The Gospel At The Center

When a church forgets its why, drift is inevitable. We anchor ourselves again with Romans 1:16–17 and unpack what it means to be unashamed of the gospel, confident in God’s power to save, and centered on the righteousness that comes by faith. This message lays the foundation for our series, showing why the good news isn’t a slice of church life but the oven that bakes the whole pie.

We walk through Paul’s bold confession and the cultural friction it faced—then and now. The gospel confronts sin and offends human pride, yet it remains true and powerful. We draw a clear line between methods that may help and the message that alone transforms: Christ crucified and risen. From there, we broaden the lens: salvation is more than a ticket to heaven; it’s a rescue from sin’s penalty, freedom from sin’s power, and the hope of glory where sin is no more. That vision reshapes how we preach, serve, and live—proclaim clearly, live consistently, trust completely.

You’ll also hear why “for everyone who believes” is both wonderfully inclusive and unflinchingly exclusive. Faith in Jesus is the only way, and yet the door stands open to every tribe, class, and story. We challenge the quiet biases that keep us from sharing and celebrate the reach of grace that can change the hardest hearts. Finally, we center on justification: the righteousness of God credited to sinners by faith. Lose that truth and assurance crumbles; keep it central and identity, obedience, and perseverance find firm ground. If you’ve been tempted to soften, hide, or replace the gospel, this conversation calls you back to courage and clarity.

If this helped you refocus your why, share it with a friend, subscribe to the series, and leave a review with one takeaway you’re acting on this week.

Chapters

• 1:41 Recovering The Church’s Why
• 4:19 Unashamed Boldness In A Hostile Culture
• 11:44 Power Of God For Salvation
• 18:08 What Salvation Truly Means
• 24:12 Everyone Who Believes: Scope And Reach

Transcript

SPEAKER_00: 0:05

Pastor Timothy Madd and Providence Church Organ Beach Florida. Providence Church is a local assembly of followers of Jesus Christ dedicated to helping people become committed and mature followers of Jesus Christ. Now, here's Pastor Timothy Madd teaching the word.

SPEAKER_01: 0:22

The gospel at the center, Romans chapter 1. And we're going to examine in two verses today, and this is really going to be our theme for the series. Of course, I'll be preaching out of other passages, but this is the theme for the series. Romans chapter 1. We're going to pick up in verse 16 and 17. Today, the Apostle Paul, of course, is writing to this church at Rome. And he is going to really write what many theologians call the Magna Carta of the Bible, the centerpiece of salvation in the New Testament, the book of Romans. But today we're focusing specifically on two verses. Romans chapter 1, verse 16 and 17. Hopefully you found it by now. I'm going to be reading from the New King James Version of the Bible. Follow along with me as I read these verses, as I read God's Word. The Bible says, 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. And we'll stop here. This is God's word that we've just read. You know, every great movement, every great successful team or lasting organization has something that drives it. It's why. It's why. Lose sight of the why, and it doesn't matter how talented the players are, it doesn't matter how polished the brand is, or how much activity there is, eventually it will lose its way if it loses the why. And the same is true for a local church. Today, some churches that once boldly proclaimed God's word and sent missionaries around the world and regularly saw people come to Christ, and now they're hardly more than places for religious and social gatherings. They didn't lose their music, they didn't lose their buildings, they didn't lose their programs, they lost their purpose. And Providence Church, especially if you're a member or a regular attendee, and if you're a guest this morning, you're coming for the first time, you're really getting in on the first message of a series that's really going to be foundational for us as a church as we continue to move forward in the life of Providence Church. Our why is not a mystery. We are here because of the gospel, the good news of what God has done through the life, death, and resurrection of his son Jesus Christ to save sinners and make them his own. And the truth is, we don't just need the gospel to begin the Christian life, we need it to sustain us every step of the way. And we don't proclaim it just to unbelievers, those who are lost. We preach it to ourselves and we preach it to each other. The gospel is not just one slice of the pie, it is the oven in which the whole pie is baked. That's why, over the next several weeks, we're going to walk through this series: The Gospel at the Center. We're going to explore God's word, why the gospel must remain central in our preaching and teaching and our discipleship, our worship, our relationships with each other and the world, our mission and our future as a church. So we're starting today with our theme verses, Romans 16 and 17. These verses that really could be called the Apostle Paul's personal mission statement. Put your eyes back on it again. He writes and he says, For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, the Jew first, and also for the Greek. We'll stop with verse 16 for now. This one verse will set the tone for everything else we're going to discuss in this series. And it calls us to be courageous, to be clear, to be confident, and to be committed. And if we keep the gospel at the center, oh, we might not always be the biggest or the most popular church, but we will be a faithful one. And that's what matters most to God. That's what matters most to God. So let's see, just for the next few minutes, what it really means to be unashamed of the gospel. What does it mean to be unashamed of the gospel? Well, the first thing we notice in verse 16 is we notice the gospel's boldness, not ashamed. The Apostle Paul begins his statement with this very surprising declaration. He says, I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ. Now, why start there? That's a good question. Why start there? Because in the Apostle Paul's world, the gospel wasn't a message that naturally drew applause or approval. In fact, it was a stumbling block, he called it, to the Jews, and foolishness to the Gentiles. He writes that in 1 Corinthians chapter 1, verse 23. Stumbling block to the Jews, foolishness to the Gentiles. The Jews expected a Messiah who would overthrow Rome and restore political power to Israel. They didn't expect a Messiah who would be a crucified carpenter from Nazareth. The Gentiles valued philosophy and education and strength and not worshiping a man who had been executed by crucifixion as if a criminal. However, and humanly speaking, the Apostle Paul had every reason to feel tempted to be ashamed. I mean, the gospel didn't match the cultural expectations of success. It opposed human pride. It challenged people to admit their sin and turn away from it and surrender their lives to a crucified and risen Lord. And yet the apostle Paul says, I am not ashamed. He doesn't hold back, he doesn't try to make the gospel more socially acceptable. He openly proclaims the message of the cross without hiding behind vague spiritual words. He stands in the marketplace, in the synagogues, before kings and before governors, and he clearly states, Jesus Christ is Lord, and apart from him there is no salvation. I wonder this morning if we realize just how tempting it is in our day to be ashamed of the gospel. I mean, not in obvious ways always, but in subtle ones. We shouldn't be ashamed to talk about Christ, even if we're worried about being called, well, too religious. They're too religious. We shouldn't feel ashamed to actually call for repentance just because it might make others uncomfortable. And that's even in the church life. We should feel ashamed, though, when we make the church or even our own life as a Christian primarily about satisfying felt needs. Instead of proclaiming the only message that can meet our deepest need, and that's reconciliation with God. That's our deepest need. Now, being unashamed doesn't mean being obnoxious. It doesn't mean being rude. It doesn't mean being hateful in how you do things. It means being so confident in the truth and the power of the gospel that we refuse to hide it, we refuse to water it down, and we refuse to substitute it with something else. Why are people ashamed of the gospel? Well, I'd say, first of all, it's because it confronts sin. The gospel reminds us that we are sinners who need rescue. And that humility can be hard to accept. And not everyone wants to hear it. Also, it offends human wisdom. The idea that salvation comes through faith in a crucified man appears weak and very foolish to a world that values self-reliance. And also, it divides. The gospel makes a very clear distinction. Those who genuinely believe the gospel are saved, while those who reject it remain under God's judgment. But here, listen, Providence, here is why we can be unashamed. First of all, because it's true. It's true. And we'll talk more about that next week. The gospel isn't just a theory, it's based on the historical events of Jesus' death and resurrection. But also we can be unashamed because it's powerful. We'll see that in the next part of the verse, that it is the power of God. But also we can be unashamed because it is our calling. God has chosen us. He's chosen to make his appeal to the world through us, according to 2 Corinthians 5.20. We're to be an ambassador, an ambassador. And so if we want to keep the gospel at the center of our church, Providence Church, then we have to be unashamed in both our corporate and our personal witness. Both. Our corporate witness and our personal witness. Corporately, that means that every ministry, every method, every event must make the gospel visible and clear. We're not here just to manage programs. We're here to proclaim Jesus. Also, personally, I think each of us should ask, where have I been hesitant? Where have I been silent about the gospel? Because being unashamed might actually mean having that conversation, that hard conversation with a friend. It might mean inviting a coworker to church. It could mean sharing your testimony with a family member. Because boldness isn't about personality, it's about conviction. It's about believing that the gospel is worth proclaiming no matter the cost. Paul didn't say, I'm not ashamed because I'm naturally fearless. He didn't say that. Instead, he said, I'm not ashamed because I know what this message is and what it can do. And so if we're going to fulfill the mission that God has given us individually and as a church, we have to decide now. We have to decide before the ridicule, before the rejection, before the pressure, that we will not be ashamed of the gospel. Because the moment we hide it, the moment we dilute it, the moment we replace it, we begin to drift. But when we stand on it and speak it with conviction and compassion, God uses it to give life. And that's the boldness of the gospel. But we also need to see that our boldness comes from understanding what the gospel truly is and what it can do. Because in this verse we also see the gospel's power. The power of God for salvation. Paul says, for it is the power of God to salvation. That is why Paul is unashamed. He's not just passionate about the gospel because it's interesting, or because it's a personal preference, or because it worked for him. No, he's unashamed because the gospel is the power of God. Not just any power, not partial power, not a potential power that needs something added. It is the power of God for salvation. Now, the word the Apostle Paul uses for power is the Greek word dunymus, from which we get our word dynamite. But the Apostle Paul isn't talking about a destructive explosion here. He's describing a divine power that gives life, that breaks the grip of sin, that overcomes death, and restores all things. And so we need to understand this. The gospel doesn't require us to improve it, doesn't require us to upgrade it, doesn't require us to make it more attractive, it doesn't get its power from our eloquence or our creativity or our persuasiveness. Yes, our methods can be helpful, but they don't save. Our personalities might open doors, but they can't bring dead hearts to life. Our programs might meet needs, but they cannot reconcile a sinner with God. Only the gospel accomplishes that. Only the gospel. It's God's power that transforms someone who is spiritually dead into life in Christ. What does salvation mean? Power of God unto salvation. What does salvation mean? Sometimes I think we use the word so often that we forget its true meaning. Biblically, salvation is much more than just going to heaven when we die. It includes, I mean, think about this. It includes rescue from the penalty of sin. We are justified and we are declared righteous before God because of Christ's finished work on the cross, dying for our sin, and rising from the dead. Rescue from the penalty of sin. But it's also freedom from the power of sin. When we're born again and we believe the gospel, the Holy Spirit lives within side of us, empowering us to say no to sin and yes to righteousness. But also it's hope for freedom from sin's presence. We sang about it this morning in more than one song. One day, one day in glory, there will be no more sin, no more death, no more curse. And so the gospel is God's power to accomplish all of that, not through human effort, but by God's grace, through faith in Jesus Christ. And that truth changes the way we think about our mission as a Christian and as a church. We don't meet on Sundays to give motivational talks to inspire people for a few days. We don't exist to offer moral improvement plans that help people be better. We don't even gather to socialize, although that's part of it, and we do have good fellowship and enjoy each other. We don't gather to socialize or to fill a calendar. We are here this morning because the gospel saves. The gospel saves. It changes a person's eternity, it transforms the heart of a person, and it redirects the course of a family. It influences how we live, it influences how we love, it influences how we forgive, it influences how we persevere. And so that means our confidence in ministry and serving the Lord isn't based on the slickness of our services, not on the beauty of our building or the strength of our budget. Our confidence rests in God's power to work through his gospel. Let me give you two quick realities of this power. The gospel changes even the hardest hearts. The Apostle Paul himself shows this. I mean, he's a former persecutor of the church who became its greatest missionary. And I've seen over the years, I've seen people who seem so far from God. I'm talking about cold and resistant, even hostile, even through the life of this church, since Providence has been in existence. They've come to faith in Jesus, though, because someone loved them enough to share the gospel. And the gospel changed their heartheart. But I've also seen the gospel heal the broken. I've seen marriages on the brink of falling apart, restored as spouses surrendered to Christ and his word. I've seen people, I've witnessed people enslaved by addiction find freedom because the gospel didn't just forgive them, it transformed them. It changed them. And so if we believe this verse, then our strategy as a church and as individual believers is actually simple. And that is proclaim the gospel clearly, live the gospel consistently, and trust the gospel completely. That's our strategy. And that's why whether we're teaching children in kids' ministry, aren't you grateful for workers who are over there right now? And they'll do it again in the second hour. And some of you rotate and are a part of that process and that schedule. Thank you for doing that. So whether we're teaching kids in children in kids' ministry or leading a Bible fellowship group like it's happening now, will happen again, whether we're serving on a ministry team or whether we're preaching from the pulpit, we must keep the gospel front and center. Front and center. Because if we ever replace it with entertainment, if we ever replace it with tradition, if we ever replace it with self-help, oh, we might keep people busy and we might boost their self-esteem, but we won't see the power of God at work. We won't see the power of God at work. And this also means for you personally, that the same gospel that saved you is the gospel that sustained you. The power of the gospel, the power of God in the gospel is not only a past event, it is your current strength and it's your future hope. What I mean by this, think about it this way: when you're fighting sin, when you're battling sin, the gospel reminds you Christ has already defeated this, walk in his victory. Yeah. When you're feeling unworthy, the gospel says, Christ's righteousness is yours. You are accepted in him. You're accepted in him. When you fear the future, the gospel promises Christ is risen, you have eternal life. And so the Apostle Paul here is unashamed because he knows that the gospel is neither weak or fragile or outdated. And we must be unashamed as well. It's the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes. Which brings us to the next reason we can be unashamed. Look at that part of the verse. And what we see here is the gospel's scope for everyone who believes. He says, the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first, and also for the Greek. That small phrase for everyone who believes is packed with meaning. It reveals two truths simultaneously. One is the gospel is both exclusive and the gospel is inclusive. Exclusive in the sense that faith in Christ is the only way. The phrase everyone who believes indicates that the power of the gospel is not automatic. It does not apply to those who only hear it, admire it, or even agree that it's a good idea. The power of the gospel saves only those who believe. Only those who believe. Those who personally repent and trust in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. Now this challenges our culture's belief, obviously, that all roads lead to God, or that sincerity is enough. But the Bible is clear. Salvation comes through believing the gospel, not through religious effort, not through moral achievement, and not through spiritual sentiment. Jesus himself said in John 14, 6, I am the way, the truth, and the life, and no one comes to the Father except through me. So that's the exclusivity of the gospel. But then you also see that it's inclusive. The gospel is for all peoples. The Apostle Paul states here, it's for everyone who believes, Jew and Greek. That's a quick way of saying, all people everywhere. For the Jew first, because God's saving plan started with his covenant people, Old Testament Israel, and the promises made to them. But then he also says, also for the Greeks, that's meaning all non-Jews. So if you're in his mind, so if you are not ethnically Jewish in this room this morning, that's you as well. Which that's the Apostle Paul's context. He's referring to the rest of the world. This is incredibly inclusive. Incredibly inclusive. The gospel, it's so wonderful. The gospel breaks down barriers of ethnicity, of culture, of social class, and of background. It doesn't matter. Look, it doesn't matter if you grew up in Sunday school or if you've never opened a Bible. It doesn't matter if your past is respectable or if it's filled with public failures. If you genuinely believe in and on Jesus, you are saved. That's inclusive. And that ought to shape, that truth should shape the way we see our mission. The gospel is for the retiree, for the single mom who is working to make ends meet, for the business owner, for the recovering addict, for the tourist who visits our community for the weekend, the child in the classrooms, the person who doesn't look like us, think like us, or believe like us. Listen, we can't claim to be gospel-centered if we're not willing to share it with anyone God puts in our path. So let me ask you who in your life, who in your life have you silently excluded from your mind from the reach of the gospel? Maybe you're thinking, oh, they'd never listened. Or they've gone too far. There's no hope for them. Or they wouldn't fit in here. Listen, the apostle Paul would say, no, that's exactly the kind of person the gospel is for. If God's power can save a Pharisee turned persecutor like Paul, it can save anyone. If it can save me, it can save anyone. And if it can save you, well, there's hope, right? There's hope. There's hope. But it also reminds us that there's no plan B for salvation. That's what this verse reminds us of. No plan B for salvation. If someone doesn't believe the gospel, they remain lost. No matter how moral or spiritual or religious they may seem. Now that's not popular to say, but it's what the Bible teaches. And if that's true, then we can't just stay silent. If we truly believe the gospel is for anyone who believes, then we will pray for open doors, we will engage in converse in gospel conversations, and we will seek to connect with people beyond our comfort zones. And so that means that our ministries, our outreach, and our personal lives really must be marked by gospel openness. We never want to give the impression, whether intentionally or unintentionally, that this church is only for a certain kind of person. The gospel is for everyone who believes. That's the scope of the gospel. That's why we invest in missions. You see these flags representing countries. And that's not all of them. That's why we invest in missions. That's why we welcome guests with genuine hospitality. It's not put on, it's not phony, it's real. That's why we keep pointing people not to ourselves, but to Christ. Because we don't have anything to give in ourselves. But what the gospel has is everything that's truly important. Well, let's look at that. The last verse 17. What we come to in verse 17 is the gospel centerpiece, right here. It's the centerpiece, it's the righteousness of God revealed. He says in verse 17, for in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith. As it is written, the just shall live by faith. This is the core of the gospel. This is the truth that made the Apostle Paul unashamed and that has shaped history. So what does the righteousness of God mean? In this context, the Apostle Paul isn't just thinking about God's attribute of being righteous, although that's true, but also he's thinking about the righteousness that God gives to sinners. The righteousness that God gives to sinners. Because the gospel shows how guilty, condemned people can be declared righteous before a holy God. Not by earning it, but by receiving it through faith in Jesus. That's what theologians call justification. That's the term. Justification. We don't earn righteousness. It's credited to us by God through saving faith in Jesus. God does not accept our goodness, but he accepts Christ's perfect obedience and his sacrificial death on our behalf. On the cross, our sin was charged to Christ, and his righteousness is credited to us. And so listen, listen, that means when God looks at you, believer, when he looks at you, he doesn't see a polished version of your old self. He sees the perfect record of his son credited to your account. Isn't that a wonderful thing? The perfect record of his son credited to your account. And so if we lose, look, if we lose the truth of justification by faith in Jesus, then we lose the gospel. We lose the good news. If we lose the truth of justification by faith in Jesus, we lose the gospel. Because without it, salvation relies on human effort. It relies on your effort. And Christ's death becomes unnecessary. Without it, assurance is impossible. You'll never know if you've done enough. And without it, the glory moves from God to us. But with the gospel, with justification by faith, because of faith in Jesus, the gospel then becomes wonderfully clear. And that is that God saves sinners entirely by his grace through faith because of Christ. The Apostle Paul says here that this righteousness is revealed from faith to faith. Meaning the entire Christian life from start to finish is a life of faith. And we finish with faith, trusting him to lead us safely home. And this truth must remain the centerpiece of everything we do. In preaching and in witnessing, we must continually direct people to Christ's righteousness, not moral self-improvement. In our own discipleship, we must help one another anchor our identity in what Christ has done. Not in our performance.

SPEAKER_00: 28:59

Thanks for tuning in to the Foundations of Truth podcast with Pastor Timothy Mann from Prophet's Church in Orman Beach, Florida. Join us next time at the building, keep building your life on Eternal Truth.