savior's slain; And O, may this my glory be, That Christ is not ashamed of me" (Joseph Grigg)