Are You Embarrassed or Ashamed of Your Faith. (Romans 1: 16-17)

Welcome to This Episode of The Bible Project Daily Podcast

Are You Ashamed of Your Faith?

Some believers struggle with openly sharing their faith. Whether due to fear of rejection, uncertainty in answering tough questions, or cultural resistance to Christianity, many hesitate to speak boldly about the gospel. But in Romans 1:16-17, Paul makes a powerful declaration: "I am not ashamed of the gospel."

In this episode, we explore why Paul had such confidence and how we can develop the same boldness. We will discuss:

• The key themes in Romans 1:1-17, including Paul's calling and his eagerness to preach the gospel.
• The meaning of salvation in past, present, and future contexts.
• How the gospel is the power of God for salvation and reveals the righteousness of God.
• The biblical call to live by faith (Habakkuk 2:4) and what that means for us today.

Paul understood that salvation is not just about being saved from sin’s penalty but also about being transformed daily and ultimately being glorified in eternity. This gospel message is for everyone.

As we journey through the book of Romans in upcoming episodes, we will see how righteousness is both declared through justification and produced in our lives through sanctification. Faith is the key.

So, are you ashamed of the gospel? Or will you stand boldly, knowing it is the very power of God at work in the world?

Join us as we unpack these foundational truths and learn to live out our faith with confidence.

Transcript

Are You Ashamed of Your Faith. (Romans 1:16-17)

Transcript:

Some people hesitate when it comes to sharing their faith. They feel unsure, even embarrassed, about speaking openly about what they believe. Why? 

Often, it’s due to feelings of inadequacy—they worry that if they talk to someone about the bible or the gospel, they might be asked a question they can’t answer. The fear of being challenged or ridiculed can cause some to remain silent. 

Sometimes, this hesitation is influenced by the attitude of the world toward Christians. The natural human being, as Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 2:14, does not receive the things of God. The indifference can manifest as derision  or even hostility towards unbelievers and can make believers feel hesitant to share their faith.

But in contrast to this, the Apostle Paul her will boldly declares, "I am not ashamed of the gospel." 

How did he reach a place where he was completely unashamed of his faith? How can we develop that same boldness? Paul provides the answer in Romans 1….

The first 17 verses of Romans served as an introduction to the entire book. In verses 1-7, Paul opens with a greeting, identifying himself as the author and addressing the saints in Rome.

You may remember I said the key idea in this passage is that Paul describes himself as "set apart for the gospel" (Romans 1:1). This is significant—Paul’s entire life was dedicated to proclaiming the gospel, and in a broader sense, all believers are called to be set apart for this purpose.

In verses 8-15, Paul expressed his gratitude for the believers in Rome and his desire to visit them. He sees himself as in debt to them because he has received the gospel, he is obligated to share it with all people. It is this sense of duty fuels his passion for evangelism.

He concludes this section by stating, "So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome." Paul’s eagerness leads directly to the powerful declaration in our key passage today.

Romans 1:16-17, are the verses we are revisiting today state:

"16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. 17 For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.'"

(Romans 1: 16-17)

These two verses are not only an explanation of Paul’s readiness to preach but they also serve as the theme statement for the entire rest of the book/letter.

So, let’s break this down. Paul makes it clear that he is not ashamed of the gospel. Why? He gives two key reasons:

Firstly because the Gospel is the power of God for salvation (v.16)

Paul was unashamed because he understood that the gospel is not just a set of religious ideas, it is the very power of God at work to bring salvation to all who believe. 

The Greek word used here for "for/unto" implies purpose and direction. The gospel is the power of God with the purpose of bringing salvation to people.

But what does salvation mean? It’s a crucial question because the term salvation is used in different ways in the Bible.

In a general sense, the Greek word for salvation means to be rescued or delivered. It can refer to physical deliverance—such as being saved from a storm or from illness. However, in a spiritual sense, salvation refers to deliverance from sin and its consequences. The New Testament actually describes our salvation in three ways:

·          Past Salvation – We have been saved (Ephesians 2:8). This speaks of justification—being made right with God when we first believed.

·          Present Salvation – We are being saved (1 Corinthians 1:18). This refers to sanctification—the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

·          Future Salvation – We will be saved (Romans 5:9-10). This points to glorification—when we are fully redeemed in eternity.

That is the full power of our salvation.

Secondly because the Gospel reveals the righteousness of God.

The second reason Paul was unashamed is because the gospel reveals God’s righteousness. The phrase "from first to last" emphasizes that salvation is by faith from beginning to end. Paul then quotes Habakkuk 2:4: "The righteous shall live by faith." This statement is central to Christian doctrine—our righteousness before God is not based on our works but on faith in Christ.

So, why was Paul unashamed of the gospel? Because it is God’s power to bring salvation, and it reveals the righteousness that comes through faith. 

This is the essence of the book of Romans, and it should also be the foundation of our confidence in sharing the gospel.

Salvation, when viewed from a biblical perspective, encompasses three distinct tenses: past, present, and future. This is not a contradiction but a fundamental theological truth. Let me expand for a moment:

·          I have been saved – This refers to salvation from the penalty of sin. The moment we place our faith in Jesus Christ, we are justified before God.

·          I am being saved – This speaks of salvation from the power of sin. As believers, we are in a continual process of sanctification, growing in Christlikeness and overcoming sin’s influence in our lives.

·          I will be saved – This points to salvation from the presence of sin. When Christ returns, we will be glorified, freed forever from sin’s effects.

So we are not yet saved from the penalty of sin but from the power and the presence of sin."

The gospel is not just about past salvation; it encompasses our present transformation and our future hope.

The word believe is critical in this context. In the New Testament, especially in Romans, believing is more than mere intellectual agreement. The original Greek word Paul uses in the text conveys two essential aspects:

Mental assent – Accepting something as true.

Active trust – Relying on and resting in that truth.

It is one thing to acknowledge that a chair can support you; it is another thing to sit on it. Likewise, biblical faith is not just agreeing that Jesus is the Son of God who died and rose again—it is entrusting your life to Him.

Charles Hodge, a distinguished American theologian of yest-a-year, articulated faith as having three elements: 

1.     Knowledge – Understanding who Christ is and what He has done.

2.     Assent – Accepting this truth as valid.

3.     Trust – Personally depending on Christ alone for salvation.

And this salvation is available to everyone—Jew and Gentile alike. 

No matter who you are—rich or poor, educated or uneducated, religious or not—the gospel is for you. Christ’s power to save knows no bounds. His salvation is past, present, and future, and it is available to all who trust in Him.

Beyond that, if they continue to trust, they will be saved not only from the penalty of sin but from the very power of sin. This is Paul's explanation—he is not ashamed of the gospel.

Paul then gives us a second point in verse 17: 

"For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”.'"

This verse further explains verse 16, indicated by the word "for." As with verse 16, there are several crucial aspects of verse 17 that we must understand, as they are key to comprehending what follows in the book of Romans.

Paul first states that "the righteousness of God is revealed." 

His first point was that the gospel is the power of God for salvation.

His second is that the gospel reveals the righteousness of God. 

But what does "the righteousness of God" mean? This is an important question, It could of course refer to an attribute of God—that He is righteous. 

But it could also refer to an act of God in which He declares sinners righteous—what is known as the doctrine of justification.

Which does Paul mean here? Well both definitions are true of course but within the context of these two verses—and certainly the broader argument in Romans it suggests that Paul primarily has in mind God's act of declaring sinners righteous, rather than merely His personal attribute of righteousness. 

Because when we later reach chapter 3, we will see Paul argue that God is righteous in his declaration of people as being righteous.

The second issue in verse 17 is the phrase "from faith to faith”, or, “by faith from first to last." What does that mean?

I believe this phrase means exactly what it says: the righteousness of God comes "from faith"—meaning its source is faith—and it is "to faith"—meaning it leads to continued faith. 

In other words, when I trust in Jesus Christ, God declares me righteous. And one of the things God has in mind is that I would then continue to trust Him, growing in faith.

Galatians 2:20 states: 

"I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. And the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."

This seems to me to supports the idea that justification is by faith, and that as I continue to walk by faith, the righteousness of God will be produced in my life.

Just as I am saved from the penalty of sin by faith, I am saved from the power of sin by faith. When I trust Christ for the forgiveness of my sins, I am declared righteous. And as I walk by faith, the very righteousness of God is produced in my life.

I have been saved by faith, and I am being saved by faith. And I have been declared righteous, and I am being made righteous.

The basis of both justification and sanctification is the death of Jesus Christ. Because He died, I can be declared righteous. And because He died, rose again, and lives within me, I have the power to live a godly life. This is the foundation of by faith from first to last his whole letter to Romans being laid here.

Paul’s argument is that faith is the essential principle of the Christian life—both in justification and sanctification. He then highlights this in Romans 1:17, quoting Habakkuk 2:4: “The just shall live by faith.” 

This verse appears three times in the New Testament, each with a different emphasis. In Galatians, Paul uses it to affirm justification by faith; in Hebrews, it underscores sanctification by faith; and in Romans, it can be understood to encompass both.

Ultimately, whether in initial salvation or ongoing spiritual growth, faith is the key.

The foundational message of Romans and indeed the whole bible is a call to faith.

We are justified by faith, sanctified by faith, and we live by faith. To live by faith means to trust in God’s word and obey it because we believe it. Paul employs Habakkuk’s declaration to reinforce this truth.

“The just shall live by faith.” The entire New Testament echoes this singular principle.

To come to Christ in faith is to be regenerated and declared righteous. That same faith then leads to obedience, which results in the production of righteousness in one’s life. Paul’s overarching argument is that he is unashamed of the gospel because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes. 

As you know these verses serve as climax to the introduction to the whole book of Romans. Many scholars recognize Romans 1:17 as the thematic statement of the entire letter and it being centered on the righteousness of God. 

·          In chapters 1–4, Paul explains how to be declared righteous, beginning with humanity’s desperate need for it due to sin.

·          By chapter 5 and into chapters 6–8, he addresses how practical righteousness is produced in a believer’s life.

·          In chapters 9–11, he explores Israel’s relationship to God’s righteousness, explaining why they failed to attain it. 

·          Finally, in chapters 12–16, he provides specific instructions on how to live righteously in relation to government, society, and the church.

The entire letter functions as a handbook on the righteousness of God, which is manifested in people through faith.

If you have placed your trust in Jesus Christ, you are declared righteous. But that same trust must lead you to take God at His word, believe Him, and obey Him so that righteousness is practically evident in your life. 

That is the message of Romans, and that is what we will explore in the days ahead.

So, are you ashamed of the gospel? Some may be, while others are not. Even Paul likely had moments of hesitation, as we all do, but by overall he was not ashamed because he had experienced the very thing he preached—the saving power of the gospel.

Through the gospel, Paul was saved, and through the Word of God, he continued to be saved from sin’s effects in his life.

Why, then, would anyone be ashamed of that? 

Sin is the thing that destroys people. “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). That is what should bring shame. But the gospel is the power of God that makes a person righteous. What the world desperately needs is this power—the power of God that transforms lives through faith in Christ.

Sin is the real problem.

And what do people desperately need? They need the power of God for salvation.

As Paul is going to vividly demonstrate in Romans, not a single one of us can stand before God and say, Lord, I am righteous, and You should count it a privilege to have me in Your heaven.

No, on that day, we’re going to need God’s own righteousness we don’t have, a righteousness  of our own, we cannot produce our own.

But here’s the good news—Jesus made it possible to have His!

He died on the cross, took away our sin, and offers us His righteousness. That means that when we trust in Him, we stand before God as righteous as Jesus Christ Himself.

Think about that! That’s not something we deserve, but that’s what we receive through faith in Christ.

And that, I believe, is the most important message people can ever hear.

It solves our problems—from now into eternity. It has the power to make us righteous in this life, and it absolutely has the power to declare us righteous before God. 

And I’m supposed to be ashamed of that? 

If we saw people the way the bible sees them, if we really understood the weight of this truth—our response wouldn’t be embarrassment. No, we’d be desperate to tell them: I know something you need to hear.

We’ve got spiritual dynamite.

We have the explosive power of God that can blow sin right out of a person’s life.

So why would I be embarrassed about that? Are you embarrassed?

I’ll say it without hesitation: I believe the good news of God’s salvation as disclosed in the bible.

Because, “It is the power of God for salvation. 

It has saved me, it is saving me, and one day, I will be completely saved, even from the presence of sin.

And frankly, I want everyone to know that…. So why should I be ashamed?