"I am bound both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish. That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are at Rome. I am not ashamed of the gospel because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes. First for the Jew and then for the Gentile."
In Sept 2013, Joan Edwards, a retired nurse, left £520,000 to the government "to spend as it sees fit". This has created a certain moral pressure on the government to be seen to do the right thing with this money.
It reminds us of the dilemma faced by Barclays Bank who are the trustees to the National Fund. This was established in 1928 by the donation of a similar amount (£520,000) with the instruction that it was to be held on trust until it could be used to pay off the National Debt in its entirety.
The National Fund is now worth £350,000,000 but, regrettably, the National Debt is currently £1,400,000,000,000.
What does Paul mean when he says he is "obligated" (NIV) or a "debtor" (KJV) or "Obliged and in debt" (Amplified) (or "bound" in my old NIV)?
Not - I have borrowed something from you and am due to give it back, but - I have been given something, by someone else, for you.
Held in trust for another
Just as Barclays hold that money on trust for the government - they have an obligation/debt to the government - so Paul says he holds the Gospel on trust for the people in Rome.
He is a trustee, a steward, of good news. He is obliged to share it. He's in debt to them until he has shared the good news.
This is our call and purpose too - we have been given something which we owe to others. We are bearers of value for others. We have good news, stories to tell, testimony to give - of what Jesus has done for us and for what He can do for others. It is not a favour we do for God - it is an obligation, something we owe everyone else.
We, personally, and as a community, are recipients of, and bearers of a message - of the Lord's incredible saving power, of his cosmic good news, of his overwhelming generosity and grace. It's no small thing.
We aren't in possession of a fiver which we are duty bound to give - but which won't change their life much.
· We have a life-saving drug which is their last chance
· We have the million pound investment which will save their business
· We have the passport which means that they can get back to England
· We have the papers which mean that the adopted child can find their birth parents
It's a gospel that has saved our lives and it's a message that is powerful and precious to all. We have a duty to share it with everyone.
Romans 1:14-15
"I am bound both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish. That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are at Rome".
We have something good - it's our story, our salvation, our healing.
And it is the key, the answer, the power for everyone else's salvation and healing. So we are eager - eager to share: serving, talking, preaching, explaining, training, giving, encouraging, strengthening, inspiring, releasing.
Paul has a sense of obligation (he had been given good news on trust) and a sense of conviction (if it has saved him it could save others). (John Stott).
And then Paul makes an interesting statement:
V.17 I am not ashamed of the gospel
Why does he say that? Is he tempted to be ashamed and is saying, "No, I will not be ashamed"? Or is he answering the accusation, "You must be ashamed"?
Jesus warned us that we would be ashamed (Mark 8:38).
Why is there a hint of shame attached to the gospel? Have you ever felt ashamed of the gospel? Embarrassed by being identified as a Christian? Not wanting to be identified with the church? I have. Often. And I think Paul was.
There are a spectrum of associations which trigger shame in us.
But why would we, like Paul, be ashamed of the gospel?
CULTURAL AND EXISTENTIAL
CULTURAL
Paul was writing from Greece, one of the great ancient cultures of the world, the seat of philosophy and democracy; to the new world power, Rome, now the centre of influence, wealth and control.
He imagined the Christians in their small, poor, homes on the flood plain in the centre of Rome on the banks of the river Tiber, looking out of their windows, up to the tops of the hills on which the Roman Emperor has his glittering palace and from which he ruled over the known world.
In the Greek and Roman world Christians faced prestige and success and power. Their own message was not impressive. About a God who came to earth as a man, not a rich man, a tradesman of ignominious birth living in an obscure corner of the empire. A man who only made a little noise for three years, never travelled from his small country, never wielded great power, no great education or success.
We aren't presenting something majestic and shiny. It's not a pile of wealth or invincible power. It's weak and feeble. Our hero doesn't fight but he is good. He doesn't get the girl but he does get murdered.
He doesn't conscript - he gives us free-choice.
In Hebrews 12:2 it says that "Jesus endured the cross, scorning its shame."
The Romans would not allow crucifixion to be spoken of in public - the word and the connotation was too offensive.
The Gospel comes veiled in abject weakness and foolishness.
For the Christians in Rome, their good news was news of an apparent failure and humiliation - compared to what the Greeks and Romans counted as worthy of worship and praise.
Since then Jesus has been revealed as the most influential person in history. You will rarely find anyone critical of the historical Jesus.
But the Gospel message has attracted all sorts of unpleasant accretions over the course of history. Most are stuck to the church - the Body of Christ, the very people who are meant to be holding this precious message for the world. And our hands are dirty.
This is how we deal with some of them.
1. Child Abuse
We have gone to great lengths to protect our children. We value children highly, always have.
Recognising that there is risk we have put in place stringent safe-guarding policies and procedures. We are really careful and accountable about who is with the children and about communications on social media. Our team is trained and focussed and aware.
You need to know that we will do everything we can to keep the children safe and we will never cover up any abuse.
When child abuse comes up in conversation - you do not need to be ashamed of your church.
2. Sexual Integrity
There have been occasions when church leaders have cheated on their husband or wife and brought shame on their congregation and the gospel.
As the people with the greatest duty of integrity in this Alison and I work hard to ensure that our marriage is secure.
We are accountable and open to the staff and leadership team around us. We have other people outside the church who watch over us. When we have marriage difficulties we are quick to address them and get help.
We are strict in ensuring that our work and travel rarely leaves us alone with a member of the opposite sex.
And in turn we watch carefully over those we lead.
When sexual integrity comes up - you do not need to be ashamed of your leaders.
3. Financial Integrity
Ironic, because most people in church ministry in our culture are paid poorly and have no interest in wealth. Nevertheless there are occasions when (1) the pastor misuses or runs off with the money or (2) where congregations are bled dry of cash to maintain a wonderful lifestyle for the pastor.
(1) We have financial systems here that have checks and balances, visibility and accountability. None of the senior pastoral staff have access to the "cheque book". We have a Visa charge card with which we can get a train ticket or buy someone a coffee. Statements all go to the office and are signed off by a trustee.
And (2) although I teach and urge you to give generously, we leave it up to you to give. We don't hype or manipulate and, you will have noticed, we don't even take up a collection.
When financial integrity comes up - you do not need to be ashamed of your church.
4. Exclusivity and judgement
The media focusses on a few extreme voices with the result that the gospel is confused with a judgemental and out of date attitude toward sex, marriage, homosexuality, money, evolutionary theory, other religions, Aids, clothing etc etc.
The gospel does have something to say about all these things. Our role is not to be judgemental but full of grace (like Jesus) and our role is not to be exclusive and rejecting but inclusive and welcoming (like Jesus).
I will teach what I think the gospel means on these subjects. But I will teach what I think and I won't tell you what to think. I will try and teach without being judgemental and in everything we do and say we will be inclusive - come as you are.
When exclusivity & judgement come up - you do not be ashamed of the gospel message preached here.
That's the sort of cultural shame that tries to attach itself to the gospel.
EXISTENTIAL
There is an existential shame that tries to attach itself too. Shame is connected to our identity, who we think we are, why we are here, do we justify our existence.
Sometimes shame of the gospel is linked to our identity - what it says about me, who I am.
Jesus, the one we follow, gains his identity from his Father.
John 17, "I am not of this world… you are in me and I am in you."
When he is baptised, his Father speaks from heaven and says, "This is my son, in him I am well pleased".
When Jesus is being tempted in the desert he resists by leaning back on his identity as the Son of God.
He doesn't gain his identity from his intelligence, quick wit, wealth, career, skills, looks, power. The things that people desperately grab on to in order to build identity - all these things, he eschews. He ignores. He doesn't feel shame without them.
Through Jesus our identity is in relationship with God and being filled with the Holy Spirit.
We sense deep down sometimes that this is not cool in our world.
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The power is within you they say - and we look inside and say, nooo, no way. I am not worthy.
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Success means lots of money they say, a big house and a glittering career - and we say, no, it all belongs to God, we came with nothing, we will die with nothing. That's not success.
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Fame gives you worth they say - and we say, no, worth is not given by what people say of me but by what God says of me.
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Take hold of your life, seize the day they say - and we say, no, give up your life, die to self, sacrifice everything to Jesus - the one who sacrificed everything for me.
So there are cultural and existential reasons why you might feel ashamed of the gospel. But Paul goes on to explain why he is NOT ashamed.
Romans 1:16
I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.
Why is Paul not ashamed? Why do we need not to be ashamed? Because of the power of the gospel.
"Paul knows that this apparently weak and foolish message is, in reality, power, and not just one power over against others, but the supreme power." CEB Cranfield.
God could have sent the angels to rescue Jesus from the cross and nuke the Roman garrisons. He has the power.
He could conscript every person on the planet, by force, into his kingdom. He has the power.
He could shell out billions on a global & convincing marketing campaign. He has the power.
But he chose the narrow road of suffering, weakness, humiliation and sacrifice.
God's plan was to allow us a free choice to be reconciled to him and follow him.
He made this possible by paying the price of our redemption.
All those things that have come between us and God have been wiped away, forgiven by the sacrificial death of Jesus, God's son, on the cross.
But then having paid the price, he does demonstrate his power, a power beyond all physics and imagination.
He didn't resuscitate a broken and lifeless body - that would have been an extraordinary miracle - but he overcame death itself by raising Jesus to a new life. There is no greater power in the cosmos than the power to defeat death and give life.
Romans 1:16
I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.
The power that took Jesus through the cross and the grave to new life is the same power that rescues us from death and promises us new life.
A power higher than any Roman Emperor - they are all dead.
A power higher than any religious leader - they are all dead.
A power higher than any billionaire - they can't beat death.
A power higher than any celebrity - they can't bring life.
The power that is given to us in Jesus for salvation, for a new and eternal life.
The news is good, it is a gospel of power.