The Power of God

In his “Gospel Primer,” Milton Vincent points out that while the heavens may declare the glory of God there is only one thing that is called the power of God in the Scriptures. Think about these things for a moment: A Tsunami sending waves out for thousands of miles in every direction; a hurricane ripping through an island city, an earthquake or raging forest fire unleashing devastation hard to imagine unless you have seen it or been through it. We think about the power of our sun, and the stars of the universe moving at speeds and releasing energy beyond what we know how to quantify. Yet when God wanted to show His limitless power, He did not rely on these things. He looked to His Son.

Romans 1:16 “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.”

The power of God is shown in God the Son setting aside his glory, coming humble as a frail baby, living as a righteous man, and dying tortuously upon a cross. All of this willingly to bear our sin that God might be both Just and the justifier of the one who trusts in Him. Then He rose from the grave, leading forth a host of captives to live eternally with the Lord! This is raw power on display. Burning suns dim in this light.

1 Corinthians 1:17-18 “For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. (18) For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”

This powerful life changing gospel can appear to be simplistic and foolish to those who stand opposed to God. They will look to humanistic solutions to the problems they face in life. They will lean on their own strength and wealth and provision. Yet all these things will fail them, because they have no real lasting power. The gospel of Jesus, however, will carry the believer into eternity.

Ephesians 1:16-20 “I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, (17) that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, (18) having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, (19) and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might (20) that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places,”

I hope and pray that God will give the reader of this post the “Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him.” I want you to know the power of God!