The preaching of the Gospel has a power that goes beyond human oratory.
It is not the power in the voice of the preacher. We are told that when the message of the crucified and risen Jesus is communicated, the energy of God is present and it is capable of transferring those who are in the sphere of the flesh, outside of Christ, into the sphere of life and light, redemption and salvation.
As a theologian, I am quick to contend with people who speak of the Gospel as if it were only a kind of religious feeling divorced from the message of the crucified and risen Jesus. The Gospel is a message. It has content. It refers to historical events: the death of Jesus and His resurrection from the grave.
On top of that, not only is the gospel a story or message, but it is also, in the New Testament, frequently associated with the word “power.”
Paul believed in the power of the Gospel.
Look at Romans 1:16, for example:
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes…
Paul reminded his readers of this association in 1 Corinthians 1:18 and 24:
For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God… to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
You also see this in 1 Corinthians 2:4-5:
… my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the spirit and of power, so that your faith should not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.
What does the Gospel’s power mean for you?
The Gospel, when it is shared, has the power to save. We should never think that there is a situation in life into which the Gospel cannot penetrate and where its saving work cannot be done. Do not give up hope. Do not quit praying, and do not cease living out the Gospel in your own life as an example to others. There is no environment or circumstance out of which the Gospel cannot be lived.
Related blogs:
- There is Hope. Here’s Why.
- Are you a beacon of hope in the world?
- Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews
The preceding was adapted by Rachel Motte from a sermon Dr. Robert Sloan delivered at Tallowood Baptist Church on May 13, 1990.