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. . . 

Romans 1:16

The word "Gospel" actually means "good news." When we speak of the Gospel in a Biblical sense, it refers to the good news of the Kingdom of God and of salvation through Jesus Christ. The basic elements of the Gospel are summarized by Apostle Paul:

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.   1 Corinthians 15:3-4

The basic elements of the Gospel focus on the life and ministry of Jesus. It includes His death for the sins of all mankind, His burial, and His resurrection from the dead according to the written record of God's Word. There is great power in the Gospel message.  Apostle Paul said:

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. For the wrath of God is revealed from Heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.   Romans 1:16-19

These verses reveal why the Gospel is powerful. It is powerful because:

→      It is the revelation of God's power to man.

→      It brings salvation to all men, regardless of race, color, or creed.

→       It reveals that which may be known by men about God.

→      It reveals the judgment and wrath of God against sin.

→       It reveals the righteousness of God.

→       It shows how to be justified by faith.

→      It is the basis of the faith by which we live.

The power of the Gospel is inseparable from the power of the cross and the blood shed upon it.

The cross was the instrument of Christ's death, the wooden construction upon which Jesus died.  The power of the cross is not in the wooden structure itself. The power is not in any symbol of the cross which we wear or put on our church buildings. The power of the cross is in what happened on that cross. 

It is in the blood of Jesus which was shed on the cross 

for the sins of all mankind.

The word of God teaches that the life of man and beasts is in the blood 

For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.

For it is the life of all flesh; the blood of it is for the life thereof: therefore I said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall eat the blood of no manner of flesh: for the life of all flesh is the blood thereof: whosoever eateth it shall be cut off.   Leviticus 17:11, 14 

Because the penalty 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

. . . and since life is in the blood, God established the principle that forgiveness of sins comes only through the shedding of blood:

And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission [from sin].  Hebrews 9:22

In the Old Testament, the blood of animals was offered as a sacrifice for sin. The blood sacrifices were made over and over again whenever man sinned. But in the New Testament, God the father entered the scene as God the son, Jesus, to shed His blood for sin once and for all.

Jesus was the final sacrifice. 

It is no longer necessary that the blood of animals be offered as sacrifice for sin:

Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood He entered in ONCE into the holy place, having obtained ETERNAL redemption for us.  Hebrews 9:12

The power of the cross is in the blood of Jesus. What spiritual power is in that blood? The blood:

Ø    Was shed for the remission (forgiveness) of sins for many:	Matthew 26:28
Ø    Brought redemption from sin:	Ephesians 1:7; 2:13; I Peter 1:2,18-19; Revelation 5:6-9
Ø    Is precious, because it redeemed us:	I Peter 1:18-19
Ø    Cleanses us from sin	I John 1:7
Ø    Purges our conscience from sin:	Hebrews 9:14
Ø    Speaks for us: Jesus is our intercessor and His blood cries or speaks for us:	Hebrews 12:24
Ø    Gives access to God's presence so we can approach Him:	Hebrews 9:12; 10:19-22; Ephesians 2:13
Ø    Made Jesus the mediator between God and man:	Hebrews 12:24
Ø    Sanctifies us:	Hebrews 13:12-13
Ø    Is the means of justification:	Romans 3:24-25
Ø    Is the cup of spiritual blessings:	I Corinthians 10:16
Ø    Redeems us from sin and sickness:	Isaiah 53:4
Ø    Backs Christ's promises:  When Jesus took the cup of wine and said "This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you." he was saying "Every promise that is part of that covenant will be kept at the cost of My own lifeblood":	Luke 22:20
Ø    Is the power behind the resurrection of Jesus	Hebrews 13:20
Ø    Brings life:	John 6:53-57
Ø    Enables us to do God's will:	Hebrews 13:20-21
Ø    Enables us to overcome all the power of the enemy:	Revelation 12:11
Ø    Provides protection: When the blood of the Passover lamb was placed on the doors of  the Israelites in Egypt, evil could not enter:	Exodus 12:21-23

These are the reasons Apostle Paul said:  

For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.   1 Corinthians 1:18

  

Study the gospels so you can understand the awesome working of its power contained in these writings!

(Biblical Studies)

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