Pastor’s Corner: “The Power of the Gospel”
For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile. – (Romans 1:16)
The famous evangelist Dwight L. Moody once accepted the challenge to debate an atheist. He agreed, however, on one condition–that the atheist could produce ten or more people whose lives had been changed by atheism. Moody said he would have at least 100 people on the platform who could testify to the fact that belief in Christ had changed their lives from immorality and depravity to lives of integrity and uprightness. Not able to produce even ten examples, the atheist had to withdraw his offer.
The Gospel cannot be quarantined, restrained, controlled, ignored, silenced or destroyed. But it can be rejected. Jesus defeated sin and death on the cross once and for all! He does not have to revisit it or improve upon it. It is finished. The only thing standing between life and death for us is our willingness to believe Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life and receive it. This good news that Jesus has paid our debts, forgives us of our sins, and overcame death for us by His Resurrection has the power to transform our lives in ways that ways beyond our imagination. But often as Christians we assume that the Gospel is for non-Christians alone and had little or no relevance to the Christian life once someone was converted. The Gospel is not just a gate we must pass through one time, but a path we should walk each day of our lives.
It’s a painfully common story. We begin the Christian life well, but gradually find ourselves increasingly experiencing little or no true spiritual transformation. The good news for Christians is that a divine remedy for our cold and hardened hearts is available! And that remedy is found in the transforming power of the Gospel, the goal of which is not just our regeneration but also our transformation into the image of Christ. Its purpose is not merely forgiveness but to change us into true worshippers of God and authentic lovers of people. The same Gospel message that saves sinners also sanctifies the saints.
It has been said that a stone lying in the sun can’t help but grow warm. In the same way, as we learn to expose our stony hearts to the warmth and light of the Gospel, we can’t help but be transformed. We should be preaching this Good News to ourselves and others constantly, so that no matter what our struggles and fears may be, we can be encouraged, strengthened and changed by hearing God’s voice repeating these eternal truths to our hearts again and again! All God asks is that we continue to draw near to Him in repentance and faith through the cross of Jesus Christ. It is here that we humble ourselves, cast away all our pride and self-sufficiency. It is here that we find the supernatural power, courage, and strength to be more like Jesus Christ.
Lord, we pray that the POWER OF THE GOSPEL be released in our time as never before. We pray that hearts, minds, eyes, ears and lives are opened to Your love, rescue and transformation power freely given by the death and Resurrection of You beautiful Son Jesus Christ! Amen
In His Grace,
Pastor Hamilton and Family