Sunday, March 25, 2018 pm
In
this world there are many things that bring shame, and many others that
OUGHT to bring shame. There
are also things the world views as shameful which God views with great
delight. As Christians, we
should always seek to be pleasing to God rather than men.
And that means that we should NOT be ashamed of that which God is
not ashamed of. In our
lesson tonight, we want to notice some things about which we should NOT
be ashamed.
a.
For whoever is ashamed
of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the
Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father
with the holy angels.”
Jesus is here calling
for a commitment to Him. He
warns that if we are ashamed of Him in this life, He will be ashamed of
us when He returns for judgment.
b.
Jesus lived a life that
cause many to follow and love Him.
But it also caused others to despise Him and His followers.
That He would be rejected was foretold – Isiah 53:3; 8:14 where
He is described as “a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense” (cf.
Romans 9:33, 1 Peter 2:8).
As we examine His life we see that rejection – from the accusations made
against Him, to His betrayal and crucifixion.
c.
The animosity was so
great, that to follow Him came with a tremendous price.
There were threats to the people IF they chose to follow Him.
John 12:42 tells us that even among the rulers there were
believers, but they were ashamed to confess Him.
Sadly, some of His failed at times – Judas betrayed and Peter
denied Him 3 times.
We continue to see the animosity in the book of Acts and alluded to in
various epistles (including Philippians).
d.
BUT we also see faithful
disciples who were willing to pay the price and profess Jesus.
Acts 4:19-20 says, But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in
the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. For we
cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.”
e.
Jesus is NOT ashamed of
those who follow Him.
Our text - He will confess us before the Father.
Hebrews 11:16 notes of those who died in faith that God is not ashamed
to be called their God, because He has prepared a city for us
Hebrews 2:11 tells us that He is not ashamed to call us brethren.
f.
Friends, we must not be ashamed of Jesus.
NOR should we be ashamed to call ourselves followers of Him.
To profess Him today may come with a price.
It may mean being ridiculed or even mistreated.
If trends continue, the cost could become exponentially higher.
BUT we must still heed the words of our Lord in our text.
If we stand up for Him, He will stand up for us on that day of
judgment when it matters.
a.
As Paul begins this
letter, he hopes to come to Rome and we know that he does, in chains.
Because he preached the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Preaching this gospel took a great physical toll on him – he lost
so much materially. But he
didn’t care BECAUSE He is not ashamed of the gospel of Christ…
b.
The gospel simply stated
is the “good news” told of the life of Jesus.
Paul summarized it in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4.
We need to be boldly proclaiming that gospel message with any who
will hear.
OUR text here notes that it IS the power of God unto salvation – within
its pages we find all things that pertain to life and godliness (2 Peter
1:3). It cuts to the heart –
Hebrews 4:12, cf. Acts 2:37, and changes lives for better.
c.
But the gospel message
is not always popular, especially in this day, where Christianity has
been villainized in so many ways. Not
only is it attacked by skeptics and those who outright reject it, but it
has also been watered down by many professed followers.
They don’t want to face the difficult teachings and demands that come
with being a TRUE disciple of Christ.
Others don’t want to acknowledge its exclusive nature (excluding
those who do not obey – Matthew 7:21-23), so they question it or rewrite
it or reinterpret it to fit their whims.
d.
When we stand up boldly
for the whole counsel of God, it comes with a cost.
We are often maligned and ridiculed.
But we must continue to stand for truth.
e.
2 Timothy 1:8
– Paul told Timothy, “do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner.”
f.
Are we willing to speak
up and defend the Lord? Will
we boldly proclaim the whole counsel of God?
a.
Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him
glorify God in this matter.
b.
From the beginning,
following Jesus has come with a cost.
Jesus Himself warned that it would happen.
Mark 13:12-13, betrayed by family and hated by all for His name.
Even in the beatitudes, Jesus said, “Blessed
are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake…” (Matthew
5:10-12). John 15:18-21 –
Jesus warns His apostles that this will be happening. .
c.
Enduring in the face of
suffering and tribulations is the theme of Peter’s first letter.
1 Peter 1:6-7 he begins by noting how they are grieved by various
trials.
1 Peter 2:18-24 – Peter addresses servants suffering at the hands of
their masters. In vs. 20 he
notes if you do good and suffer this is commendable to God.
He also reminds us that Christ suffered for us, leaving us an
example to follow.
1 Peter 3:13-17 – if you are followers of what is good, who is he who
will harm you? If you suffer
for righteousness sake, you are blessed…. We are told to make ourselves
ready to give a defense for our hope.
1 Peter 4:12-19 – our context.
Do not think it strange that you suffer for Him.
Instead rejoice that you can partake in the sufferings of Christ.
Those willing to endure these things will be blessed in the end.
THEREFORE commit yourselves to doing good.
d.
We should not be ashamed
to face humiliation and even abuse, IF it is for the cause of Christ.
God knows and will reward you abundantly if you endure.
But one of my concerns is how we associate our self-inflicted sufferings
with following Him. Just
know that such is not the same thing as suffering for Christ.
NOR should we in such circumstances play the martyr.
IV.
Our brethren – 2 Timothy
1:8, 16 –
a.
In a previously noted
text, Paul as a prisoner encourages Timothy to not be ashamed of him in
his chains. In vs. 16 he
commends for having the proper attitude toward Paul (and those suffering
for Christ).
b.
How many today are
ashamed of their brethren as they endure trials and persecutions for the
faith? Would we stand behind
them in their sufferings (as the Philippians did with Paul), or do we
distance ourselves lest we face the same fate?
c.
BUT, there is another
consideration as to being ashamed of our brethren.
How many let the externals – one’s ethnicity, nationality,
culture, social awkwardness or financial differences cause us to
act with shame toward them?
We are a DIVERSE family and we should still stand behind each other,
knowing that we each have a part in His body (cf. 1 Corinthians
12:12-27).
a.
In a familiar passage we
are called upon to diligently work to make ourselves approved to God.
It involves our devotion to His word and other matters.
But notice how Paul notes we work to be approved of God as “a
worker who does not need to be ashamed…”
b.
Perhaps the greater
emphasis of this text has to do with how we are to be busy at being
Christians. That busyness
ought to be evident as others observe us – both our society and our
brethren. And it will make
itself manifest as time goes on.
c.
Thus we are perceived as
that worker who does not need to be ashamed.
What would cause a workman to be ashamed?
If he failed to do his work (think the one talent servant), or he
did shoddy (inferior or of poor quality) work.
d.
An example of this would
be in the way we handle God’s word accurately.
Our spiritual growth ought to be evident to our brethren and
manifested in the way we handle His word.
Do we properly interpret scripture?
Paul reminded Timothy of this more than once – 1 Timothy 4:15 –
that your progress may be evident to all.
e.
Let us be busy, and work
in such a way that we will not be ashamed.
And
thus we have noticed some things we should NOT be ashamed of. In the
process there are things we have mentioned that ought to shameful to us.
But in this lesson our goal is encourage us to live by the gospel
and stand with those who are living thereby, even in their difficult
time. In conclude with
1 John 2:28 –
And now, little children, abide in
Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed
before Him at His coming. If
we are not ashamed of some the things we have mentioned, when He
returns, we will NOT be ashamed to stand before Him.
What about you? will
we be ashamed when He returns? Think
about it!