Totally Abandoned to the Gospel | Part 1

The two most profound questions we could ask Jesus listen to Adrian Rogers all met the Lord Jesus on the road to Damascus and ask the Lord Jesus to question number one. Who are you number two. What would you have me to do. Ask those two questions get the answer from him and follow him directly. You understand what life is all about know who Jesus is and know what Jesus would have you welcome to love worth finding featuring real truth never changes from acclaimed Bible teacher and pastor Adrian Rogers without the gospel of Jesus Christ. There is no hope. The power of the gospel is the only thing that can save us from this lost world and rescue our souls from the gray in Romans chapter 1, the apostle Paul describes the heart and mind of someone totally abandoned to the gospel in three IM statements. If you have your Bible turn there to Romans chapter 1 as we hear part one of totally abandoned to the gospel. Here's Adrian Rogers.

Today were going to be studying the heart and mind of a man who was totally abandoned to the gospel of Jesus Christ. You know, if you will look at a man and just get down beneath the surface get down into his heart. Understand his motivation see the philosophy of his life. And then you'll be able to understand his life.

I believe we can do that with the greatest Christian who ever lived.

In my estimation. The apostle Paul, the one who wrote this book of Romans were going to find some things about him.

I'm going to read Romans one verses 14 through 16. He said I am debtor both to the Greeks and to the barbarians, both to the wise and the unwise so as much as in me is I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also, for I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it gospel is the power of God and the salvation to everyone that believe this to the Jew first and also to the Greek about their three IM statements right here. Look, if you will, in verse 14 he says I am debtor look in verse 15_this I am ready then look in verse 16.

I am not ashamed that you just put those three iambs together you going to understand what motivated the greatest pioneer and spokesman of the church that ever live.

He reached and was a missionary just a few short years after Jesus Christ had ascended to heaven and when Paul himself went to heaven. There was a Christian church a little colony of heaven. In every major city in the Western Empire a little man who had a heart of flame for Almighty God, who could say I am debtor. I am ready and I am not ashamed to know what did God listen to me quote with the God would to God that Adrian could say that that you could say that that every mother's child follow the apostle Paul in those three statements for Paul said, you follow me as I follow Christ is a Paul met the Lord Jesus on the road to Damascus and as the Lord Jesus.

Two questions number one. Who are you, Lord, number two, what would you have me to do.

Ask those two questions get the answer from him and follow him correctly and you'll understand what life is all about know who Jesus is and know what Jesus would have you to do less.

Look at these three IM statements.

First of all, he says I am debtor I am debtor and that tells me that Paul was faithful to the obligations of the gospel. Paul saw himself as a debtor. The apostle Paul would write to the Corinthians year not euro you are bought with a price and so Paul verse also himself as a debtor to the Lord Jesus Christ. Do you do you see yourself in debt to Jesus what you say. I thought salvation was free is but don't we sing this. Also, Jesus paid it all and all the him I/O.

I am indebted to the one that hung in agony and blood on the cross for me.

Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all. I'm not talking about trying to pay for your salvation. You cannot pay for your salvation. Someone wrote these words, I cannot work my soul to say that work. My Lord is done, but I will work like any sleeve for the love of God's dear son. Won't you where you not. Don't you see yourself as a debtor to the dear Savior who died for you out there. What else we're debtor to along with the apostle Paul, we are debtors to the heroes of the past. Paul was there when Stephen was stoned. It was through the stoning of Stephen that Paul came under conviction. Paul was holding the close of those who were stoning the first Christian missionary. I believe it Paul had a debt to Stephen that he hoped to kill.

I believe that Paul had a debt to those Old Testament prophets were stone and and the massacred for the cause of Christ and folks I want to tell you that many heroes of the past, suffered, and bled and died that we might be here today.

Don't you think we'll them something where dad is to those of going before us with debtor*Lord, but to something else.

We are debtors. All of those around us. That's what Paul is talking about, primarily look, if you will, in verse 14. I am debtor both to the Greeks and to the barbarians, both to the wise and onto the unwise when he says the Greeks in the barbarians you talk about the culture than the non-culture to talk about the up and up.

Talk about down and out. He's talking about the educated and talking about big Rick is talking about the riches talk about the poor say every body means to know Jesus. You believe that. I hope that you believe that now folks, we have received the gospel Jesus said freely you receive freely again. Suppose there were a man in this state who was sentenced to be executed for capital crime. Suppose the governor of the state called you and said I'm an apartment man and the governor said I want you to take this part into the prison and deliver it to the warden of the prison because he has been pardoned. Suppose you took that pardon put it in your breast pocket. When a friend calls you and says some you know what, I've got a couple of extra plane tickets and we can go to Florida and have a few rounds of golf from you so that's one of and you go down then you come back and immediately your little behind in your work, trying to catch up and you having your coffee and reading the newspaper and some print jumps out at you that man that was pardon has just been executed. You reach up there in my coat pocket.

You happen to be wearing the same coat and you pull out that pardon their he had been but you had never delivered the message. How would you see how you feel when the clouds follow the casket of your next-door neighbor, and you never ever even told them about Jesus Christ, your mother, your brother, your father, your sister Paul said hi and a debtor I've been saved by the grace of God in Jesus paid all but all to him.

I/O we needed compassion for lost people will bless good friend. We are an island. The blessing in an ocean of mead. We have a responsibility now. Paul said, I am debtor. I'm not just been called to be blessed. Must I be carried to the skies on flowery beds of bees, while others thought to seize the prize and sailed through blood.

He sees next. Here's the second thing he says watch look watch in your Bible. First of all see it in verse 14.

I am debtor verse 15 look at it so as much as in me is I am writing to preach the gospel to you that are in Rome also. Not only was Paul faithful to the obligations of the gospel.

Now listen carefully.

Write this down. Paul was flexible for the opportunities of the gospel may see you got to be both faithful and flexible. You have to understand that you are debtor and as a result of that, you have to be ready. Paul says in verse 15. I am writing now because obviously he was ready to live for Christ be said for me to live is Christ, no. Paul was a great witness zero what made them such a great witness. He was also part of the evidence is there anything different about your life. Can your neighbor see a quality of life in you. That would provoke him to spiritual jealousy.

I don't mean jealousy in the wrong way on the site. Look at that family.

Look at Batman look at that life. What is different about him. Are you ready ready live for Christ. You not if you not ready to die for Christ. Paul said I die daily. Paul said I cannot mount my life dear to myself. Are you ready to die for Jesus.

I did save you want to die for him. You do that you have a martyr complex I say are you ready to die for the Lord Jesus Christ. Are you ready to go. I mean, if Jesus Christ were to save you. I want to be preaching the gospel. I want to be missionary. I want you to do this thing.

That thing friend you must be ready to live and ready to die. You must be ready to go, and you must be ready to stay must be ready. Are you are you want to speak to you today. Would you say yes Lord yes when the greatest missionaries ever lived was David Livingston.

I want you to hear these pregnant words that he said listen to this. He said send me where you will but go with me playing a burden on my heart but sustainment sever any tie but the one that binds my heart to the semi where you will go with me. Lady Bird know my heart but sustained me and sever any tie in my life except the one that finds my part to are you ready to go. Are you ready to stay. Sometimes it takes more grace to stay in prayer and support and give than it does to go and we put our son on the plane to go to Spain and he took his precious wife Kelly and Carla grandson Jonathan enjoys and I spent there an airport with scalding tears coming down Archie the happiest and saddest the two could be at the same time he wasn't going over there like a person goes when an army to come home to Spain to stay to take the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Sometimes it takes as much grace to stay as it does to go. Are you ready ready to live ready to die if necessary.

Ready to go ready to stay and I don't mean with 1/2 part.

Paul said, with as much as in me that you understand that you understand what made this man a great man that he was now watching Paul was faithful to the obligations of the gospel. Paul was flexible for the opportunities of the gospel. Here's the third thing Paul was fearless at the opposition to the gospel fearless at the opposition to the gospel. There was so much opposition to the gospel of Jesus Christ. But he says in verse 16. I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ wasn't fearful about the gospel.

Now there were many reasons why he could've been fearful that many reasons why he could've been intimidated. There are many reasons why he could've been a shame for the first place, the gospel of Jesus Christ was identified with the poor Jewish carpenter who was crucified. Can you imagine going to roll the Imperial city of Rome with his mind to power its armies and say I want to tell you about a Jew of the Romans had no appreciation for the Jews, especially one who was not one of the mighty philosophers in their mind, but a carpenter, one who was crucified would put faith in achievement that was crucified and Rome was such a proud city they had subjugated the land of Judea. There was a gospel coming out of Jerusalem must have a role. Why should Rome listen anything that came out of a conquered place and the Christians of that day. They were not the big shots of that day. Paul had to say to the grin. Did you see her calling brother, not many mighty Hunter. Many mobile a call they didn't have a lot of philosophers they didn't have a lot of generals they didn't have a lot of wealthy people. The Christians were all scouring the the scum of the earth of that day and even Paul himself when he went to Rome he went to Rome as a prisoner and yet he didn't hang his head in shame. Rome was known for the great philosophers of that day.

Who is paying attention to a fable about a Jew who rose from the dead.

But Paul was bold for the Lord Jesus now will ask a question are you ashamed of the gospel are you ashamed to put a Bible on your desk at work. Are you saying the bow your head in the cafeteria are you ashamed to invite people to Jesus Christ. I say are you ashamed of the one who died for you is that were passed on.

I just don't believe in wearing my faith on my sleeve will boy had a dog.

I'm told it's about asking what kind of dog he was in little fellow said well he's a police dog.

He was just a mongrel mobile cities. Please go friend said what he does look like a police dog little guy said well he's in the Secret Service. I'm afraid that that many of us who are in the secret service we ought to be open and bold for the gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ could be ashamed of the person of the gospel for doing all of the history of the world about 60 billion people have lived in history.

The whole world, but all the people of all of the 60 billion to Beverly.

Only a handful have made any Mark Prue mark on history.

I thought about scientists, philosophers, rulers, military people, only a handful, but there's one. One main that stands above all other names. That is the name of Jesus. And while I am speaking you right now listen to me this very moment there are multiplied millions of people.

This attending to his words and seeking to do his will that one main Batman Batman that is above every name, are you ashamed of Jesus Christ young preacher had been called out of a life of sin, to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ totally thoroughly repented of his sin was made new, but somebody who knew his old life wrote him a note that on to ashamed of yourself. You up there telling people to get right with God and that person who'd known this man in his past listed all of those sins in detail what young preacher did he read that note bowed his head in prayer, stood up and said, ladies and gentlemen, I received the note, and here's what it says and then for that whole crowd. He read every one of those sins without leaving out one then he said this. Yes, I am ashamed of myself, but I'm not ashamed of my Savior ashamed of myself.

Paul said, I'm not ashamed of the gospel of Christ is the gospel of Christ, the person of the gospel and I will day. I hope I'll never be ashamed of him when not only was Paul not ashamed of the person of the gospel. He's not ashamed of the purpose of the gospel look in verse 16. Look at it.

I'm not ashamed of the gospel of Christ. That's the person of the gospel, for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believe in is no greater business occupation than sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. Let Wall Street handle finances. Let Hollywood have the same let the military people figure out what to do in the Middle East lets us get out the gospel of Jesus Christ. The social engineers of this world or try everything they can do the same civilization.

The gospel is not intended to save civilization from wreckage. The gospel is intended to save people from the wreckage of civilization is what the gospel is all that Jesus did not come as a social engineer, Jesus came. Luke 1910 for the Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which is loss to see think about there a lot of kinds of losses is tragic to lose your help to lose your wealth to lose your friends and loved ones lose your life and how tragic to lose your soul what you to profit a man if he should gain the whole world and lose his own soul listen me friend listen to me. How can we be ashamed of the gospel when the power the gospel is the only thing that can help this world. The gospel is the only thing they can make harlots pure. The gospel is the only thing that can make drunk or sober. The gospel is the only thing that can make perverts straight. The gospel is the only thing that can make adulterers sure the gospel is the only thing that can give all that is steadfast and true to rescue the perishing and carefully buying snacks limit.

From saving the gray without the gospel of Jesus Christ is no there is no fault that I am not ashamed of the press is the gospel of Christ on the ashamed of the purpose of salvation when he said I'm not ashamed of the power of the gospel look in verse 16 for the gospel is the power of God and the salvation and the word that he uses therefore powers the word in Greek that we get our English word dynamite from this world is enamored with power hurt so much in our generation about atomic power. But if you were to take an atomic bomb and detonated between the lapels of your coat. There would be enough of you to bear. We can find you be vaporized, but that would take the sin out of your heart is only one power one power that can wash and make you whiter than snow and coming up tomorrow will hear part two of this important message but maybe today you have questions regarding your faith in Jesus, we have an insightful resource on her website called her discovery, Jesus page to find answers there. You may need about your faith. There is a response section as well share how this message or other use of affected your life just go to LWF.org/radio and click on the tab that says Discover Jesus we can't wait to hear from you today if you like to order a copy of the message that we begun today totally abandoned to the gospel is the title call 1877 love God, to order this message is also part of the insightful foundations for our faith series for that complete collection. All 27 powerful messages: 1877 love God will go online to LWF.org/radio or rightists that love worth finding box 38, 600 Memphis, TN 38183 when the apostle Paul met Jesus. He asked two important questions. Who are you and what would you have me to do today. Ask those same questions so that you may know who Jesus is and what he would have you to do. Be sure to join us next time. For part two of totally abandoned gospel right here on love worth buying. We love hearing about how these messages from Adrian Rogers had made a difference in your walk with Christ.

Here's a note of encouragement. May the Lord continue to bless the ministry of love worth finding. As you all seek to continue carrying the banner of our Lord Jesus Christ. Thank you for your continual support of this ministry through your prayers through your gifts as a way to say thank you for your support. Right now we want to send you our booklet collection called flying including booklet such as why the cross.

Why do good things happen to bad people. This bundle gives precious insight into the big questions we ask ourselves in moments of doubt request the fly booklet collection when you call the gift.

1877 love God.

If you've ever asked that question why I think this will really help you, and again thanks for your support of love worth finding