Unashamed: EMBRACE IT

We are called to live with confidence in the face of opposition but most of us are living in fear and shame, apologizing for our beliefs. But the gospel gives us the ability to live with boldness in a world that opposes everything about God. Today, I want to look at the second of four responses to the gospel, which give us confident hope and assurance in Christ.

2. EMBRACE IT
Try to think back to the first time you heard the gospel preached. For many of us we were probably so young we can’t recall it. Now try to think back to the day you embraced the gospel, accepting Christ. There’s a big difference in hearing it and embracing it.

There comes a point when:
- simple church answers won’t be enough...
- we won’t be able to just go to church, follow the rules, & believe because our parents did.

We must have a faith of our own. Once we’ve heard the gospel and believe it to be true, we must embrace it as our own and be willing to live in the glory of the grace to which we have been given access, a grace that will carry us through this world and the next.

What does it take to embrace the gospel? Faith.

Romans 5:1-5 KJV
1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

- Because of that faith we are able to glory in tribulations,
- Knowing tribulations bring about patience,
- And that patience will lead to experience,
- Which leads to hope.

This hope is secure because of the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. The main point is that the act of embracing the gospel equates to dying to flesh and living by the Spirit.

Romans 8:12-18, 31 KJV

12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. 13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. 18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us...31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

In able to fully embrace the gospel, we just reject ourselves and live for God. Which leads to the third response which we will discuss next week: LIVE IT.

Bro. Austin Chapman is the Youth Minister

at Sugar Creek Baptist in Murray, KY and founder

of Inflamed Church Ministries.