The Wisdom and Power Unto Salvation

UV 1065/10,000 The Wisdom and Power Unto Salvation

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

Romans 1 v 16

The believer’s stance must always be, “ I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, rather I am proud and committed unto death and beyond into eternity to my faith in the risen Saviour.” For those who regard themselves as wise, the intellectuals, academicians and philosophers, our faith that Jesus Christ was put to death for our sins on the cross and that He rose on the third day might appear to be foolish and illogical. They are therefore ashamed to be associated with such a belief. For them the path of salvation is knowledge and wisdom. For those who regard themselves as rich, famous, powerful and those who aspire to be so, the idea that Almighty and All Knowing God sent His only Son Jesus to be sacrificed like a gentle lamb for the sins of humanity seemed absurd. It does not seem an attractive proposition to them. For them the path of salvation is power, fame and riches. For ordinary people who try to do good and avoid evil, they look for God in places and people where great miracles, signs and wonders are performed, the gospel seemed like an anti-climax unworthy of their belief or commitment. For them the path of salvation is religion and good works. But to all these categories of people, the Lord Jesus says, “ If you are ashamed of me before the world, I will be ashamed of you before My Father.”

But the gospel is not just good news but the great news that the belief in Christ as the once crucified Saviour and now and forever the Risen Lord and Saviour is the source of all power and wisdom of God sufficient to save us forever. Every one whether Jew or Gentile, man or woman, young or old, rich or poor, weak or strong, high or low, upright or wicked have access to all the wisdom and power of God unto the salvation of their souls for all eternity. Everyone who believes is given eternal life. Everyone is given abundant life. To everyone who believes, regardless of his past and his deeds, is imputed or attributed the righteousness of God. We are the righteous representatives of God on earth. We are united to be one with Him. We are His family, heirs waiting to claim our inheritance. Our identification with Christ is so complete that we are deemed to have died with Him on the cross and are now experiencing the entirety of His resurrection power in our whole being. We owe everything we are and everything we have to Christ who has purchased us with His own body and blood. We do not hesitate to share the truth of the gospel with anyone and everyone who recognizes that he or she needs it and everyone who wants to hear it. We are not ashamed to share it with the poor, the broken hearted, the high and mighty, the kings and queens, rulers and authorities of this world. We apply the power and wisdom of God in the gospel in our everyday lives.

The gospel gives us access to the five fold power of God: it gives us the power of the Name of Christ. It gives us access to the power of the cross of Christ that cancels all our punishments, sins and consequences. It gives us the power of the blood of Christ that sanctifies us and safeguards us from every plague and curse even as in the first Passover the cross of blood of an ordinary lamb safeguarded the Hebrew people in Egypt from the angel of death. It gives us access to the power of the word of God and the priceless promises of God to mankind dealing with every need and every conceivable situation in our lives. The Word is the key to every treasure on earth and in heaven. It gives us access to the power of the Holy Spirit who sanctifies us and makes us worthy vessels for the gospel of whom God is not ashamed. The gospel gives us access to the full wisdom of God. He teaches us precepts that govern our everyday lives. He inspires concepts and ideas in us as we meditate on His Word. He breathes His wisdom on us. He gives us counsel and guidance. He adds life to our days and days to our life and in the end He will show us His salvation and take us into His eternal realms. As Peter Drucker, the father of modern management said when he was asked by another famous management guru of our times, Ken Blanchard, “ Why do you believe in the gospel?” - “ There is no better deal!” It beats me of how anyone can be ashamed of the gospel.

Prateep V Philip