The Power of God for Salvation!

The topic for this blog is excerpted from the biblical text of Romans 1:16, which reads: “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 word gospel means “good news.” And the good news is what God has done for sinful mankind in the Person of His Son, Jesus Christ, through His shed blood and death on the Cross and His resurrection from the tomb.

The word salvation, in a biblical context, means deliverance and preservation from sin and its consequences. Salvation is received by faith in Jesus Christ.

Salvation is absolutely essential in order to have a relationship with God while living in the “here-and-now,” and then spending eternity with God in heaven after death or at the return of Christ.

Salvation is a free gift, and wholly without works. It cannot be bought or earned in any way, because it comes only through repentance, that is, turning away from sinful practices and turning to Jesus Christ and trusting in Him for the forgiveness of sins.

Christians are saved by God’s grace alone, through faith alone, and in Christ alone. The Bible says: “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Ephesians 2:8,9).

Salvation is in three tenses. Firstly, a Christian has been saved from the guilt and penalty of sin. The Bible says: “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:4-6). 

Secondly, a Christian is being saved from the habit, practice, and dominion of sin in his or her life. The Bible says: “For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace” (Romans 6:14). 

Thirdly, a Christian will be saved at the Lord’s return, from all the bodily illnesses that are the result of sin and God’s curse upon this sinful world. The Bible says: “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us” (Romans 8:18).

Christians should never be ashamed of the Gospel. Instead, consider it a joy and a special honor to represent the Lord Jesus Christ, especially in a world of despair, hopelessness, uncertainty, and deception. The world is never ashamed to display and defend its immoral, corrupt and ungodly enticements. 

Let us be encouraged and inspired by Paul’s charge to Timothy: “God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, who saved us and called us to a holy calling” (2 Timothy 1:7-9).  

William MacDonald writes: “The apostle has been encouraging Timothy to be zealous (vv 6, 7) and courageous (v 8). Now Paul explains why this is the only reasonable attitude to take; it is found in God’s wonderful dealings with us in grace. First of all, He saved us. This means that He delivered us from the penalty of sin. He constantly delivers us from the power of sin, and in a day yet future, He will deliver us from the very presence of sin. Also, He has freed us from the world and from Satan” (Believers Bible Commentary, p. 2111, Thomas Nelson Publishers).