Ashamed - embarrassed or guilty because of one's actions, characteristics, or associations.
Have you ever been ashamed? What a silly question. Of course you have! We have all been ashamed at some point in our lives. Maybe you were caught in a lie and you felt ashamed at your actions. Maybe you are ashamed of a physical attribute because someone said something mean in your past. Or maybe you are ashamed of someone you are friends with because of what others think of that person.
We have all seen the movies where the teenager is being dropped off at school by their parent and they slide down in the seat because they are ashamed of their parents car or even worse their parent themselves.
This is the type of shame that the writer of Romans was referring to when they wrote the following verse.
Romans 1:16 (NKJV)
16For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.
He was saying I am not ashamed to be associated with the gospel of Christ! I am not ashamed of Jesus because the Gospel is the power of God that saved me!
The world will try and make you ashamed to be associated with this gospel. Satan will try and make you stay silent by using shame and embarrassment.
How do I know if I am ashamed of the gospel of Jesus?
Are you ashamed to talk to your friends about what Jesus Christ has done in your life?
Are you reluctant to share the gospel with friends because of how they might perceive you?
When Jesus is mentioned in conversation with unbelievers do you remain quiet or do you share the story of Christ because you know that His power will change EVERYONE who believes?
Every believer in Christ will have to decide whether or not we will be ashamed of the gospel. Acts 1:8 tells us that when the Holy Spirit comes upon us we receive power to be witnesses!
Acts 1:8 (NKJV)
8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
The answer to not be ashamed is to be full of Holy Spirit power. Peter is a great example of this. He went from being ashamed to tell a servant girl he was a disciple of Jesus to boldly proclaiming the gospel of Jesus in front of thousands! The difference was the power of the Holy Spirit operating in his life.
Are you ashamed of the gospel or are you a bold witness?
I am praying for a new infilling of the Holy Spirit and a boldness upon the body of Christ to be witnesses because the Gospel is only good news if it gets there in time!