God's 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 first and also to the Greek."  (Romans 1:16)

Paul's statement in Romans 1:16 is one of positive affirmation. It speaks of God's ability to bring to man what he needs the most -- salvation from sin. Also, it speaks of the attitude believers should have in this saving message. We are ashamed for others to know some things about ourselves, not because they are sinful but because of our pride. Not so with the gospel!! As gladly as we received this message (Acts 2:41), "Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.” As gladly as we received the word, then gladly we should be telling it to others.

The word "power" is dunamis, from which we get our English word dynamite, or TNT. As one brother I know puts it, "the gospel is God's power to blow man out of sin and sin out of man." What about this powerful message?

The gospel solves man's sin problem

Romans 1:16 clearly states the gospel message is what God intends to use to bring man out of sin. By its very nature, it can get the job done. Yet, look at what we do so many times. We observe a friend, neighbor, co-worker, and we say "It wouldn't do any good to talk to him/her. They wouldn't listen." Have we not, by stating this, rendered the gospel powerless?  Have we not concluded that such sinners are so far gone that the gospel couldn't save them? God forbid!! The Lord, Himself, said through His prophet Isaiah that His word would not return unto Him void, but it would accomplish the very thing for which He sent it (Isaiah 55:8-11).

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD   For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.  For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:  So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.”