The Gospel Cannot Save If We Stay Silent (Week 3 Sermon Recap)
Have you ever heard the phrase "silence is golden"? It's true in many situations, when a newborn finally stops crying, when the neighbor's dog stops barking at 2am, or during those peaceful early mornings with your Bible and coffee. But there are times when silence is not golden. When someone is desperately searching for truth, grace, peace, and forgiveness, silence from Christians is a missed opportunity.
The gospel cannot save the lost if we stay silent.
In Romans 10, Paul outlines several necessities for salvation to happen:
The Necessity of Preaching:
"How then will they call on him in whom they've not believed? And how are they to believe in him in whom they've not heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?" (Romans 10:14) You might think, "I'm not a preacher, so this doesn't apply to me." But the Greek word for "preaching" here means to herald, proclaim, or share. It's not about standing behind a pulpit; it's about sharing the gospel message with others.
In 2 Corinthians 5:17-20, we learn that all believers have been given the ministry of reconciliation. We are all ambassadors for Christ, representing King Jesus and sharing His message with His authority.
The Necessity of Being Sent:
"And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, 'How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!'" (Romans 10:15). Throughout the Bible, God is portrayed as a sending God. He sent Moses to Pharaoh, prophets to nations, Jonah to Nineveh, and disciples to preach. Now, He's sending us.
The church is God's plan A for getting the gospel out to the world. There is no plan B. We are it!
Paul quotes Isaiah 52:7 and Nahum 1:15 to show that it's beautiful to be sent. These Old Testament prophets declared messages of victory, and we, too, share a message of victory - the good news that Jesus gives us victory over sin, temptation, Satan, and death.
The Necessity of Hearing:
"But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, 'Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?' So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ." (Romans 10:16-17) For someone to be saved, they need to hear the gospel. Faith doesn't come by osmosis or by being born into a Christian family. The gospel must be shared by someone who is sent, and it must be heard in order for someone to believe.
The Necessity of Believing:
"For the Scripture says, 'Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.'" (Romans 10:11) To be saved by the gospel, you must believe in it. There must be a moment when you place your faith and trust in Jesus as Lord and Savior of your life. You may not remember the exact date or time, but there should be a point in your life when you made a decision to follow Christ. You don't progressively become a Christian - there's a moment of belief when you say yes to Jesus.
What About My Past Mistakes and Shame?
Some people hesitate to come to God because of their past. They carry guilt and shame, wondering if God would really forgive them. Romans 10:11 promises that "everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame." God won't throw your past in your face or disgrace you. He'll forgive you, take away your shame and guilt, and give you a new nature. You'll be a new person in Christ, forgiven of all your past, present, and future sins.
Life Application:
The gospel cannot save if we stay silent. Here are some practical steps to take:
1. If you've never placed your faith in Jesus, today can be the day. Say yes to His offer of forgiveness and salvation.
2. If you're already a believer, identify someone in your life who needs Jesus. Write down their name and commit to praying for them regularly.
3. Prepare yourself to share the gospel. Consider attending training or workshops that can equip you to share your faith effectively.
4. Remember that you don't need to have all the answers. Your job is to share; God's job is to save.
Questions to Consider:
• Can I point to a time when I said yes to Jesus? If not, what's holding me back from making that decision today?
• Who are the people in my life that need to hear about Jesus? Am I staying silent when I should be sharing?
• What fears or hesitations do I have about sharing my faith? How can I overcome them?
• How can I better equip myself to share the gospel with others? Remember, silence may be golden in some situations, but when it comes to sharing the life-changing message of Jesus Christ, silence prevents the lost from being saved. Let's commit to being sent, sharing, and seeing people come to faith in Jesus.
