Statements of Faith - Not Ashamed

 

ROMANS 1:16

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.

    Romans 1:17

For the gospel reveals the righteousness of God that comes by faith from start to finish, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.” (Exodus 18:9).

    SENT TO THE JEWS (ISRAEL) FIRST

Acts 3:26

"When God raised up His Servant, He sent Him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways."

    THE POWER OF THE CROSS

1 Corinthians 1:18, 21-24

(18) For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

(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, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 

(24) but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

 

    Without the mark of the cross (the atoning blood of Christ)  and the resurrection (born into a new life in Christ) upon the church (the born again believers who live a Christ-filled life) as a whole, nor without the baptism of The Holy Spirit dwelling within her (Comforter and Guide) and upon her (the power of God), there can be no unity in God's church, Christ's bride. 

Hebrews 9:22

And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission. 

Luke 24:49

And behold, I am sending The Promise of My Father upon you. But remain in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

True repentance is an acknowledgement and confession of our sins to God that we may receive His forgiveness. Without repentance (acknowledge sin in my life, confess my sins to God and stop doing those sins) there can be no forgiveness. 

Luke 24:47-48

(47) And He told them, “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 

(48) and in His Name repentance and forgiveness of sins will be proclaimed to all nations, beginning in Jerusalem. 

Romans 4:25

He was delivered over to death (torture and the cross and the grave) for our trespasses (rebellions against God) and was raised to life for our justification (righteousness).

    

    CALLED TO SALVATION THROUGH THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST

Acts 4:11-12

(11) This Jesus is ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’

(12) "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” 

Romans 5:6

(6) For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

Acts 10:43

"All the prophets testify about Him that everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His Name."

Romans 10:8-10

(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 with your heart you believe and are justified, and with your mouth you confess and are saved.

    I am not ashamed of being a Christian, a Christ-filled Christ follower. I am not ashamed of His gospel of salvation for it is the power of God saving me, changing me into His reflection, His image. For in the beginning when God created Adam, He created him in His image. And because He created Eve from Adam's rib, she became created in His image, too. 

    But sin entered in Eve's heart and she doubted the Truth of God's Word, causing her to eat the forbidden fruit, which she then handed off to Adam who also ate of it. Since then sin has reigned upon this earth and each person born has been born with the nature of sin within it. One of the first words we learn is "No", closely followed by a rebellious nature: doing what we want to do instead of doing what is best for us. 

    But God in His infinite mercy, which He extends to a thousand generations, made a Way for us to be forgiven and saved: John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He sent His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes on Him should not perish, but have everlasting life" 

I am a whosoever. 

WINDS OF WORSHIP 10 - New England Worship Songs - Vineyard Music

NO WAY, WE ARE NOT ASHAMED - Carman 

THE JOY - The Belonging Co

 

A Crucified Life - - Is Unashamed of The Gospel

 

    Romans 10:11

For the Scripture says, "Everyone who Believes in Him will not be put to shame."

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 2617

[not] Shamed: does not disappoint

From the Greek word 'kataischuno' (pronounced kat-ahee-skhoo'-no): put to utter confusion, disgrace, frustrate.

    Romans 1:16

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

    1 Corinthians 1:18

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

    Shame is what the faithless unbeliever is covered in, but even this covering cannot prevent the death and destruction that awaits them after death. The unbelieving state of their hearts causes them to stumble in the dark, bumping into whatever doctrine of philosophy they prefer to embrace, when they refuse to believe that Jesus Christ Is Lord. 

    Utter confusion dwells in a chaotic atmosphere. Here the lonely heart cries out to be rescued from its chains of despair and depression, but refuses to lay hold of the Cross and the gospel of salvation. That which brings joy to the faithful faith-filled believer brings only condemnation to the unbelieving soul. 

     Not under my own power do I believe, but within the realm of the power of God, who planted a seed of faith in my heart, when I first believed in the His only begotten Son Jesus Christ as Lord. Though many weeds sprang up to torment this seed of faith as it grew within me, they did not manage to destroy my faith. And my faith grew.

    The Bible clearly states it is the Power of God which brings about salvation to the believer. I do not need to fully understand how or why at this point. I believe there is One:

One God, One Gospel, One Holy Spirit. 

One Creator of Salvation. One Redeemer Who Saves. One Spirit of Wisdom Who Calls us to Salvation. 

    And I love Him. I am not ashamed of the gospel. I am not confused. I am not deluded. I am not disappointed. I am not condemned. 

    Now, Today, is your opportunity, your chance, your turn to believe that God sent His only begotten Son Jesus Christ to die on the cross in your place; to carry the weight of your sins upon His shoulders. Today is your day of salvation, to have the saving grace of the blood of God's Lamb wash away the stench and make clean the darkness of your hearts. 

    Now, Today, it's your turn to believe that Christ is here to redeem you to Himself. Today is not a day for condemnation, for He came not for that reason but to bring you close to Him and nearer to God. Today could be the day you turn from unbelief, leaving the darkness of not knowing Him and embracing the Light of God's Love. 

    Only God has the power to wash and make clean the darkness of our hearts with Blood. Only God speaks light which pierces the darkness of our hearts. Only God can do the impossible. 

    James 4:8

        Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.  Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 

UnAshamed

Nothing Is Too Hard For You - Vineyard Worship

We Are Not Ashamed - Carman

The Power of The Cross - Stuart Townend

Miracles - Jesus Culture

This I Believe [The Creed] - Hillsong Worship

Glorious Ruins - Hillsong Live

There Is One Gospel - CityAlight

God of The Impossible - Lincoln Brewster

Statement of Faith

Matthew 10:28 Fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear Him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. 

We who are the body of Christ have nothing to fear from any man, neither their words nor their actions against us should have any effect on us. We are Christ's body and He is our Head; therefore, we have a sound mind. He lives in us, His heart beats in our hearts, His love flows through veins. In Him we live and move and have our being; for without Him we are nothing: with Him we are every thing.

We who are the body of Christ rally around our brothers and sisters in Christ who are being tortured and killed for His Name's sake. We lift them up in prayer, not just for safety in their different countries, but for the strength of their testimony and witness. We pray for their captors' and tormentors' salvation, for that is the prayer they pray. 

We pray as one for all. For all who have yet to believe that our God is real. That our God is loving and merciful to all. For this we pray. God listens to our prayers. And answers us, as He answered all other prayers before us. Many of us received second, third, fourth, fifth....countless chances, opportunities to turn back to Christ, to turn to God, and let Him fix us, let Him save us. We pray that the eyes of the blind and the ears of the deaf be opened to the saving gospel of Jesus Christ.

We pray that our actions and our words are His mirror image, and not a desire of our own reflections. We pray for His strength to be manifested among us and in us; the strength to live a bold and faithful life in this wilderness we call home. We are lions among jackals and hyenas. We rise up and roar our battle cry across the globe: we are not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ.