Not Ashamed

Ted and Jo Stone

Paul introduced himself to the Romans with these words, “I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ….”

The Apostle of grace wanted to get one thing straight with the sophisticated, dominating Roman mindset: In all of his years of studying the Scriptures, conversations about Jesus, leading the church and planting churches, debating with doubters and enemies of the faith, writing epistles and delivering sermons, he remained focused on the central truth of Christianity—the Good News that Jesus gives eternal life freely to all who believe (Romans 1:16-17).

A few days ago I spoke at my Jesus Movement pastor, Ted Stone’s memorial service.

The temptation at such an event is always the same. “Everyone here’s not only a Christian, but in this case, mostly mature believers with thorough knowledge of the Bible,” I thought to myself. “Maybe I should go deep and do something from the Psalms that would comfort them something new and different about the grieving process.”

I’m so thankful that I decided, as always, that there’s just no better news than the gospel of Christ.

I turned to Acts 26:15-18, the Lord Jesus’ commission to the Apostle Paul on the Damascus Road:

“So I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you. I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’”

After reading the text, I simply followed Jesus’ outline and comforted hearts by reminding them that the moment Ted’s eyes were open to the good news and he trusted in Christ, the Living God turned his life from darkness to light, from the power of Satan to God, and he received forgiveness and an inheritance with the saints of history.

And it was all by “faith in Me.”

Not by some religious or moral commitment, church attendance, turning from sin, promising to do better, being baptized, or an appropriate dose of shaming accompanied by an appropriate dose of some renewed dedication.

Just faith in Him.

A young man who had just become a part of Ted’s family by marriage was in the audience. He came from an extreme “you gotta be good for God and maybe, just maybe He’ll let you into heaven” background.

After the memorial service this young man asked Ted’s bride, Jo, if it were true, if what I said about simple trust in Jesus was what the Bible really said.

Jo assured him that it was just that simple, just that profound.

So, in the same home that had just grieved the loss of Ted’s earthly life, a new and wonderful type of life was born.

The same life that Ted had received decades before.

The life that never ended in Ted’s life and would never end in the life of his granddaughter’s new husband.

It’s called eternal life, and Jesus offers it freely to all who believe.

Christian, never apologize for the gospel, it’s the power of God to salvation to all who believe.

For 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. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.” (Romans 1:16-17).