Ashamed of the gospel of Christ. Romans 1;16
I have seen Christians in Communist prisons with fifty pounds of chains on their feet, tortured with red-hot iron pokers, in whose throats spoonfuls of salt had been forced, being kept afterward without water, starving, whipped, suffering from cold–and praying with fervor for the Communists. This is humanly inexplicable! It is the love of Christ, which was poured out in our hearts. - Richard Wurmbrand, Tortured For Christ, p. 55 (1967).
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. Romans 1:16
What can keep one’s mind in alignment with the heart while being beaten and tortured for 14 years in a Communist prison? Who is able to do this? Answer:every one that believeth. How can one survive this kind of hate crimes? Answer: by the power of God. Where does one acquire this power? Answer: by believing the gospel of Christ. What is the Gospel of Christ?
The Apostle Paul—in my opinion was the greatest single believer second only to the Christ himself in the propagation of the gospel’s message. He at one time said he wished himself to be accursed from Christ for his brethren. Read his story, when he was not ran out town, he was thrown into prison. When he was not being stoned, he was beaten profusely. He was mocked, rejected, suffered shipwreck, left for dead, and held as a mad man before magistrates. Yet, he said an angel stood by him convincing him that he must keep going and to appear in Rome also. Ashamed of the gospel of Christ—not on Paul’s watch.
There were those who crossed Paul’s path who were ashamed to believe the gospel of Christ. People like Felix having opportunity to believe the gospel; rejecting the moment for more of a convenient season. The most noble Festus shouted to Paul that he was beside himself and a nut. Agrippa said to Paul that he had almost persuaded him to be a Christian. Paul’s audiences were ashamed of the gospel of Christ; he was not.
The Gospel of Christ: Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: Romans 1:3,4. The Word became flesh and inhabited a body and was made in the likeness of human flesh. He was known as a God-man when He was awakened from a needed rest then hushed and calmed a killer storm. He met the righteous demands and became the Lamb of God who was violently slain and nailed to a cross as a substitute for sin. For six long eternal hours he hung on two pieces of cold steel, rejected of men and forgotten of his Heavenly Father. He voluntarily and willingly died under his own power and was buried in another man’s grave. That was on a Friday evening, but Sunday morning came and the gospel of Christ became a world-wide and a life-changing message. Do you believe this? When you do, you will never be ashamed of this only gospel.
It seems to me that God did his part in making this simple gospel known by lifting up his Son on a cross for all the world to see. He has made this good news accessible to anyone, anywhere, anytime. All you need do to receive this eternal life is to believe it just as God has given it. When done, the love of God will be poured in you so the gospel of Christ can flow through you unto the end of the age. God’s desire for you right now is that you know him in power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings being made conformable unto his death.
Visit: www.cliffhartley.com