Articles
Gospel Power
The word gospel means “good news.” The gospel is the good news of God’s offer of salvation through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). It contains facts to be believed, commands to be obeyed, and promises to be enjoyed (Mark 16:15-16).
The gospel is powerful, divinely powerful. It has the power. . .
To save. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew and also to the Greek” (Romans 1:16). Some see no spiritual danger to be saved from. Many assume their own goodness is sufficient. While the world may reject Christ crucified as foolishness (1 Corinthians 1:23), it is God’s chosen means of salvation (vv. 18-31). There is no other (Acts 8:12). Those who do not obey it face God’s wrath (2 Thessalonians 1:8).
To attract. The gospel story of Jesus’ self-sacrificing love for us is plenty powerful to attract honest hearts. Flashy preaching only gets in the way. Paul said Christ sent him “to preach the gospel, not in cleverness of speech, so that the cross of Christ would not be made void” (1 Corinthians 1:17). Feel-good stories, pep rallies, and pop psychology won’t save, either. “For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified” (2:2). Nor do we need food and fun to lure people in. The loaves and fish crowd doesn’t stay with Jesus very long (John 6).
To change. One of the gospel’s requirements is repentance (Luke 24:47). The gospel tells us what changes we need to make, and it motivates and empowers us to make them. The change is so drastic that the New Testament refers to it as renewal, conversion, transformation, a new creation, etc. “Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:9-11).
To improve. The shadow of the cross falls across every aspect of our lives. It governs every component and touches every relationship. God’s way works. It makes us better people. It makes us more satisfied. It makes the most of this life, as well as preparing us for eternity (1 Timothy 4:8). It is “good news,” indeed!
