The Power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ

 The Power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ

"And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature."(Mark 16:15)

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek." (Romans 1:16) 

'The word Gospel is derived from the Anglo-Saxon term god-spell, meaning “good story,” a rendering of the Latin evangelium and the Greek euangelion, meaning “good news” or “good telling.”' (https://www.britannica.com/topic/Gospel-New-Testament). Basically, the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the good news about Jesus, His incarnation, His life, death, resurrection and ascension (1 Corinthians 15:1-8). Not only is it that, it is the power of God to salvation. It is the Word of God that liberates, emancipates, delivers, and saves unto God Almighty. 

The prophets of old foretold the birth of Jesus saying, "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this."(Isaiah 9:6-7, ESV)

Peace, righteousness and justice are characteristics of God's Kingdom brought to earth by Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit. The kingdom of darkness ruled by Satan is characterised by evil, mayhem, confusion, bondage, oppression, etc. Jesus came to set us free. For what? To live for God and serve Him. Jesus Himself said, "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” (Luke 19:10). We were lost but Jesus, the Son of God, conceive by the Holy Spirit, born by virgin Mary, came to earth so that all who believed in Him would not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16). He was the perfect sacrifice, who voluntarily gave His life as a ransom for you and I (Matthew 20:28). Jesus did what we could not do in order to give us the freedom we did not deserve. 

The Gospel is rooted in Jesus without whom there is no Gospel. God poured out His mercy and grace upon mankind via a divine plan that was to present Jesus the Lamb of God. John the Baptist announced to the people, "...Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29). Jesus was the perfect sacrificial Lamb, without spot or blemish, offered once and for all (Hebrews 7:27). The continous, arduous, burdensome, insufficient sacrifices of the Old Testament were brought to an end, the Holy of Holies was revealed as the veil of the temple was torn in two when Jesus died on the cross of Calvary (Matthew 27:51). The hitherto unimaginable had now become possible, the requirements of the law fulfilled and surpassed, a new covenant enacted and a door opened towards a thriving relationship with the Lord God Almighty, Creator of the whole universe. The power of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ is demonstrated when we receive Jesus as personal Lord and Saviour - we become sons of God (John 1:12), new creations (1 Corinthians 5:17), a chosen generation, a peculiar people, a holy nation. This is how the Holy Spirit put it in the Bible, "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy." (1 Peter 2:9-10, ESV)

When read in conjunction with Matthew 4:16, "the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned.”, we are blown away by the unconditional love of God. Wow, what a deliverance, what a salvation, what an awesome God! What has His power bestowed on us? Again, we turn to the Scriptures for the perfect answer. "His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire." (2 Peter 1:3-4 ). We have been lifted from darkness into the marvelous light of God, redeemed from the bondage of the devil, given hope for all eternity, called out to live in holiness and righteousness by the power of the Holy Spirit. Hallelujah! We have escaped the corruption of the world even though we are in the world. We shine with the light of God in this dark world and we are commissioned to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:18-20). What a ministry - the ministry of reconciliation coupled with the word and message of reconciliation. God is not interested in half measures. He equips completely for whatever task He has called us to. There is nothing to fear. 

The Gospel not only is the power of God to salvation, it is what we are equipped with in order to preach it (Mark 16:15). That is our obligation if we are born again. The Gospel is what we should tell the unbelievers around us, "for in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”(Romans 1:17). As we celebrate the birth of Jesus in 2021, let's remember that the power of God is present when we preach the Gospel, when  we proclaim it, when we use every opportunity afforded us to let all know that Jesus is the only Way, the only Saviour. 

Will you tell your neighbour that Jesus saves? Will you make yourself available for God so that you can be used by Him to depopulate hell and populate Heaven? Will you embrace the divine responsibility of shining the light of God in a dark and confused world. Remember light dispels darkness. Will you say Lord here I am, send me? What do you say? 

Have a merry and blessed Christmas and a happy and fruitful New Year. God bless you.