Dedicated To The Men of God Who Preach the Word of God As It
Is To Men As They Are
"Preach The Word"
The Power of the Gospel
Dr. Tom Walker- President Foothills Baptist Bible College
Pastor- Zion Hill Baptist Church in Marion, NC
Romans 1:16 says, "For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first and also to the Greek."
Introduction:
This verse attests to the power of the message of the Gospel of Christ. There is nothing more powerful as a life-changing element in this world than the good news of Jesus' virgin birth, His substitutionary death, and His glorious resurrection. The power of the atomic bomb is almost unbelievable. Scientists are still studying the effects of the two atomic bombs that were dropped on Nagasaki and Hiroshima on the health of those who survived the attacks. The number of people killed by the radioactive blasts number between 150,000 and 246,000 people. Buildings were leveled by the power of the radioactive blasts. Yet, the Gospel is more powerful that those bombs.
The Apostle Paul was not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ. Shame is brought about by something that is shameful. There is nothing embarrassing about the Gospel that would cause us to want to hide or conceal it. We should readily present the message with ease since it is the one that originated from the Lord, because it is the Gospel of God.
There are so many things in our society which make us ashamed (I am not ashamed of our nation, but I am embarrassed at many in our country that are seeking to undermine the foundations of our democracy, as it is prescribed in the Constitution of the United States). Some of our politicians would have our government to rule everything, thus losing many of our lives and freedoms.
The Bible calls the Gospel message "the power of God unto salvation." Eternal life is evidently in the Word that is preached. A good example would be the seed and the harvest. When you see a handful of tiny seeds, you cannot see the harvest that will come from them at the time, but later when they are put into the ground, and there is sufficient warmth and moisture, a harvest will come from those tiny seeds. The potential is there even if we don't see it.
That word "power" is the Greek word "dunamis". The root word from which "dunamis" originates is translated in our King James Bibles in the following ways, "be able" and "be possible." It is used to speak of a powerful force or it can be used in reference to a miracle. It is also used to speak of an unusual ability. Nothing has the ability to change lives like the taught and preached Gospel of Jesus Christ, which is part of the inspired, God breathed book the Bible.
Romans 10:17 says, "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." No one is ever saved without hearing the glorious message of the Word of God.
1 Thessalonians 2:13 declares, "For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe."
Here are four reasons why I believe in the power of the Gospel message:
It is Divinely Ordained (Rom.1:1)
Man in his plans often miscalculates because he does not know everything like the Lord; we are not omniscient or all knowing. Anything man formulates and originates can fail. But, God knew the Gospel would not fail in what He had planned it to do.
Assured of the Gospel that God originated and ordained, it is no wonder Paul wrote in Galatians 1:9, "As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed."
To be against the good news of Christ is to be against the God who originated the news. Due to the important of the message of truth to the Lord, when it is mispreached and misused, the one doing so should be accursed. They are standing between God and the salvation of sinners. Men go to hell if they embrace a false message concerning the grace of God and believe not Christ for salvation.
It is Deadness Destroying
Ephesians 2:5 tells us, "Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)." Compare Romans 5:12 which says, "Death has passed upon all men for that all have sinned." The sinner without Christ is spiritually dead in his trespasses and his sins. Jesus said, "I am come that they might have life and have it more abundantly (Jn.10:10)." The dead sinner must come to the place of repentance and faith so he can receive spiritual life through Christ (Jn.14:6). Unbelief brings death but the message of Jesus brings endless life. No dead sinner can become alive without hearing the Gospel message.
It is Devil Defeating
Satan is now the little god of this present world (2 Cor.4:4). He deceived Adam and Eve into sinning against God through them partaking of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. They were tricked into going against the will of God. Men would die physically and spiritually because of what happened in the Garden of Eden.
The only hope for man was the Lord Jesus coming to earth through a virgin birth. By the way, the Gospel involves the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus *hrist (1 Cor.15:1-3). It is through what Christ did on the cross the head of the serpent (the devil) was bruised.
Allegorically speaking as one great preacher of old said, "He took the Devil's head off in the resurrection." Now Jesus says, "Because I live, he shall live also." 1 John 3:8 says, "For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil." That word "destroy" means "to break up and do away with; bruising and crushing the serpent's head." Adam Clarke wrote, " That he might loose, the bonds of sin, and dissolve the power, influence, and connection of sin."
It is Domination Defying
Romans 6:14 declares, "For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace." Who is the Apostle Paul referring to in this verse? The born again children of God are referred to here. It is those who believed the Gospel of Christ who can refuse the control of sin. In regard to the believer, sin has lost its absolute and uncontrolled power.
From Dr. Tom Walker
Site created by Tom Walker