NO SHAME

“For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame” (Rom. 10:11 NKJV).

This is one of three references in Scripture which states that those who believe in the Lord will not be ashamed (cf. Isa. 49:23; Rom. 9:33; 10:11). Being ashamed can result in all kinds of emotions. However, we want to note two prominent shame emotions that are not present in salvation. They are dishonor and discomfort.

Shame involves dishonor - To be shamed is to be dishonored. Yet our verse says that believing in the Lord Jesus Christ which results in salvation does not bring dishonor to a person. Of course, we are not talking here about worldly honor and dishonor since many in this world ridicule and scorn salvation. A person who believes in the Lord Jesus may indeed be dishonored and shamed in this world because of their faith in Christ. The world habitually discredits faith in Christ. However, this is nothing compared to being shamed for eternity. Those who reject the Lord Jesus Christ will be dishonored before the judgment bar of God and will suffer dishonor for all eternity. On the other hand, salvation, which comes by believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, will never be dishonored before God. The saved will never be dishonored by God. What salvation provides is eternal honor. Indeed, it will be glory for us.

Shame involves discomfort - It is most uncomfortable to be embarrassed or shamed. As a result, most folks will often go to great extremes to keep from being shamed and embarrassed before others. But our verse says that salvation, i.e. believing in the Lord Jesus Christ will not bring shame, and therefore, will not bring discomfort to the believer. Of course, we are speaking here of eternal discomfort, not earthly discomfort. When a person believes on the lord Jesus Christ and receives Him their Lord and Savior, they will escape the terrible discomfort of an eternal hell. No discomfort is greater than the fire of hell. And for the unbeliever, this discomfort will continue forever. But “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame” – they shall not be discomforted in eternity.

(Adapted from Butler’s Daily Bible Reading 2)

Soli Deo Gloria (To God Alone Be The Glory)

Quotation of the Week

“Grace means that all of your mistakes now serve a purpose instead of serving shame!”

Timothy Keller (1950 - 2023)

American Christian Pastor, Author, Theologian, and Christian Apologist

Word Study

Field

In Matt. 13:44 we read, “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field” (NKJV).

“Field” is the Greek word agrós (ἀγρός = ag-ros'). It means the country, or a piece of land. We get our English word agriculture from this word. In classical Greek agrós denotes a field and is mostly used in the plural as in fields or lands. It can also be used for farms or country places. In the Septuagint agrós is used to refer to a field, the country, or a piece of ground. In the New Testament agrós also carries the idea of a field or an area of ground that is cultivated and used mainly for agriculture. While there are a variety of interpretive views, based on the context, it seems best to understand this to be a reference to Israel, God’s “special treasure” (cf. Ex. 19:5; Psalm 135:4). One reason the Lord Jesus came into the world was to redeem Israel. Thus, He could be viewed as the One who sold all He had, i.e., the glories of heaven (cf. John 17:5; 2 Cor. 8:9; Phil. 2:5-8) in order to purchase the treasure.

Did You Know…

According to Israelite law if a man gave you the coat off his back as payment for a loan, you were to give it back to him at night so he can sleep in it (Deut. 24:12-13).

Bible Quiz

The Israelites were permitted to eat meat, but which part of the animal were they not permitted to eat?

**Answer to last week’s Bible Quiz

According to the Book of Proverbs what will happen to “Whoever rewards evil for good?” “Evil will not depart from his house” (Prov. 17:13)

Prophecies Fulfilled by the Lord Jesus Christ

The Son of God (2 Sam. 7:14) – Prefigures the Lord Jesus Christ as the Son of God (cf. Luke 1:32; Rom. 1:3-4)

"I will be his Father, and he shall be My son. If he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men and with the blows of the sons of men” (2 Sam. 7:14 NJKV).

In context, the immediate reference is to Solomon, but the writer of the Book of Hebrews quotes this verse as being fulfilled in the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the Son of God in the highest sense (cf. 1:5; Matt. 3:17). When Solomon did wrong, God did chastise and punish him (1 Kings 11:14-24). In fact, it was because of Solomon’s sin that the kingdom was torn from his hand and split into two nations (1 Kings 12:16-20). On the other hand, the Lord Jesus Christ never committed iniquity, but “He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities,” for “the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all” (Isa. 53:5, 6). God’s fatherly love would never be taken away from the Lord Jesus, with the result that David’s dynasty would not end as Saul’s had. And while the throne of David ended in 586 B.C. with Zedekiah, the last king of Judah, the line of David continued and brought the Lord Jesus Christ the Son of God into the world (Matt. 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-38). This means that the covenant is secure, and will be fulfilled in the Messiah, the Son of David. Indeed, David’s house and his kingdom will endure forever before the Lord.

Did You Know – Christian History

Agnes was born in A.D. 291 in Roman. She was a young Christian martyred during the reign of the Roman Emperor Diocletian.

All the accounts we have of the life of Agnes involve the fate of a beautiful young girl born to wealthy Christian parents. A consecrated virgin, Agnes saw Christ as her only spouse and refused to marry, even the governor’s son. During the reign of Roman Emperor Diocletian, Christianity was condemned as a cult. He resolved to wipe out Christianity, and called for the destruction of churches and the burning of books. Both clergy and laity were imprisoned and tortured for refusing to worship the emperor. One of Agnes’ rejected admirers took revenge by reporting Agnes to the authorities. A judge ordered that Agnes be dragged naked through the streets to a brothel. According to legend, her hair miraculously grew to cover her nakedness, and a man attempting to violate her was struck blind. She remained prayerful throughout her ordeal, adamant in her faith, and unconcerned by any means of torture. Refusing to renounce Jesus as Lord, Agnes was beheaded at the age of 13 in A.D. 304.

Her body was put into a crypt on the Via Nomentana and a larger catacomb with her name developed around her tomb. A basilica was built over her grave during the reign of Constantine through his daughter’s efforts. Today the name of St. Agnes still occurs in the Canon of the Mass with other early martyrs. St. Augustine praised her for her youthful courage and noted that the name Agnes meant “pure” in Greek, and “lamb” in Latin. The innocence and gentleness of a lamb, combined with the strength to proclaim the divinity of Christ on an awe-inspiring, public scale - this is the legacy of St. Agnes. Whether young or old, married or unmarried, St. Agnes encourages us to be bold in living a life of purity and in defending it even in a hostile, secular culture. Although many details of her life cannot be corroborated, Agnes is an inspiration to all of us called to peacefully evangelize and stand up for the truth amidst hatred and rebellion. The tremendous strength she exhibited before she died for Christ is an inspiration to all Christians and encourages us to know that God is with the lowly and downtrodden.

A Little Humor

After giving the church notices, the chairman at the Sunday service says to the congregation, “The pastor will preach his farewell message, after which the choir will sing, “Break Forth With Joy.”

Thought Provoking Church Sign

“Is your life a fixer upper? Jesus is a master re-modeler!”