Romans: By His Grace - For His Glory
7th in the Series
The Power of the Gospel
Romans 1:16
April 7, 1996
by J. David Hoke
I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for
the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.
(Romans 1:16 NIV)
I was reminded of one famous mountain in that area that became the focus of the world's
attention on May 18, 1980. You might remember that on that day there was an incredible
explosion which was estimated at 500 times more powerful than the force of the atomic bomb
that destroyed Hiroshima. This explosion was so powerful that it ripped 1,200 feet off the
top of a 9,700 foot volcano known as Mount St. Helens.
Although the mountain had been dormant for 123 years, within minutes incredible power
was unleashed. Thousands of tons of volcanic ash were thrust into the atmosphere. The
cloud of ash literally turned day into night in the surrounding communities. Communities
were virtually immobilized as from 4 to 6 inches of the powdery substance fell like a
winter snowstorm. What was once considered prime hunting and fishing country was
decimated. Sports Illustrated reported that 26 lakes, 154 miles of trout streams,
and 195 square miles of wildlife habitat were destroyed. Powerful.
But Mount St. Helens was not very powerful compared to a volcano which erupted in 1883.
Mount Krakatoa, in Indonesia, erupted with a force that was equal to 30 hydrogen bombs.
The power from Mount St. Helens was estimated at 500 atomic bombs. One hydrogen bomb is
equal to 1,000 atomic bombs. So, Mount Krakatoa was equal to 30,000 atomic bombs. Mount
Krakatoa was 60 times more powerful than Mount St. Helens. During the eruption of Mount
Krakatoa, tidal waves killed 36,000 people in Java and Sumatra, and a cloud of ash cooled
the earth's climate for almost two years.
What we have seen in natural eruptions of power is but a small example of greater
forces at work in the universe. From the time when dynamite was first produced in 1867 by
Alfred Nobel until the time of the discovery of the power contained in the atom, we have
learned much. But all that knowledge combined only gives us a clue to what the real power
behind this universe is like.
The truth is that we haven't begun to comprehend the limitless power of God. Today, we
celebrate a display of His power in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This power is not
destructive power as in an earthquake or the eruption of a volcano. It is creative power.
And it may be unlike any power you have ever experienced.
The release of this power in Christ's resurrection has implications for us today. One
of its implications is that the power that caused Christ to rise from the dead can impact
our lives as well. And if there is a power like that available to us, it would be a
tragedy not to be aware of it.
Resurrection Power
The resurrection of Christ, which we celebrate every Easter, is the fundamental issue
upon which Christianity either rises or falls. Our faith is based on it. Romans 1:4 says
that Jesus "was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the
dead." The power of God demonstrated in Christ's resurrection is the key issue of
Christianity. If Jesus Christ did not rise from the dead, then He was a fake, what he said
was not true, and we might as well believe something else. The great apostle Paul said
without the reality of the resurrection, our preaching is vain, and our faith is vain. If
Jesus Christ did not rise from the dead, then we are believing a myth. The validity of
Christianity rises or falls on the veracity of the resurrection. The truth of Christianity
is verified by God's power.
To many, we Christians make an amazing claim. We claim that Christianity is the only
true way to God. Some think we are quite arrogant to make such a claim. But we do not make
that claim out of arrogance, we make it out of assurance. Our assurance comes from the
evidence of Christ's resurrection from the dead. It is this resurrection that sets Him
apart from all others. Many have come before Christ, and some have come after. But only
Christ has died and come back to life by the power of God.
The resurrection power demonstrated on that first Easter was simply the culmination of
the plan of God for the redemption of this world. In fact, the entire life of Christ was a
demonstration of the power of God. We see the power of God in his birth. A virgin
conceived by the supernatural power of God. By this supernatural power of God we see a
sinless man brought into the world. We also see the supernatural power of God as Jesus
stretched forth His hands to heal. He opened blind eyes, cleansed lepers, cast out demons,
and raised the dead by the supernatural power of God. As he went to the Cross, we see the
power of God manifested. His suffering and death was a dramatic demonstration of God's
power working in Him. From the Cross He prayed, "Father forgive them, for they
know not what they do." And then on the third day, God reached down from heaven,
and with His mighty right arm rolled away the stone. By the power of God Christ rose from
the dead. This is what sets Christianity apart from all other religions. This is why we
say that Christianity is the only true way to God.
When we see what God did by His mighty power in the resurrection of Christ, something
begins to stir in us. Such a power in this universe cannot help but capture our
fascination. What would it be like to experience that power for ourselves? How would such
a power touching our lives revolutionize our existence? What would it be like to know such
a power on a personal and intimate level? The apostle Paul was caught up in these same
emotions when he said in Philippians 3:10, "that I may know Him, and the power of
His resurrection." We, like Paul, not only want but need to experience that
power. And the implication of Christ's resurrection is that we can.
Gospel Power
Because the power of God was manifested in the resurrection of Christ, we now can have
confidence in the power of God to save us. This is why Paul could speak of the gospel as
the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes. Because of that first
Easter we can know that there is power in the message of the gospel - power
to save us from our sins. It is the power of God.
Human power is limited. A 747 was halfway across the Atlantic when the captain got on
the loudspeaker: "Attention, passengers. We have lost one of our engines, but we can
certainly reach London with the three we have left. Unfortunately, we will arrive an hour
late as a result." An hour later the captain made another announcement: "Sorry,
but we lost another engine. Still, we can travel on two. I'm afraid we will now arrive two
hours late." Shortly thereafter, the passengers heard the captain's voice again:
"Guess what, folks. We just lost our third engine, but please be assured we can fly
with only one. We will now arrive in London three hours late." At this point, one
passenger became furious. "For Pete's sake," he shouted. "If we lose
another engine, we'll be up here all night!" We think we have power, but it pales in
comparison with the power of God.
If God could bring Jesus Christ back from the dead, He can certainly deal with our
sins, although it is a powerful work. And a powerful work it is. When you think of how we
have violated the commandments of Christ, of how we have chosen to go our own way, of how
we have established ourselves as our own gods, of how we have allowed our hearts to fall
in love with the things of this world, then you realize that for our hearts to be changed
is no small thing.
That great English preacher of the last century, C. H. Spurgeon, said, " In the
deepest sense, it is indeed a work to convert a soul. If Niagara could suddenly be made to
leap upward instead of forever dashing downward from its rocky height, it were not such a
miracle as to change the perverse will and raging passions of men. To wash the Ethiop
white, or remove the leopard's spots, is proverbially a difficulty, yet these are but
surface works; to renew the very core of manhood, and tear sin from its hold upon man's
heart, this is not alone the finger of God, but the bearing of his arm. Conversion is a
work comparable to the making of a world. . . . . It is a work indeed. The labors of
Hercules were but trifles compared with this; to slay lions and hydras, and cleanse Augean
stables-all this is child's play compared with renewing a right spirit in the fallen
nature of man."
God is at work where the message of the Gospel is preached. It is His message
concerning His Son and the salvation He purchased on our behalf. It goes forth in His
power.
Notice several important truths about this Gospel. First, notice the personality of the
Gospel. The Gospel centers in a person. It is the good news about Jesus Christ. It tells
the story of the mission and work of Jesus Christ in dying on the Cross to save us from
our sins.
We read in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, "Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the
gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By
this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise,
you have believed in vain. For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance:
that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was
raised on the third day according to the Scriptures."
The Gospel centers in the person of Christ and informs us that we can have a
relationship with Him. In other words, we can come to know Him personally. The powerful
good news of God is that we can be redeemed. Our sins can be forgiven. Our hearts can be
changed. We can be made right with God. And it all centers in a person - Jesus Christ our
Lord.
Notice also the practicality of the Gospel. Our text describes it as the power of
God for the salvation of everyone who believes. The Gospel is practical because it
does something about our sins. It saves us. It changes our lives now. You see, our need is
for salvation. The Bible teaches that we are lost in our sins. It teaches that we are
unable to change our own hearts, and that without God's intervention we are without hope.
You can see this truth lived out everywhere around you today. There are many people
today who live lives of despair. They are indeed hopeless. And if God is not in the
picture, you really can't blame them. Without God, there is no hope for humankind. So, the
good news gives us practical hope that our sins can be dealt with. We can be given a new
beginning. But not only a new beginning, we can be given the power to live our lives
differently from now on. This is what salvation is all about.
Notice also the reach of the Gospel. It is for everyone who believes: first for the
Jew, then for the Gentile. No person is too sinful. No person is beyond the power of
God to save.
There is no barrier artificially erected. The Gospel is for the educated and the
uneducated. The Gospel is also for people of all races. African, Asian, Slavic, European,
American - it makes no difference to God. You may be morally good or morally bad, but
without Christ you are lost. And if you are lost, you are a candidate for God's salvation.
The power of the Gospel reaches to you.
And finally, notice the responsibility of the Gospel. It is for everyone who
believes. It is the responsibility of people to put their faith in Christ. The Gospel
is a call to believe in Christ. That is our responsibility. That is our duty before God.
Now, the Gospel is not a message of good works. It is a mistake to believe that we can
do enough good works to earn God's favor. No, the Gospel is about the finished work of
Christ on our behalf. Our responsibility is not to do good things and trust in those, but
to trust in what Christ has done. So, when I say that our responsibility is to believe,
what I mean is that we must cast ourselves on the mercy of God. We must surrender to
Christ. We must put our trust in Him and Him alone. And if we do, then we will receive the
salvation of God by the power of God.
Copyright (C) 1996 J. David Hoke. This data file is the sole property of
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