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Power of the Gospel

Power of the Gospel

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I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes. – Romans 1:16

Crucifixion was a most shameful way to die. The condemned individual was stripped of both clothing and dignity, nailed to a wooden cross, and left there to die slowly over the course of hours or days. It was an execution reserved for only the very worst of criminals.

With all this in mind, you might expect the early Christians to have been ashamed or even embarrassed about what had happened to Jesus. Instead, from the very beginning, the message of Jesus’ suffering and death on the cross has been at the heart and core of Christianity.

As he addresses a group of Christians in Rome, the apostle Paul even calls Jesus’ suffering and death “the gospel,” which means “good news!” He writes, “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.”

How could Paul and other Christians be so positive about the shameful death of Jesus? The answer is that by Jesus’ death, God was accomplishing something wonderful for all people.

The prophet Isaiah put it like this: “He was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.” The reason Jesus died that shameful death on the cross was to take away all our sins—our lust, pride, selfishness and greed…every cruel word we have said to hurt other people…every wicked action for which we are ashamed and wish we could take back. All these sins, for which we deserve to be punished, were placed on Jesus and he took the punishment in our place.

Jesus’ suffering and death on the cross means that we are saved from God’s punishment for our sins. It means that relying on Jesus as our Savior we can look forward to eternal life in heaven that our Savior has prepared for us.

Thank God for the message of the gospel, “the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.” Powerful enough to wash away our sins. Powerful enough to bring us home to heaven one day. Powerful enough, and important enough, for us to rely on Jesus alone for salvation

The Gospel: God’s living and active power 

  • Romans 1:16-17: Defines the gospel as God’s power unto salvation for believers.
  • 1 Corinthians 1:18, 2:4-5: Describes the message of the cross as the “power of God,” demonstrated through the Spirit.
  • 1 Thessalonians 1:5: Highlights the gospel comes with “power, the Holy Spirit, and deep conviction”.
  • Colossians 1:5-6: Describes the gospel as bearing fruit and increasing worldwide.
  • Hebrews 4:12: Defines the word of God as “living and active,” having transformative influence.
  • Acts 1:8: Promises the Holy Spirit provides power for witness.
  • 2 Timothy 1:7-8: Connects the gospel to a spirit of “power, love, and self-discipline”.
  • Matthew 24:14 & Revelation 14:6: Emphasize the global proclamation of the “gospel of the kingdom”.
Human wisdom vs. Gospel

Human Wisdom versus the Gospel

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The foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom. – 1 Corinthians 1:25

Author David Platt, in his book, Radical, tells the story of what happened when he was standing outside of a Buddhist temple in Indonesia.  As he stood there, he got into a conversation with two people—a Buddhist leader and a Muslim leader. Both of them embraced what seemed to be very reasonable belief.  They believed that, while there were superficial differences among the major religions, all of them basically taught the same thing.  Then they asked David Platt what he thought.

He said, “It sounds as though you both picture God…at the top of a mountain.  It seems as if you believe that we are all at the bottom of the mountain, and I may take one route up the mountain, you may take another, and in the end we will all end up in the same place.”

To this the Buddhist and the Muslim said, “Exactly! You understand!”

But then he leaned in and said, “Now let me ask you a question.  What would you think if I told you that the God at the top of the mountain actually came down to where we are?  What would you think if I told you that God doesn’t wait for people to find their way to him, but instead he comes to us?”

They both thought for a moment and then responded, “That would be great!”

David Platt then replied, “Let me introduce you to Jesus.”

Current human wisdom believes that all forms of spirituality are essentially the same.  Such a belief seems logical.  Without question it’s very convenient.  And it’s dead wrong.

Never forget how radical the message of the Gospel really is.  It’s not about our getting up to God.  It’s about God coming down to us.  It’s not about making ourselves holy before God.  It’s about God living a holy life in our place.  And it’s not about cleansing ourselves of our wrongs.  It’s about God going to the cross to wash our sins away.

When it comes to human reason versus the Gospel, the Gospel wins every time. Thank God.

 

Bible Verses on Human Wisdom vs. The Gospel

  • 1 Corinthians 1:18-25: These verses explain that the message of the cross is deemed “foolishness” by the world, yet it is the power of God, with God’s “foolishness” being wiser than human wisdom.
  • 1 Corinthians 2:4–5: Paul emphasizes that his message relied on the Spirit’s power, not persuasive human wisdom, so that faith would rest on God.
  • 1 Corinthians 2:13: Highlights that spiritual truths are communicated through the Spirit, not taught by human wisdom.
Called by the Gospel

Gospel

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What does this mean? “Gospel”

The Gospel is the good news that God sent his Son Jesus to take away the sins of the world or one of the first four books of the New Testament which recount the words, life, suffering, death, and resurrection of our Savior. The word gospel is sometimes used in a broad sense to include all the teachings of the Bible. This is our good news, the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Yours and mine!

Explore Bible verses emphasizing the Gospel

  • 1 Corinthians 15:3–4 – Defines the core message: Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection for sins.
  • John 3:16 – Explains God’s love and the promise of eternal life through faith.
  • Romans 1:16 – Highlights the gospel as God’s powerful message for salvation.
  • Ephesians 2:8–9 – Emphasizes salvation as a free gift of grace, not earned by works.
  • 2 Corinthians 5:21 – Explains the substitutionary atonement, where Jesus takes on sin so people can be righteous.

Sin is Our Problem

  • Romans 3:23: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
  • The Penalty: The cost of that sin is death.
  • Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
  • The Provision: God provided a way through Jesus.
  • Romans 5:8: “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
  • The Promise: Believe and confess to be saved.
  • Romans 10:9: “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Jesus is the Solution

  • Romans 5:1: “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
  • Romans 8:1: “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

 

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When Jesus Calls
featured in the May 2026 issue of  Forward in Christ

The One who once said, “Come,” now powerfully says, “Go.”