THE GOSPEL MESSAGE
 
    Volume 48   Number 5                                                         May 2006
Editor and Publisher - Thomas W. Woody

The Power of God
Kevin Ferguson
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.” (Romans 1:16)


The great power of God is shown through His salvation of man. Before revealing His power to save through the gospel, God had demonstrated His power in an infinite number of ways. It was first displayed in creation. The heavens and the earth, light, vegetation, sun, moon, stars, and creatures of the land, air and water were created in the first five days. On the sixth day, God’s power was exhibited as He formed man out of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life (Genesis 2:7) Psalm 33:6-9 describes creation and God’s power with these words, “By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth. … Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him. For He spoke, and it was done. He commanded, and it stood fast.”


 The power of God continued to be demonstrated as He, delivered Israel from the bondage of Egypt, led them across the Red Sea and through the wilderness, and helped them take possession of His gift to them - the promised land of Canaan. God’s power was well known to Israel and the other nations of the world by His rule and victories over His enemies (those who served other gods). “…How awesome are Your works! Through the greatness of Your power Your enemies shall submit themselves to You” (Psalm 66:3). “He rules by His power forever…” (Psalm 66:7). “He has declared to His people the power of His works, in giving them the heritage of the nations” (Psalm 111:6). “… He saved them for His name’s sake, that He might make His mighty power known” (Psalm 106:8). 

God saved Israel so His mighty power would be known. God’s power to save is shown in an even greater way today through Christ and His gospel. This salvation is spiritual and this gift is eternal life. In the Old Testament, we find God’s power shown in physical, external ways visible to the eyes of humans. In the gospel, we find God’s power shown in spiritual, internal ways visible through the eyes of faith. In the Old Testament, we find God’s power shown by His authority and conquests. In the gospel, we find God’s power shown through peace. This peace with God comes through the blood of Christ, allowing man to be reconciled back to God (Colossians 1:20). This peace with God comes when we are justified by faith in Christ (Romans 5:1). Christ is our peace, having broken down the middle wall of separation and preached peace to both Jew and Gentile (Ephesians 2:14-17). We understand that God’s authority has not at all diminished in the gospel, however His power through peace seems to receive a greater emphasis. The relationship between power and peace in the gospel is interesting to consider. It is a gospel of peace (Romans 10:15, Ephesians 6:15) as well as the power of God unto salvation (Romans 1:16).

The power of God works today on the hearts, souls, and minds of men and women to convince and convert them by the truth of the gospel. The apostle Peter conveyed this truth in the following two passages: “… God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ” (Acts 2:36). Again speaking of Jesus, he said, “nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). The seed is planted, and faith is produced in the hearer. This faith in the heart leads to confession with the mouth (Romans 10:10, Acts 8:37). This faith in the heart also leads to repentance, involving both a regret for past sins and a commitment to reform our life by following Christ. According to Colossians 2:12, both our faith and the working (power) of God is demonstrated in baptism. How does God work in baptism? The Scriptures teach our sins are forgiven, we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, put on Christ, and are saved in baptism (Acts 2:38, Galatians 3:27, I Peter 3:21). By His power, God has now “conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins” (Colossians 1:13-14).

God works through His power, not only in the initial stages of bringing one to Christ, but also in our living and growing as a Christian. Our faith is not in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God (I Corinthians 2:5). After having been spiritually born to a living hope and an incorruptible inheritance reserved in heaven for us, we are then kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation (I Peter 1:3-5). May we continue to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, according to the power that works in us (Ephesians 3:16, 20).

Whether we look backward thousands of years to the beginning of creation or forward thousands of years into the future of eternity, we know that God’s eternal power and divine nature are evident in every past, present, and future day. As we consider the many ways God’s power has been displayed, let us especially appreciate His power on a personal level in our salvation and spiritual walk. May we allow the power of God to bring peace to us - peace with God, self, and others.

“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you” (James 4:8).

“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13).


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