I Am Not Ashamed

I. Introduction (John 1:43; 10:27; 12:26; 13:36)

A. Every once in a while, in every person’s life, big decisions are made that define them and their age

1. Sometimes it is whether to go to war against an oppressive dictator
2. Sometimes it is simply whether to get married or stay single
3. Sometimes it is whether to pack up and move country for a better life somewhere

B. Ireland is at one of those defining moments in its history

C. Many of our decisions in life turn out to be wrong, for which so many people carry shame and guilt and sorrow

D. But there are some decisions that brings NO shame, and carry NO guilt

E. Like the decision to follow Jesus

The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me. - John 1:43

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. - John 10:27

F. And like the decision to Stand for Life

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II. Background (Isaiah 8:13-17; 28:16)

A. Sion was Jerusalem, long ago

B. Jerusalem was in a mess, spiritually, economically, and politically

C. In Isaiah’s day, it was at a cross-road… facing the consequences for wrong decisions

D. And God described how He could change the outcome

1. Not with a great army, or with lightning from the sky
2. But with a ROCK, a stone, a boulder in the middle of the path that everyone would have to face
3. Such a strange way to fix things
4. But God’s ways are better than our ways

E. God describes it this way (Isaiah 8:13-17; 28:16)

1. I lay in Israel, a chief corner stone - a big important ROCK
2. He is elect - chosen - the Messiah
3. He is precious - to God
4. And anyone who believes on Him shall not be confounded
5. Unto you that believe, He becomes precious
6. But unto the person that will NOT follow Him, nor obey Him:
   • He will be offensive
   • He will cause you to stumble and fall
   • It will be the worst day of your life when Jesus breaks you

F. How We Respond to the Truth About that Rock defines our lives, our society and our future

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III. Message

A. What We Left Behind (1 Peter 2:1)

1. As Christians, the moment we decided to follow Christ, we abandoned:

   • Malice - the desire to get even
   • Guile - lying
   • Hypocrisies - no double lives
   • Envies - we are content with what we have
   • Evil speakings - we don’t tear down others

2. We left all that behind

B. But Why? Why would we put all that away?

1. What could possibly be good enough to keep me from being like everyone else?

2. Because we found something much better - THREE better things:

   • The sincere milk of the word of God
   • The GRACE of the Lord Jesus towards us
   • And, a Stone that changed us

C. As a Christian, Peter tells us, “I am not ashamed”

1. Of the Rock that Humbled Me and Saved Me (1 Peter 1:23; 2:2-3)

• Think of Peter, stubborn, hard headed
• Religious, but lost
• Until he stumbled upon a Rock that humbled him and broke him
• There is no other way to be saved from your sin than to be exposed and humbled

2. Of the Foundation that I am built upon now (Isaiah 28:16; 1 Cor 3:11)

• Unmoving foundation
• Unchanging
• I have been a Christian for 37 years now, and I have not moved from religion to religion
• The sands of time shift; the storms blow; but the foundation remains sure

Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock. - Luke 6:47-48

3. Of the Life of worship and praise that I live now (1 Peter 2:5,9)

• Lively stones - active, living, not dead or apathetic
• You and I are now a spiritual house of worship and praise
• NEVER be ashamed of God’s calling on your life
• Worship because of who Jesus is - full stop!

4. Of the perfect Laws that I live by now (1 Peter 2:2,6-8)

• The Scripture
• Most may mock and reject and disobey the words of this Book… But not me!
• I am not ashamed of any of the words of this Book
• Why? Because I know its author

5. Of the Decisions that I make as a Christian now (1 Peter 2:9)

I have decided to do the hard things, like:

• To no longer live for myself, but for the Lord Jesus
• To abandon the darkness of my old life
• To protect the weak (Rom 15:1)
• To endure the hardnesses on this side of the Stone
• To lose my life for others to gain

6. Of all that I have left behind (1 Peter 2:1)

• The lying, the envies, the bitterness, the anger
• Nah! I wouldn’t go back if you paid me!

7. Of the Battles that I face (1 Peter 5:8-10)

• We all have a deadly enemy
• Our battles are Common to every believer
• But they are okay with us because of what is ahead!

8. I definitely am not ashamed of all the good things that lay ahead

• Spiritual, emotional growth
• Eternal glory - heaven!
• It will be worth it all!

D. What Have We Come To?

1. One thing and one thing only

2. A Living Stone - the Lord Jesus Christ - NOT Peter

   • Someone that is plainly Rejected of men
   • But chosen, truly elected by God
   • And Precious!

3. And He Transforms Us into Lively Stones

   • Built up as a spiritual house
   • An holy priesthood
   • Offering up spiritual sacrifices

4. But ONLY when we respond right!

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IV. Conclusion

A. Respond by believing this word - the Gospel

1. Allow God to expose and humble you and break you
2. Believe the bad news
3. So that you can believe the good news

B. If you Reject the Stone…

1. You will only continue to stumble and fall
2. You will only be more and more confounded, deceived, and ruined
3. And ultimately will lose everything - being ground to powder (Matthew 21:42-44)

C. What will you do with Jesus now?

1. Will you trust the Rock that broke you and humbled you and let Him save you and change you?
2. If you HAVE trusted Jesus as the Rock, make sure you live Unashamed