THE POWER OF THE GOSPEL

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith" (Romans 1:16-17).

Devotion 10 of 27

THE GOSPEL OF THE GLORY OF CHRIST

When Jesus died and His body was laid in the tomb, the world saw Him no more. That was their last exposure to Him. Jesus announced this would happen. "After a little while the world will behold Me no more; but you will behold Me; because I live, you shall live also" (John 14:19). After Jesus died, unbelievers never again saw Him. When He ascended to heaven, God withdrew the evidence of a risen Christ from the realm of flesh and blood! For those who demand evidence before they will believe, God provides no such confirmation. The proof of a risen and glorified Christ is in a message--the Gospel. If you do not BELIEVE that Gospel, there is no other proof of a glorified Christ available.

The Gospel announces that the Lord Jesus has been glorified; i.e., that He is risen and has been exalted, given all power in heaven and earth, and is reigning over all. The government has been placed upon His shoulder, and He is administrating it with precision and effectiveness, "bringing many sons to glory" (Isa 9:6-7; Heb 2:10).

Hear the refreshing affirmations of the Gospel. "Therefore being by the right hand of God EXALTED . . .The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath GLORIFIED His Son Jesus . . . He raised him from the dead, and SET HIM AT HIS OWN RIGHT HAND in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come . . . Wherefore God also hath HIGHLY EXALTED Him, and given Him a name which is above every name" (Acts 2:33; 3:13; Eph 1:20-21).

A Glorified Christ

The Gospel is the good news of a glorified Christ! "In their case the god of this world [Satan] has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of THE GOSPEL OF THE GLORY OF CHRIST, Who is the likeness of God" (2 Cor 4:4 NKJV). Jesus is no longer subject to the caprice of men. He has been exalted above every name that is named. He rules the world to implement His "great salvation." The Gospel proclaims a glorified and exalted Christ! He has been exalted "to give repentance . . . and forgiveness of sins" (Acts 5:31). Of this glorified Savior it is said, "who [those receiving Him] BY HIM do believe in God" (1 Pet 1:21).

Principalities and powers have all been "made subject" to the glorified Christ (1 Pet 3:22). He commands them with the salvation of His people in mind. He marshals the angelic hosts for their ministry, and restrains the powers of darkness. The glorified Christ is, in every sense of the word, "the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords" (1 Tim 6:15).

When Jesus came into this world, He laid aside His glory. When He returned to heaven, He took it up again. On the eve of His betrayal, He prayed for this to take place. "And now, O Father, glorify Thou me with Thine own Self with the glory which I had with Thee before the world was" (John 17:5). Indeed, that is precisely what the Father did! He did so because of the effectiveness of Christ's atoning death. In that death He "destroyed the devil" (Heb 2:14), and "spoiled principalities and powers, triumphing over them" in the cross (Col 2:15). He did, in fact, "put away sin" and "blotted out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us" (Heb 9:26; Col 2:14). Now God can be righteous in saving humanity. Because of Jesus, not one whit of God's holy character is forfeited or ignored in the salvation of men. This it is written He is "just, and the Justifier of him which believeth in Jesus" (Rom 3:26).

A glorified Christ is essential if we are to be saved. While historical accomplishments are the basis or foundation of our salvation, a risen and glorified Christ is implementing it. As it is written, "For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life" (Rom 5:10). This glorified Christ is presently interceding for us, thereby ensuring we will be saved "to the uttermost" (Heb 7:25). If, when He was upon the earth, He made effective intercession for Peter (Lk 22:31-32), what can be said of His intercession now that He has been glorified! Without the activity of a glorified Christ, we simply cannot be saved!

God be praised for a Gospel that announces a glorified Christ! May the Lord of the harvest raise up proclaimers who will shout the word of His glorification to a people sitting in great darkness.

PRAYER POINT: Father, I thank You for a glorified Christ, risen, exalted, and seated at Your right hand. Through Him I praise You for a Gospel that announces His glorification, thereby putting it within reach of faith.

-- TOMORROW: THE GOSPEL OF PEACE --