The Gospel Power!
The Gospel Power – Romans 1:16
“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” (Romans 1:16 KJV).
If you are reading this, how would you define power? What is power? Webster’s Dictionary of 1828 defines power as the following: “the faculty of moving or of producing a change in something.” Power is the ability to sustain change eternally.
Some individuals think money is “power.” There are positions in government, politics, corporations, education, religion, and athletics that as a society gives individuals power; however, do these things meet the definition of “power,” which is to sustain change eternally? No, they do not. My thought about money and these positions within these institutions of society is that they have an “illusion of power.” Anything that man creates, or starts, has an end. There is nothing that man creates that can sustain change for eternity. The power that man creates is an “illusion of power.” For this article, let us limit our scope of “power” to religion and Jesus Christ of the Bible.
We have witnessed pastors of organized religion try and create their “own” power. For example, Pentecostal preachers will “slay people in the spirit.” This is an example of the “illusion of power” within religion. Man cannot slay people in the spirit because the only way to receive the Holy Spirit is to trust in Christ alone. “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory” (Ephesians 1:13-14 KJV). When a person believes in Christ alone for salvation, they receive the Holy Spirit forever. The Holy Spirit seals each and every child of God guaranteeing their inheritance into Heaven.
Another example of an “illusion of power” is man cannot forgive other men of their sin. We have witnessed priests absolve individuals of sin; however, this is false, man cannot forgive sin. Only Jesus Christ can forgive sin. “When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee” (Mark 2:5 KJV).
Again, we have just read two examples of an “illusion of power” within organized religions. These examples and others within organized religion do meet the definition of power, which is to change something eternally. True power has an eternal change. The question we should be asking is “what has the power to change something eternally?” The answer is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Gospel of Jesus Christ changes each and every person’s eternal destiny the second they believe in Christ alone as their only hope of going to Heaven and not Hell.
The power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ eternally changes the destination of a person’s life forever! Yes, if a person trusts in Christ alone for salvation: believe Jesus Christ died on the Cross for their sins, burial, and resurrection, their eternal destination has changed. They are no longer going to Hell and forever going to Heaven. “For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist” (Colossians 1:9-17 KJV). That is POWER!
Let us focus on Colossian 1:13 (KJV), “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son.” When a person trusts in Christ alone for salvation, their eternal destination changes. Before a person believes in Christ alone for salvation, they were on the trajectory of going to Hell/Lake of Fire (eternally separated from God in Heaven). The very second a person believes in Christ alone for salvation, their eternal destination changes, their trajectory changes, and the believer is immediately going to Heaven and forever will be in Heaven with their Father and Savior. The power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ eternally changes the destination of every believer. That is POWER!
The Bible tells us not to be ashamed of the “testimony of our Lord.” Why? Because the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ gives life -eternal life! The power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ gives immortality. The power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ abolishes death (second death -spiritually separated from God). Not only does the Power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ abolish death, but it gives eternal life (life without ceasing, life without end) and immortality (never spiritually die, forever in the presence of our Father and Savior in Heaven). “Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day” (II Timothy 1:8-12 KJV). Abolishing death, and freely receiveing eternal life and immortality all happen through the Gospel. That is POWER!
When people read this article, I hope they noticed when it said, “Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.” The Gospel of Jesus Christ is, “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures” (I Corinthians 15:3-4 KJV). When a person trusts in Jesus Christ as their Savior, they can know they are immortal, they have eternal life (RIGHT NOW), and will never perish (NEVER EVER go to Hell/Lake of Fire). All are received by the Gospel of Jesus Christ. That is POWER!
Satan and false teachers want the power, and this is the reason why they keep the Gospel hid from the lost. “But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (II Corinthians 4:3-6 KJV). Why does Satan want to keep the Gospel hid from the lost? Because the Gospel of Jesus Christ is all-powerful, and it forever changes a person’s destiny. That is POWER!
The power to forever change a person’s trajectory, eternally change their destination is in 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” (Romans 1:16 KJV). The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the POWER OF GOD! “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God” (I Corinthians 1:18 KJV). That is POWER!
It is not man’s power or an “illusion of power”; it is the POWER of God, and that POWER is established in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. “Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when 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: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all” (Ephesians 1:15-23 KJV). Let us focus on Ephesians 1:19 (KJV), “And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power.” The power to change a person’s eternal destiny is given to those who believe in Christ alone for salvation. That is POWER!
When a person believes in Christ alone for salvation, it translates them from a Hell they deserve to a Heaven they do not. “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” (Romans 1:16 KJV). “Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins” (Colossians 1:12-14 KJV). That is POWER!
The power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ forever changes a person’s eternal destiny when a they believe in Christ alone for salvation. Let us believers celebrated the grace, the mercy, and the love of Jesus Christ. Let us believers celebrate that we will never go to Hell because Christ paid for ALL SIN, and it is HE who holds onto us! “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and my Father are one” (John 10:28-30 KJV). That is POWER!
Let us believers unleash the Power of God by sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Individuals need to stand up and preach the Word of God and let others know there is only ONE WAY to Heaven, and it is through Christ alone. “For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report” (Romans 10:11-16 KJV)?
Individuals need to let others know that if they believe “NOT” the Gospel of Jesus Christ, they shall perish for all eternity in Hell/Lake of Fire. “In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power” (II Thessalonians 1:8-9 KJV).
If you are reading this, we have a couple of questions for you? Do you want to go to Heaven? Do you want to know you have eternal life? Do you want to know that you can never lose your eternal life after you trust in Christ alone for salvation? Do you want to know that you will never go to Hell? “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God” (I John 5:13 KJV). Do you want to experience real power? Trust in the Gospel of Jesus Christ right now!
If you have never received Jesus Christ as Savior, what is stopping you right now from accepting Jesus Christ as your Savior? In your mind, you can say something, "I don't know everything; however, I know I am a sinner. I know I do not want to go to Hell when I die. I want to go to Heaven when I die. I believe that Jesus Christ died on the Cross for ALL my sins (past, present, and future), buried for me, and resurrected for me."
There is no confirmation, confession, communion, water baptism, church, pastor, priest, religion, or any good deeds that will pay for sin. The Christ, the Lamb of God was revealed in the flesh to take away the sins of the world. “The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29 KJV).
The payment for sin is death. “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23 KJV). Without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sins. “And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission” (Hebrews 9:22 KJV).
Trust in Jesus Christ as your only hope to save you from a Hell you deserve to a Heaven you do not deserve because only the Gospel of Christ can change your eternal destiny from eternal darkness to eternal light. "Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins" (Colossians 1:13-14 KJV).
Receive Jesus Christ as your Savior today and be born again and forever a child of God. "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God" (John 1:12-13 KJV).
The very second you place your faith in Christ alone, you receive eternal life, and you forever have eternal life because Christ paid for all your sins. When a person trusts in Christ alone for salvation, that person can "know" they are going to Heaven when they die because the Bible says they can "know." "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God" (I John 5:13 KJV).
THE PLAN OF SALVATION - THE GOSPEL
The Gospel is Jesus Christ died on the Cross for our sins (past, present, and future), He was buried, and He resurrected the third day to show us the payment for sin is paid in full.
I Corinthians 15:1-4: Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.
God loves you. Lord Savior Jesus Christ revealed Himself in the flesh for one reason: to save us from our sins. Jesus Christ does not come to condemn individuals. Jesus Christ comes to save us because we are all Hell doomed sinners without the Blood of Jesus Christ.
John 3:16-18: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
All individuals are sinners. The payment for sin is death.
Romans 3:23: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.
Romans 6:23: For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Christ died for your sin and resurrected for you.
II Corinthians 5:21: For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
I Corinthians 15:3-4: For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.
If you believe in Christ alone, you receive eternal life.
John 6:47: Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.
I John 5:13: These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
If you could be "saved" by being water baptized, doing good works, being a good person, or following the Ten Commandments? Why did (the God from Eternity Past, the God from Eternity Future) the Ever Presence Jesus Christ reveal Himself in the flesh and die on the Cross and resurrect the third day? No church can reconcile. No sacrament can save. No work or tradition of men can redeem. Only Jesus Christ can save a person from a Hell they deserve to a Heaven they do not deserve -all by grace!
Galatians 2:21: I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
If you could earn salvation by doing those things, then Jesus Christ died in vain. However, Jesus Christ did not die in vain. Jesus Christ made a perfect sacrifice for sin. He is the Lamb of God, and only the Lamb of God can make a perfect sacrifice for sin. There is only one way to Heaven, and it is the belief in the Finished Redemptive Work of Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 2:8-9: For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Philippians 3:9: And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.
Galatians 2:16: Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
Titus 3:5: Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.
The resurrection is proof God the Father accepted Jesus Christ's death payment for sin -death payment of past, present, and future sin: ALL SIN!
People DO NOT go to Hell because they are "bad." People go to Hell because they believe NOT the Gospel of Jesus Christ. People trust NOT in Jesus Christ as their Savior. People believe NOT Jesus Christ died on the Cross for their sins, burial, and resurrection. People do NOT trust alone in the finished redemptive work of Jesus Christ.
II Thessalonians 1:8-9: In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power.
Know that God is gracious to you. He has already died for all your sins (past, present, and future), He was buried for you showing all the world He died for your sins, and He was resurrected for you, showing all the world that Jesus Christ fulfilled what the Father asked Him to do: IT IS FINISHED! Your sins are paid in full. I pray you to believe in Jesus Christ right now for salvation -believe Jesus Christ died on the Cross for your sin, burial, and resurrection. Trust alone in Jesus Christ as your Savior. If you know someone who is "not saved," share the Gospel message with them or forward this message to them.
The Good News Voice is affiliated with The Grace Gospel Church. If you are looking for a Bible preaching, Gospel sharing, Body loving congregation, look no further. Join us in Taconite on Sundays at 9:30 AM. The Grace Gospel Church is the first building on the right when you turn into Taconite. We are live on Facebook at 10:00 AM if you are unable to join us in person. God bless, love Lance & Karla.
Pastor Lance Edminster
The Grace Gospel Church
The Good News Voice
Email: thegoodnewsvoice@gmail.com
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Once Saved, Always Saved: "And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. I and my Father are one" (John 10:28-30 KJV).
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