Four Attributes of the Gospel of Christ

These 2 verses form the thesis of the entire book of Romans.

These 2 verses also contain the most life changing and transforming truth that God ever put into the hands of man.

That truth is that Gods power can save everyone who believes.

Paul also makes the statement that “He is not ashamed of the Gospel”

Paul at the time of writing this had been having quite a bit of trouble in his journeys as a missionary.

He was jailed in Philippi

He was chased out of Thessalonica

He had to be smuggled out of both Damascus and Berea

He was laughed at in Athens

He was called a fool in Corinth

He considered a law breaker and a blasphemer in Jerusalem

He was stoned by the people in Lystra

All of these things lend themselves to the fact that the Gospel was real because if it were not Paul wold have quit and went back home a long time ago.

Paul was relying not on his own strength and ability but that of God inside him.

Power v16b

Paul says that the Gospel is the “power” of God.

The greek word here for power is the word Dunamis which is where we get our word dynamite.

The Gospel carries with it the omnipotence of God, whose power alone is sufficient; to save people from their sin and give them eternal life.

The word omnipotence means to be all powerful.

We all have this desire to change and to make ourselves and the things around us better.

We all also have this desire to have inward peace and clarity.

we as humans were created by God to have a relationship with Him.

When sin entered the world that relationship was broken.

Even though that relationship was broken we still search for it.

We look for it in any form that we can find it.

The truth is its been here the whole time we just have not seen it.

Anything other than the power of God is fleeting and man made and can not and will not last.

Followers of pagan religions mocked followers of Christ for 2 main reasons:

because the idea of a substitutionary atonement seemed ridiculous to them

But also because their Gods were apathetic, detached, and remote. They were totally indifferent to the welfare of men.

The idea of a loving, loving, caring God was beyond their comprehension.

Paul was making it clear that he was not bringing his thoughts, or rules, or theology, but that he was bringing God.

He also tells the Corinthians this in 1st Corinthians 4:20

1 Corinthians 4:20 ESV

20 For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power.

God Him self through the prophet Jeremiah tells of His power in Jeremiah 27:5

Jeremiah 27:5 ESV

5 “It is I who by my great power and my outstretched arm have made the earth, with the men and animals that are on the earth, and I give it to whomever it seems right to me.

The power of God answers and is beholden to no one.

Salvation v16c

Salvation can and will change anyone who accepts it.

Look at the man writing this book, Paul from before till now.

No one has an encounter with God and stays the same.

This is the full display of the power of God, it changes everything in a persons life.

In this verse Paul uses the word “soteria” for salvation, he uses it 5 times here in the book of Romans, it is translated salvation or deliverance or rescue.

Here in this verse it is best worded the power of God in salvation rescues people from the ultimate penalty of sin.

which is death and eternal separation from God.

This is what Jesus felt on the cross when He said “why, why have you forsaken me”?

He felt our separation and punishment from God so that we did not have to.

Salvation is also for everyone.

Every race

Every creed

Every color

Everyone

Faith v16d

If one believes in God then one has faith.

Here Paul uses the word “Pisteuo” which means to trust in, relying on, and having faith in.

Here it is used in the present or continuous form.

Our daily living is filled with acts of faith.

We put our faith in things everyday that we may not even be aware of.

cars

other drivers

bridges

air planes

street signs

GPS

Just about every act we perform has an element of faith in it.

So why is it so hard to put our trust in God if are willing to put it in man?

Salvation comes through giving up on ones own goodness, works, ad knowledge, and wisdom and trusting in the finished, perfect work of Christ.

Once again here he says it again that salvation has on ethnic boundaries that it is for both the jew and the greek.

Righteousness v17

Paul uses this word in the book of Romans over 35 times.

It is the Power of Christ through Salvation that we have in our Faith that allows us to see the righteousness of God.

Once we have that relationship with Christ we understand things and look at things in a different light.

We see not as other mortals but as children of the King.

His ways become our ways.

Benedictions 021 Benediction

021 BENEDICTION

Now, as you depart, Take His Yoke upon you and learn from Him for He is gentle and humble of heart that you might find in Him, rest for your souls.

For he has said, I give My sheep eternal life and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of My hand.