“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16)
“it is the power of God” (1Corinthans 1:18).
Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. (1 Corinthians 1:24).
“And what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might” (Ephesians 1:19).
“And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high” (Hebrews 1:9).
1 Corinthians 15:1-6: The Gospel:
1) “Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, 2) by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. 3) “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures…”
First importance! The summing up of God’s purpose: the redemption of His own, the culmination of the power and theme of the entire Bible—the Gospel, starting with Genesis!
The forgiveness of all sins! The removal of the guilt, the penalty, and overpowers the power of sin!
The power of the confidence we have via the prophecies of the Old Testament Scriptures: the foretold coming Gospel over 100 times!
2) “And that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,”
The power to bring life out of death; to raise the dead!
3) “and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6) After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time”
The power of over 512 witnesses to the reality of the risen Christ!
The Gospel has the power to turn despair into hope.
The gospel has the power to take a dead soul and give it life.
It has the power to move the condemned to the ultimate end: the hope of glory!
It heals, creates order out of chaos, restores relationships, mends marriages!
The Gospel gives strength to the weary! To him who lacks might, He increases power!
It gives meaning and purpose to life, gives joy and peace in the midst of darkness!
What unimaginable power! It is life changing!
We could go on and on, acknowledging the power of the Gospel.
What it doesn’t do? It does not impose on us the will to embrace it.
That is up to you and me.
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