The Power of God! 

I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation

to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 

For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith;

as it is written, "But the righteous man shall live by faith.  Romans 1:16-17 

Throughout history there are countless stories of men and women whose lives have been changed by the gospel of Jesus Christ.  These stories are not mere fables and fairy tales but true accounts of where God opens the eyes of people to behold and believe the truth of Christ.  While some of these men and women went on to change the course of mankind by the sovereign hand of God working in and through them, most lived their lives in obscurity but with simplicity and purity of devotion to their Savior and as a result the good news kept spreading. 

How could some good news of one who had died for others effect and change so many lives and be continuing to do so some two thousand years later?  How indeed!  First, we must realize that the gospel of Jesus Christ is not just another religious program of enlightenment and spiritual realization.  In a day and age where there are hundreds (even thousands) of selections on the religious smorgasbord table for people to choose from, the gospel of Jesus Christ does not belong there.  The religions of the world are programs of men attempting to get right with God on their own terms; the gospel of Jesus Christ is God coming to man declaring reconciliation, righteousness, forgiveness, and life on His terms – through the cross of Jesus Christ.  Mankind, in their sin, could not make it to God regardless of how hard they try.  God had to come to man. 

Second, we must realize just what this gospel of Jesus Christ is.  It is not just a nice story of love to tell children.  It is not a program to follow to be a positive thinker.  It is not just a set of beliefs that one pledges to and holds.  What is the gospel of Jesus Christ?  The gospel IS the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes!  As Kenneth Wuest says, “The gospel is the inherent, omnipotent power of God operating in the salvation of a lost soul that accepts it.”  When the gospel of Jesus Christ grabs hold of a person it changes them – it is resurrection power.  The gospel believed breaks the power of sin over a person’s life, not because of the person who believes, but because of the One whom we believe in – Jesus Christ, our Victor! 

The gospel of Jesus Christ is the power of God for salvation.  The gospel of Jesus Christ is God’s power to free us from the oppression and tyranny of sin.  The gospel frees us from the penalty of sin that is over every man and women and thus the gospel believed declares us “not guilty” by the blood of Christ.  The gospel frees us from the power of sin that our flesh struggles with every day because the gospel believed freed us from our sinful nature and filled us with the divine (the Holy Spirit).  The gospel will free us from the very presence of sin on the earth when our Lord Jesus Christ returns for those who are His thus the gospel believed makes us more like Him. 

O my friend, do you know the power of God for salvation?  Can you be counted among the many throughout history whose lives have been changed by the gospel of Christ?  If so, then thank God for it and proclaim it to others.  Yet, maybe you are struggling at this very moment because of something you’ve done and find yourself weighed down by the burden of sin?  If so, look to Jesus Christ and embrace the good news, your life will never be the same. 

Long my imprisoned spirit lay,

Fast bound in sin and nature’s night;

Thine eye diffused a quick’ning ray,

I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;

My chains fell off, my heart was free;

I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.

Amazing love, how can it be,

That Thou my God should die for me!

-Charles Wesley (1701-1788)

By God's Grace ~ Through God's Word ~ For God's Glory!

Chuck Long

©God’sGWG
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Please include the following statement on any distributed copy: By Chuck Long. ©God’sGWG. Website: www.Godsgwg.com. Email: Godsgwg@juno.com

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