Words Of Power
(16)I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. (17)For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.” Romans 1:16-17
Did you know that the word “power” used here is the same word from which we get our word dynamite? Paul sets the thesis of the Book of Romans by claiming that every man and woman who are or will ever be saved are saved by faith. He even pulls up a quote out of the Old Testament to show that it has always been that way.
The Gospel is a message of simple faith. It is not all inclusive of the Bible. Sure the Bible is Gospel, but the specific “Gospel” or “Good News” is that we have a God who became flesh to prepare Himself as a sacrifice for our sins. And, on that cross, He died to pay my sin penalty. But death could not keep Him. On the third day He arose from the grave of His own power, proving Him to be the Son of God. And, by His resurrection, He gave us the power of hope that we too, would one day be raised. After some time, He ascended back into heaven from which He came, but this time He takes a different role. He took His blood sacrifice offered on the cross, made propitiation or satisfaction atonement for our sins and sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on High working as our High Priest. And then, with a promise that He will not leave us behind, He will return to raise the dead in Christ and change the living to live with Him for all eternity.
Such a short paragraph for such a dynamic (powerful) message! It is that message which has been harvesting people from the darkness of the world into the light of hope for more than two-thousand years now. And, it is as powerful today as it was when His disciples in the first century spoke it.
It is not the preacher of the message who is powerful. God can unleash His power into a world of darkness through the mouth of anyone who wants to tell the story.
Want to have some fun? Want to blow something up? Well, just tell the message and Satan will be blown right back into his domain of hell in the life of the one to whom you speak. Powerful Words!