Note: here belief and faith are used they are not the same thing.

I am not ashamed of the Gospel Rom 1 v 16 I am not ashamed of the gospel, (of Christ) because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile (greek). 17 For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, {[17] Or is from faith to faith}just as it is written: " The righteous will live by faith." {[17] Hab. 2:4} WHY IS Paul not Ashamed of the Gospel? Because. 1. It is the power of God for Salvation to everyone who believes (not to everyone but everyone who believes. 2. In the Gospel a righteousness that comes from God is revealed or made plain. 3. This righteouseness is by faith. Note: here belief and faith are used they are not the same thing. What is this Gospel that Paul was not ashamed of? The word gospel means good news. When Christians talk about the gospel, they are presenting the good news of Christ s death and resurrection. As Paul states in 1 Corinthians 15:1 4: 1 Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. 2 By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. 3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures. Paul doesn t end his explanation of the gospel here. Note very carefully how Paul explains the gospel message later in this same passage:. 1 Corinthians 15:v11 This is what we all preach, and this is what you believe. 12 Now, since our message is that Christ has been raised from death, how can some of you say that the dead will not be raised to life? 13 If that is true, it means that Christ was not raised; 14 and if Christ has not been raised from death, then we have nothing to preach and you have nothing to believe. 15 More than that, we are shown to be lying about God, because we said that he raised

Christ from death--but if it is true that the dead are not raised to life, then he did not raise Christ. 16 For if the dead are not raised, neither has Christ been raised. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is a delusion and you are still lost in your sins. 18 It would also mean that the believers in Christ who have died are lost. 19 If our hope in Christ is good for this life only and no more, then we deserve more pity than anyone else in all the world. 20 But the truth is that Christ has been raised from death, as the guarantee that those who sleep in death will also be raised. 21 For just as death came by means of a man, in the same way the rising from death comes by means of a man. 22 For just as all people die because of their union with Adam, in the same way all will be raised to life because of their union with Christ. 23 But each one will be raised in proper order: Christ, first of all; then, at the time of his coming, those who belong to him. 24 Then the end will come; Christ will overcome all spiritual rulers, authorities, and powers, and will hand over the Kingdom to God the Father. 25 For Christ must rule until God defeats all enemies and puts them under his feet.42 This is how it will be when the dead are raised to life. When the body is buried, it is mortal; when raised, it will be immortal. 43 When buried, it is ugly and weak; when raised, it will be beautiful and strong. 44 When buried, it is a physical body; when raised, it will be a spiritual body. There is, of course, a physical body, so there has to be a spiritual body. 45 For the scripture says, "The first man, Adam, was created a living being"; but the last Adam is the life-giving Spirit. 46 It is not the spiritual that comes first, but the physical, and then the spiritual. 47 The first Adam, made of earth, came from the earth; the second Adam came from heaven. 48 Those who belong to the earth are like the one who was made of earth; those who are of heaven are like the one who came from heaven. 49 Just as we wear the likeness of the man made of earth, so we will wear the likeness of the Man from heaven. Notice (in 1 cor 15 v45) that in explaining why Jesus died, Paul went to the Book of Genesis and its account of Adam and the Fall. one cannot really understand the good news in the New Testament of Jesus death and resurrection, and thus payment for sin, until one understands the bad news in Genesis of the fall of man, and thus the origin of sin and its penalty of death. Why is Genesis so important?

Christ a stumbling block 1 cor1 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. 22 For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; 23 but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God To The Jews: - a stumbling block 1. They had the Pentateuch - believed in the one true Creator God. 2. They understood God was the lawgiver and that there were absolutes. Therefore, they knew what was right and what was wrong. 3. There was an understanding of Adam s Fall and thus that all humans (being his descendants) were sinners under judgment by their Creator. 4. It was understood that the penalty for sin was death. They knew of the thousands of animals that had been sacrificed in their history because of sin. 5. They believed in a Messiah but that he was yet to come The Jews had a foundation knowledge of the Gospel but the Jews had to be convinced that Jesus was the Messiah, They has to be convinced that his death and resurrection were vital to their salvation. It was only by accepting what Christ did on the cross that they could have their sins forgiven. Not by works and sacrifices. To the Greeks - foolishness The Greeks did not have the Jewish Scriptures. Paul couldn t reason with them out of the Scriptures, as he (and Peter) did when speaking to those who were a part of the Jewish culture. The Greek culture was very complex with many different competing philosophies. While they saw sin and evil in their culture and recognized the importance of structure and laws, they had no concept of an absolute authority, absolute truth or the inherent sin nature of man.

The Greeks had no understanding concerning their first ancestor, Adam, and the concept of original sin The Greeks had not they received the law of Moses. Therefore, these people could not understand or accept the absolute authority of the Creator God, the lawgiver. This is the position of many people today. For people to understand that they are sinners, they also need to grasp the fact that we are all descendants of the first man, Adam. Because he sinned, therefore we all sin because of the change of nature (Rom. 5:12) Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin, and so death passed upon all men, for all have sinned Genesis: Lets go back to Genesis: Gen 2 v15 Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it. 16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, "Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; 17 "but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die." Nkjv TEV you will die the same day. You shall surely die = heb in dying, you will die In dying you will die the same day you eat it. Did they fall over and die physically the same day? No They died physically hundreds of years later. This is because there atre 2 types of death 1. spiritual death 2 physical death. Death means is not the end death is separation. At death Spirit & body are separated. The body remains Spiritual death the spirit of Adam was separated from God

Illustration: flower removed from plant Mans rebellion against God brought separation. Man hid God went looking for man Why? because God wants a relationship with us. Eg. Hide and seek with a child. Man would not accept responsibility for sin. did not ask forgiveness. was self righteous blamed the woman was right in his own eyes. God wanted the relationship restored and provided a temporary solution to the sin that separated God and man. But it had to be done Gods way. What do we see man again trying to it HIS own way. Cain and Abel. Abel brought the sacrifice and worshipped the way God wanted. Cain did what he wanted to do and offered what he thought it was enough. It was not acceptable. Religion is all about man doing what he wants to do to worship God. But these are dead works and of no value. We must do things God s way. eg. Candles, inescence, flag waving, clap offerings (applause), sacred dance and trying to be Jewish in our worship eg. Rams horns etc. Not what God has told us to do under the new covenant. Jewish worship was for OT we are under the new. So for 4000 years the blood of animal sacrifices covered mans sins (the scape goat.) Then came Jesus. Virgin Birth Matt 1 18 This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. 20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said,

"Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"--which means, "God with us." The Virgin birth is very important If Jesus had been born of a human father he would have been fully human. He would have been just like us A mortal man with a SINFUL human nature. But Jesus was not conceived by the union of man and woman. He was conceived by union of the Holy Spirit of God and a human woman. (Life in the blood. blood from father not mother.) Physically he was human but in his nature he was divine. His Humanity came from Mary but his (Sinless) nature came from God. He was without Sin Adam & Eve were made without a sinful nature God MADE man from the dust of the ground. Eve was MADE from mans rib. They were made not born - Adam was made of God not Born from God John 3 v 16. 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. Jesus was born (not made) into the world by a woman without a sinful nature. He was the first man to be born (the firstborn over all creation) without a sinful nature. (we are born with a sinful nature but become reborn without one). Jesus was not just a good man. A good man no matter how good could not pay for our sins. A good man would still have his own inherent sin to be paid for.

That is why Jesus could not have had a human father and be the Messiah. Jesus was tempted by Satan but did not sin against God like Adam did. He did not allow Sin to enter his life Luke 23:33 (NIV) When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals--one on his right, the other on his left.. 39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!" 40 But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong." 42 Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." 43 Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." Jesus told one of the criminals that he would enter paradise the other criminal would not Notice the requirements that qualified the crianal for a place in padadise The robber who was going to be in paradise 1.Believed in and Feared God, "Don't you fear God," he said, 2. He admitted he was a sinner and deserved to die for his sins We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve 3.Believed Jesus was sinless this man has done nothing wrong." 4. He believed Jesus was the messiah 5. He Asked Jesus to help him "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom 6. HE confessed him as Lord to the other robber. He could have remained silent. "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence?

After Resurrection: John 20v 19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. 21 Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit Genesis What did God do when He made man breathed life into him.(mortal and spiritual) Here Jesus breathes spiritual life back into them. He breathed into them the breath of life John 14v6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. Jesus breathed new life into them. They are BORN AGAIN. John 3:1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him." 3 In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." 4 "How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!" 5 Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, `You must be born again.' 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit." Born again born twice. 2cor 5 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

Eph 1 v13 And because of what Christ did, all you others too, who heard the Good News about how to be saved, and trusted Christ, were marked as belonging to Christ by the Holy Spirit, who long ago had been promised to all of us Christians. 14 His presence within us is God's guarantee that he really will give us all that he promised; and the Spirit's seal upon us means that God has already purchased us and that he guarantees to bring us to himself. This is just one more reason for us to praise our glorious God Good translation of this in Living Bible Eph1 v 13 TLB And because of what Christ did, all you others too, who heard the Good News about how to be saved, and trusted Christ, were marked as belonging to Christ by the Holy Spirit, who long ago had been promised to all of us Christians. 14 His presence within us is God's guarantee that he really will give us all that he promised; and the Spirit's seal upon us means that God has already purchased us and that he guarantees to bring us to himself. This is just one more reason for us to praise our glorious God Salvation only comes through Jesus Christ. Acts 4 v8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: "Rulers and elders of the people! 9 If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a cripple and are asked how he was healed, 10 then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. 11 He is "`the stone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone.{[11] Or cornerstone}' {[11] Psalm 118:22} 12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." John 14v6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. Definition : Saved BDB/Thayers # 4982 4982 sozo {sode'-zo} from a primary sos (contraction for obsolete saoz, "safe"); TDNT - 7:965,1132; v AV - save 93, make whole 9, heal 3, be whole 2, misc 3; 110 1) to save, keep safe and sound, to rescue from danger or destruction 1a) one (from injury or peril)

1a1) to save a suffering one (from perishing), i.e. one suffering from disease, to make well, heal, restore to health 1b1) to preserve one who is in danger of destruction, John 17v3 Now this is eternal life : that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent Now lets look at what Paul says people must do to be to be born again and saved. Romans 10:1 Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved. 2 For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. 3 Since they did not know the righteousness that comes from God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness. 4 Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes. 5 Moses describes in this way the righteousness that is by the law: "The man who does these things will live by them." 6 But the righteousness that is by faith says: "Do not say in your heart, `Who will ascend into heaven?'" (that is, to bring Christ down) 7 "or `Who will descend into the deep?'" (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8 But what does it say? "The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart," that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: 9 That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. 11 As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame." 12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile--the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." 14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" Remember Rom 1v16 I am not ashamed to the gospel. In it a righteousness is revealed. Here we see it again

The word of faith is in 2 places heart & mouth. It should not just be sitting idly in your mind. Faith is not of the mind we believe with our heart & faith is the result Faith acts. The first thing it does is speak. Believe in heart (not head) Confess with mouth. Why? with the heart we believe unto rightousness. Righteousness here means right standing/justifies believing with our heart puts us into right standing with God, puts us in a good position justifies (just as if I d never sinned) Confessing with our mouth (to confess means to say the same thing as God) brings us the benefits. SALVATION Confession brings possession 1joh 5:1 Whoever believes that Jesus is the Messiah is a child of God; and whoever loves a father loves his child also. 2 This is how we know that we love God's children: it is by loving God and obeying his commands. 3 For our love for God means that we obey his commands. And his commands are not too hard for us (burdensome), 4 because every child of God is able to defeat the world. And we win the victory over the world by means of our faith. 5 Who can defeat the world? Only the person who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. 6 Jesus Christ is the one who came with the water of his baptism and the blood of his death. He came not only with the water, but with both the water and the blood. And the Spirit himself testifies that this is true, because the Spirit is truth. 7 There are three witnesses: 8 the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and all three give the same testimony. 9 We believe human testimony; but God's testimony is much stronger, and he has given this testimony about his Son. 10 So those who believe in the Son of God have this testimony in their own heart; but those who do not believe God, have made a liar of him, because they have not believed what God has said about his Son. 11 {5.11 Jn 3.36.} The testimony is this: God has given us eternal life, and this life has its source in his Son. 12 Whoever has the Son has this life ; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. V10= if we truly believe that Jesus is the messiah we will have a testimony in our heart. The testimony is this: God has given us eternal life and this life has it s source in His son Jesus

If we have a testimony in our heart then it will be coming out of our mouth Matt12 v 34 You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. 36 But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. 37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned." Rev 12v 10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: "Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down. 11 They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony ; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death. If we are not ashamed of the Gospel what we have in our heart will be coming out of our mouth. Our confession is this: 1 peter 3 v 18 For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit 2 cor 5 v. 17 Therefore, if anyone [is] in Christ, [he] [is] a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 18 Now all things [are] of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. 20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore [you] on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. 21 For He made Him who knew no sin [to] [be] sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him Tose who have the life of Christ in them are ambassadors of Christ

an ambassador represents and speaks on behalf of the country, government or king. We are sent to represent Jesus speaking as from God. That is why I am here today? Invitation