741. ROM 1:16. PAUL’S NOBLE AVOWAL

Rom_1:16. Paul’s Noble Avowal

"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."’97Rom_1:16.

There is no subject so truly interesting to man as the gospel. On the truth or fallacy of it rest all his hopes,’97hopes in this life, and in the world to come. Liberty is of all things most desired by the slave and captive. Food is most anxiously sought by the hungry and famishing. Health is most eagerly looked for by the sick, and life is that for which a man will part with all he possesses, to retain. Now the gospel is the announcement of freedom to the bound; of food to the starving; of health to the afflicted; and of life, yea, eternal life to the condemned and perishing children of men. And there is this additional value to the blessings of the gospel, that they are spiritual and everlasting. Now this gospel is variously designated; as the gospel of the kingdom; the gospel of God; the gospel of sal nation; and the glorious gospel of the blessed God. In our text it is represented as the gospel of Christ. It is the production of Christ’s infinite wisdom and boundless love. It is the exhibition of Christ’s person, work, and glory. Viewed as a system, Christ is the centre and the glory. As a superstructure, Christ is the foundation, and the headstone of the corner. Viewed in connection with the New Testament dispensation, it is the proclamation of blessings obtained by Christ; privileges conferred by Christ; ordinances and laws enforced by Christ, and designed to subjugate the world to the love and obedience of Christ. Let us then consider,

I. The feelings the apostle avowed.

II. The reasons on which they were grounded.

I. The feelings the apostle avowed. Now here much more is included than what is expressed. So far from being ashamed, the apostle delighted, gloried in the gospel. It was the solace of his heart, the joy of his soul; to exhibit it, and diffuse it, the great end of his life. "Yea, doubtless, and I count all things but loss, for the excellency," &c. Yet there are many who are ashamed of the gospel of Christ. Many evidence this by not reading it, many by never hearing it; some who do hear, are ashamed to profess it. Many admire certain portions of it, but do not like the whole. But the whole must be received and avowed, or of the whole God will consider us ashamed.

1. Some are ashamed of its mysteries. And the gospel has its profound secrets and mysteries. "Great is the mystery of godliness, God manifest in the flesh." Yet what a puerile objection! What would you think of a professed astronomer, who, because he did not know every particular of the solar system, should be ashamed of the sun, &c.? Or, of the naturalist, who, because he did not understand all connected with vegetation, should be ashamed of the fruitful earth? Or the linguist, because he could not decipher the characters of every tongue, being ashamed of learning? Nay, let such be ashamed of their own wonderful bodies and souls, because they are mysterious, and which no anatomist or metaphysician perfectly understands.

2. Some are ashamed of the doctrines of the gospel.

Many proud-hearted Pharisees dislike the gratuitous and the universal offer of it. They cling to their superiority of character; to their moral goodness, &c. Now the doctrines of the gospel prostrate the sinner, strip him of all his assumed excellency, abase him at the foot of the cross, and confer all the glory and merit on Christ, who loved him, and gave himself for him, &c.: and when these doctrines are established in the soul, man will be nothing, and Christ all and in all.

3. Some are ashamed of the ordinances of the gospel.

They like the precepts or doctrines, but they see no value or importance in the ordinances. How would such have sustained a godly character under the Mosaic dispensation? Besides, what a reflection on the wisdom of the head of the Church. Would the all-wise and all-gracious Saviour institute puerile and. trifling ordinances in his Church? Those who undervalue ordinances, should read the history of those who despised the positive institutions and commands of God, in past ages,’97Eve, Lot’s wife, Uzziah, &c.

4. Some are ashamed of the public profession of the gospel.

They are internally in favor of the Christian system, they know Christ was a teacher sent from God, &c., but they view profession as a yoke, and as involving responsibilities. First of all, we should inquire, Is it right and essential to profess it? Now Christ demands a profession, a public and unflinching profession. This Christ calls his yoke. But is it not reasonable? Is it not delightful? Is it not dignifying? It will be so, where the love of Christ is experienced in the soul. Love is not, cannot be, ashamed of the object of its affection and delight. The apostle was not ashamed of its mysterious doctrines, of its ordinances, or to profess it before the world. A philanthropist ought not to be ashamed of the gospel of Christ. It is the best inheritance our species possess. Poor man’s treasure, sick man’s consolation, dying man’s hope. A patriot ought not; it exalteth a nation, favors its mental improvement, smiles on industry, and is at once its glory and defence. A moralist ought not to be ashamed of it; no code of laws so just, so pure, yet so benevolent. A godly man cannot be ashamed of it; it will be his song, his joy, his delight. Notice,

II. The reasons on which those feelings were grounded.

1. On the principle of its divine energy.

"It is the power of God." God exerts two kinds of power, physical and moral. By the one he made the heavens and the earth, and still upholds them. By the other he ruleth over his intelligent and responsible creatures. The exertion of divine physical power would destroy our accountability; by the other it is established. In the gospel God reveals his mind, opens his benevolent heart to man, shows man his duty and his happiness are united. Allures by rewards held out, and awes by threatenings suspended. Higher, deeper, more striking motives cannot be brought to bear on man.

(1.) The gospel is full of the power of love. A man may resist tyranny or even justice, but to do violence to goodness, and love, and mercy, is unspeakably more difficult, and hence more criminal. "The love of Christ constraineth," &c.

(2.) The gospel is full of the power of truth. Like light it makes manifest; it comes home to the conscience; it bears its own evidence; and, like light, it exhibits its blessed author, the Sun of righteousness, to world. He was not ashamed of it, on the principle of,

2. Its saving influence.

"Power of God to salvation." It exhibits the only Saviour; it tenders salvation; when received by faith, salvation is enjoyed. It saves from the power of sin; dominion of Satan; curse of the law; the wrath of God; and from eternal death. It is the message of remission of sins, and the instrument of regeneration and holiness; and it builds up its recipients for eternal glory. Not ashamed of it,

3. On account of its gracious universality.

"To every one that believeth." Believing is actually embracing it. To all such it is saving in its power. It distinguishes not between rich and poor, learned or illiterate, black or white, moral or profane, Jew or Greek. It encompasses the world in its embrace, only excepting the unbeliever, because he excepts and excludes himself.

Application

1. This gospel has long been proclaimed to you. How do you stand towards it? Many who are ashamed of it, the gospel would be ashamed to acknowledge as its disciples. Many are totally indifferent to it. Many hate and revile it. Many feel its importance, but defer giving it their cordial reception.

2. Believers of the gospel, give prominent evidence that you are not ashamed of it, that you rejoice in it, glory in it, love it, diffuse it. Be zealous for its promulgation.

Autor: JABEZ BURNS