The Power of the Gospel

“For 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.” Romans 1:16

We are a power-conscious people. Businessmen meet for “power lunches.” Politicians strive to gain ever increasing legislative power. Individuals with common causes group together to wield more clout. The military spends billions to develop and deploy Armageddon-scale weaponry. But there has never been - and will never be - anything that rivals the awesome power of the Gospel.

The Gospel has the power to deliver from death. Because Christ paid the penalty of sin - which is death - and emerged from the tomb, the Gospel is the only power that can liberate mankind from the horror of eternal, spiritual death. The Gospel alone can transfer a man from the domain of death and darkness into the kingdom of life and light (Col. 1:13).

It has the power to liberate from sin’s bondage. Through the indwelling Holy Spirit, the power of the Gospel transforms our behavior, unchanging us from the grip of habits and passions. We are free to obey a new Master.

The Gospel also has the power to radically alter every relationship. Rather than striving for self-dominance or self-protection, the Gospel empowers man to reorient his life toward selfless giving, living, loving, and serving.

“For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:18