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 17 of 27

THE VEHICLE--A MESSAGE

The appointed means unto salvation is a message! -- a report of something that has already been accomplished. It is something achieved in the behalf of, and for, fallen humanity. The belief of that message will bring the desired salvation. The perception of the uniqueness of this arrangement brings joy to the heart. God has chosen to unleash His power through a message--a proclamation that can be gladly received, and in which we continue delight.

Adapted to Our Condition

It is important to see how perfectly this adapts to salvation by faith. Israel SAW God's power in the Egyptian plagues and their deliverance from Egypt. They perceived it in the parting of the Red Sea and the drowning of their enemies. The children of the first covenant saw water gush from a rock, and angel's bread fall from heaven. Power was around them, but not within them! The great wonders they beheld have never been duplicated on the scale they experienced. Yet, the mighty signs and wonders they beheld made no change in their character, no moral transformation, and created no reliance upon the Lord.

The Glory of the Power

Think again of the glory of the power of the Gospel! Great and mighty things were wrought by the death of Christ--but none of them were seen with the eye or heard with the hearing of the ear! No one saw the world reconciled (2 Cor 5:18-20). Jesus being made sin for us and becoming a curse for us was unseen--completely unseen (2 Cor 5:21; Gal 3:13). The spoiling of principalities and powers (Col 2:15), the destruction of the devil (Heb 2:14), and the blotting out of the handwriting of ordinances that was against us (Col 2:14) were NOT apparent! They were the result of Divine power, but men could neither see nor appropriate that power when the events occurred. No one saw peace being made with God, the sins of the world being out away, or death being conquered. Yet all of that, and more, occurred.

Power Through Believing

Now Divine power is realized by believing a message! "The Gospel of Christ IS the power of God unto salvation to everyone that BELIEVES!" -- not to everyone that sees! Faith can appropriate Divine power, but sight cannot! Faith can lay hold of salvation, to which the senses have no access!

God wants to be understood (Jer 9:23-24), and therefore is favorably inclined to those who receive His good news. Their unreserved belief of this Gospel experientially removes the obstacles that sin raised between them and God, thereby allowing the experience of His power. As Jesus Himself said, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes" (Mark 9:23).

God gave Pharaoh something to see, and He did not believe. To those who will be saved, God gives a message--a word that announces He has done something about their situation. "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed" (John 20:29).

PRAYER POINT: Father, thank You through Jesus Christ for not only taking matters into our own hands, but for putting the result in a message that can be believed. Lord, I believe, help Thou my unbelief!

-- Tomorrow: ERRONEOUS VIEW OF THE POWER --