Before I became a Christian, my wife and I attended a church in Central Florida. At the time, I just could not understand why the church’s pastor used to get so excited about preaching the Word of God from the Bible. Many of the church members also got excited as he preached. I was just sitting there at a loss.
A few years later, however, I became a Christian and then I also became a preacher. That’s when the Bible became more than mere words on a page to me. Also, I came to understand what Paul the apostle meant when he said, “ I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes….” (Romans 1:16, NIV).
Paul's words underscore the power of the gospel. God gave it to us to proclaim so those who don't know Christ as their Savior can hear and believe and be saved from eternal damnation.
I might add that the preaching of the gospel is the only thing the Bible refers to as the power of God for salvation. Of course, Christian ministry involves more than preaching. Some megachurches today offer just about any service you can imagine: exercise classes, feeding and clothing ministries, employment preparation, car repair, movie night, etc. These all meet human needs, but it’s important for us to know that these types of outreaches and programs are not, and cannot be, substitutes for the preaching of the gospel. Just thought I would throw that out there since some churches seems to think that way.
So what makes the preaching of the gospel the power of God with salvation for its end? It is that when true-to-the-Bible preaching occurs, all of heaven is one with the same. For God so loved the world that He gave us His only Son to save us, Jesus in turn became obedient to the cross to pay for our offences, and now the Holy Spirit is among us working in the hearts of men to miraculously change lives.
In other words, when we faithfully preach the gospel to point men and women to the Savior, we become laborers with God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit to save the lost! Clearly, if local churches want to be a part of what God is doing, they must commit themselves to being good stewards of the preaching of the gospel.
As I go different places preaching, I continue to be amazed at how the simple and clear preaching of the Bible results in radically transformed lives. Furthermore, I am persuaded that no one is beyond the reach of God’s saving power. In these days during which so many people have yet to know Christ the Savior, let us not be ashamed of the gospel, but let us boldly proclaim it.
Copyright ©2011 by Frank King. All rights reserved.
A few years later, however, I became a Christian and then I also became a preacher. That’s when the Bible became more than mere words on a page to me. Also, I came to understand what Paul the apostle meant when he said, “ I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes….” (Romans 1:16, NIV).
Paul's words underscore the power of the gospel. God gave it to us to proclaim so those who don't know Christ as their Savior can hear and believe and be saved from eternal damnation.
I might add that the preaching of the gospel is the only thing the Bible refers to as the power of God for salvation. Of course, Christian ministry involves more than preaching. Some megachurches today offer just about any service you can imagine: exercise classes, feeding and clothing ministries, employment preparation, car repair, movie night, etc. These all meet human needs, but it’s important for us to know that these types of outreaches and programs are not, and cannot be, substitutes for the preaching of the gospel. Just thought I would throw that out there since some churches seems to think that way.
So what makes the preaching of the gospel the power of God with salvation for its end? It is that when true-to-the-Bible preaching occurs, all of heaven is one with the same. For God so loved the world that He gave us His only Son to save us, Jesus in turn became obedient to the cross to pay for our offences, and now the Holy Spirit is among us working in the hearts of men to miraculously change lives.
In other words, when we faithfully preach the gospel to point men and women to the Savior, we become laborers with God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit to save the lost! Clearly, if local churches want to be a part of what God is doing, they must commit themselves to being good stewards of the preaching of the gospel.
As I go different places preaching, I continue to be amazed at how the simple and clear preaching of the Bible results in radically transformed lives. Furthermore, I am persuaded that no one is beyond the reach of God’s saving power. In these days during which so many people have yet to know Christ the Savior, let us not be ashamed of the gospel, but let us boldly proclaim it.
Copyright ©2011 by Frank King. All rights reserved.
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