PAUL'S ATTITUDE TOWARD THE GOSPEL

     Thank you and once again we express our sincere appreciation to
each one who has honored us with your presence as this time. It is my
hope and prayer that these studies are beneficial to each one.  We
continue to invite your questions and/or comments. Now to our study.
     In Romans 1:14-17, we hear the great apostle Paul speaking, "I am
a debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise
and to the unwise. So, as much as in me  is, I am ready to preach the
gospel to you that are in Rome also. For I am not ashamed of the
gospel of Christ; for it is the power of God unto salvation to
everyone that believeth; to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For
therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as
it is written, The just shall live by faith."
     The apostle Paul is the greatest evangelist in all the history of
the church of Christ. No man preached the gospel with more power than
he. This familiar text reveals why Paul was such a successful
preacher. It reveals both his attitude toward sinners and toward the
gospel. First, Paul felt himself a debtor to all the world. Hear him
again, "I am a debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both
to the wise, and to the unwise." He endeavored to preach the gospel to
all because he felt indebted to all, to give them the gospel. This is
the way every Christian should feel. Today, those among us who are
Christians owe the gospel to the world. A stewardship of the gospel
has been entrusted to us. Listen to Paul in 1 Corinthians 9:17, "For
if I do this of mine own will, I have reward: but if not of mine own
will, I have a stewardship intrusted to me." We, too, must be faithful
to our charge. Someone brought the gospel to us and we should be
interested in taking it to others. We should desire to share Christ
with the world, and if we really love our Lord, we will share Him with
others. We are not only saved to serve, but we are saved to save
others, and unless we feel indebted to the world we will  not please
Christ. We, as Christians, are members of Christ's church, and the
supreme mission of the church is to preach the gospel to the whole
world. The Christians in the first century went everywhere preaching
the word and we should do the same today. Paul said, "Woe is unto me,
if I preach not the gospel." If we feel this same sense of obligation,
we will try, at all times, to reach others with God's saving message.
It is for this reason that the White Park church of Christ brings you
this radio study from Sunday to Sunday. It is our intent to teach the
gospel as plainly and yet as forcefully as possible.
     It is also for this purpose that a series of services have been
arranged by the congregation that brings you this program. Beginning
tomorrow evening and continuing nightly through Friday evening, this
congregation will meet nightly at 7:30 p.m.  We have invited five men
from our general area to come into our midst this week to lead us in a
series of studies. You in our listening audience have a cordial
invitation to visit with us on any of these nights, or better yet, on
all of these nights. Bring your Bible, your pencil and paper, and
study with us. You will have a cordial reception. You will find a very
friendly welcome.
     On Monday evening, Jerry Fite of Pasadena, Texas, will speak on
the subject, "Preparing our children for Heaven." On Tuesday evening,
John Evans of Highland, Texas, will speak of the subject, "What Does
the church of Christ offer me?" Then on Wednesday evening, Mark
Legendre of Vidor, Texas, will speak on the subject, "How Can I know?"
Thursday evening, Tony Mauck of Baytown, Texas, will speak on the
subject, "His Easy Yoke, His Light Burden," Then, on Friday evening,
Dan Fontenot or Rockdale, Texas, will be speaking on the subject, "I
Am Not Ashamed."
     You can see that we are in for quite a feast. These men are all
well qualified to lead us in the study of the Word of God. They have
all spent years of faithful study and presentation of the truth. You
will be greatly blessed in taking the time and making the effort to
visit at any or all of the services. Remember, nightly at 7:30,
beginning tomorrow and continuing through Friday evening.
     You will not be embarrassed by the events of each night. The
congregation will engage in congregational singing. There will be no
contributions taken throughout the week, so you will not be asked to
financially contribute to the work of the White Park church. First of
all, we do not expect others to support our work. Secondly, the only
time that offerings are taken is on the Lord's Day, as the early
church did during the first century.  You will be asked no
embarrassing questions. You will hear prayers offered from sincere
hearts, led by conscientious men. All in all, I believe that you will
be pleasantly surprised by what you see and hear. Especially if you
have never attended a church of Christ. Why not decide now to visit
with us.
     Back to the passage we began with in this study, Paul said, "So
as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel." Paul was a
successful evangelist because he was always ready, day or night,
summer or winter, in city or country, to proclaim the unsearchable
riches of Christ Jesus. And we, too, should always be ready to do just
that. Peter said to Christians, "Be ready always to give an answer to
every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you, with
meekness and fear." (1 Peter 3:15) If we are what we should be, we
will be ready to speak a word for Christ all the time, wherever we
are, and to whomsoever we meet. But, is isn't enough to preach, we
must be ready to preach THE GOSPEL. That and only that!!! To preach
the gospel is to give book, chapter and verse for all that we teach
and practice. We are not at liberty to speak less than the gospel; nor
to speak more than the gospel.  Many preach other gospels than the one
revealed in the New Testament, and Paul condemn such preaching in
Galatians 1:8, "But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any
other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let
him be accursed." Woe unto us, then, if our preaching is not in
harmony with the Bible!
     Thirdly, Paul was not only a debtor, who stood ever ready to
preach the gospel, but he was not ashamed of the gospel. Remember the
first verses we read stated, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of
Christ." All through his preaching career, Paul had shown himself
courageous on behalf of the gospel. He was not ashamed of it, nor was
he afraid to preach Christ. He stood before each and all in the
presentation of the truth of the gospel.  Often in his preaching, Paul
met with criticism, opposition, yea, even persecution. He was beaten,
stoned, abused over and over, but he continued to preach the gospel of
Christ Jesus. He stood before jailers, governors and kings and taught
the same message. All through his life he preached the gospel and he
was never ashamed of it, nor did he ever compromise it. We, too, in
the days in which we live, need to stand boldly for the gospel and
preach it without fear or favor. We need to rebuke sin, expose error,
reprove the sinner, and so preach Christ crucified that many may be
led to the Cross!  God forbid that we compromise the gospel, that we
refuse to preach it, or that we be ashamed to stand up and proclaim it
anywhere and to anybody.
     But, there were reasons why Paul was not ashamed of the gospel of
Christ! He says that the gospel "is the power of God unto salvation to
everyone that believeth," and for this reason he was not ashamed to
proclaim it! Paul would have been ashamed of the doctrines and
commandments of men, nor would he have had the courage to preach the
philosophies and traditions of men! But he was not ashamed of the
gospel because it was God's power to save men. It is God's power--it
is divine power-- and to be ashamed of the gospel is to be ashamed of
God. Let us preach the gospel. For in preaching it we are presenting
God's power to men! Thus, another reason for the series of studies
this week at the White Park church of Christ. To present the gospel of
Christ.
     Another reason that Paul gives for not being ashamed of the
gospel, is the fact that in the gospel God's righteousness, or His
system of justification, is revealed. Paul said, "For therein is the
righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith." How could Paul be
ashamed of the gospel when it alone reveals God's righteousness, God's
offer of mercy and pardon to the sinner? It is through the gospel, or
"good news" that one learns of God's mercy; of the coming of the Son
of God into the flesh and His death on that cruel cross for the sins
of rebellious man. It is through the gospel that one learns of God's
love. It is through the gospel that salvation is offered to man, as
already stated in this lesson. But the gospel saves only those who
believe in the facts of that gospel: That Christ suffered and died for
our sins; That He was raised from the grave, and has ascended unto the
Father to make intercession for those who believe and obey him.
     This, my friends, is our hope today. We can put our faith in
Christ crucified with the assurance that God will save us, that He
will graciously pardon us. That is, if we are willing to accept the
terms of the gospel, the commands of our Lord and Savior. Jesus said,
"Except ye believe that I am he, ye shall die in your sins" (John
8:24). Christ also said, "Except ye repent, ye shall die in your sins"
(Luke 13:3). Jesus also said, "He that believeth and is baptized shall
be saved" (Mark 16:16). My friends, that is the gospel. You, too, must
believe in Christ, repent of your sins and be baptized for the
remission of sins. We need to hear the gospel, believe the gospel, and
obey the gospel. Then, having been born again, thus becoming a child
of God; to live a righteous life of service in the kingdom of our Lord
and Master. Let us never be ashamed of the gospel for it is the power
of god unto salvation and in this gospel is revealed God's desire and
means of our salvation.
     Let me remind you of the announcement that I made earlier in this
study. The White Park church of Christ will be engaged in a gospel
meeting this week, beginning tomorrow, Monday evening at 7:30 p.m.
Then, at 7:30 each evening through Friday night. As mentioned a
different speaker each evening, covering a variety of topics, each
designed to do you good. Remember, On Monday, "Preparing our children
for heaven. On Tuesday, "What does the church of Christ offer me?" On
Wednesday, "How can I know?" On Thursday, "His Easy Yoke, His light
burden." And on Friday, "I am not ashamed."
     The building is located just south of Hankamer, on highway 61,
one block south of Interstate 10.  We meet this morning at 9:00 a.m.
for bible study; at 10:00 for our morning worship period; and at 7:00
p.m. for our evening worship assembly. We extend you a cordial
invitation to visit with us.

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