Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God to salvation to every one that believes; to the Jew first… I. WHAT ARE WE TO UNDERSTAND BY THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST? Christianity, or the scheme of religion revealed in the New Testament. 1. The things it proposes to our faith. These are of several sorts. Some of them are merely historical; others purely authoritative, and some partly historical and partly authoritative. Of this latter class are the truths relating to the Incarnation of Christ. 2. The things which the gospel commands to be practised. II. WHAT ARE THE REASONS FOR NOT BEING ASHAMED OF THIS GOSPEL, BUT, ON THE CONTRARY, FOR EMBRACING IT, AND GLORYING IN IT, WITH ALL THE HEART? 1. Its incontrovertible truth. 2. Its incomparable excellence. Compare the system, in its doctrines and duties, with all other systems. (1) What has been the worship of the heathen religions? Ceremonies, penances, and orgies; many that were puerile, painful, cruel, and obscene. And are these to be compared with a worship contemplative, devout, reverential, filial, such as that of Christianity? (2) What have been the duties inculcated by other religions? How questionable and scanty their moral code! But what weed escapes in the moral garden of Scripture? (3) It is, however, in its state of future rewards and punishments that the gospel far outshines every other system. 3. Its sovereign efficacy. "It is the power of God unto salvation, to everyone that believeth." Its objects and sentiments are not merely to fall upon the ear, or to remain before the eye, but to enter into the mind and accomplish its renovation. III. WHAT ARE THE OBJECTIONS URGED BY MEN AGAINST THIS SYSTEM AND BY WHICH THEY ATTEMPT TO JUSTIFY THEIR NEGLECT OF IT? These may be easily shown to be trivial. 1. Do they object that they can arrive at the knowledge of the truth of the New Testament history, only in a secondary way — only from the testimony of others — and that, therefore, they are not so responsible for their unbelief as these other would be? This, however, is felt to be no prejudice to the truth of any other history, and no argument for its disbelief. 2. Do they object to severity of the gospel requirements? The gospel requires us to crucify only our sins; to deny ourselves only what would be injurious to us. The virtues it inculcates it renders easy to us by a new nature, and productive of a present happiness surpassing every other kind of happiness. 3. Do they object the incomprehensibleness of many things which the gospel states to exist? If God has not revealed them, reject them for their incomprehensibleness; if He has, receive them for His veracity's sake.Conclusion: 1. How awful is their condition who oppose the gospel! What excuse can there be for this? What evil has the gospel done? What attestation does it lack? What good has it not done? 2. How pitiable is their condition by whom the gospel of their salvation is practically disregarded! We are about to be wrecked; the gospel is the only plank left for our escape to the shore; and while we neglect to seize it, our danger increases, and the destructive waves bear us nearer and nearer to our doom. 3. Let them who have received the gospel, and who, in addition to all other evidence, have that of experience in its favour, attach themselves closely to it. 4. The gospel is a subject of triumph to Christians, as through life, so especially at the hour of dissolution. Its grandest objects are those of another world. (J. Leifchild.) Parallel Verses KJV: 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. |
    |