Power Gospel

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. Romans 1:16

The Gospel of Jesus is a powerful thing. Scripture tells us so. We don’t act like it. We must not think it’s powerful because we add things to it or try to “modernize” it or reform it to make it more palatable  to this generation. We treat it like an old car that needs an engine additive to make it roar down the highway, or last season’s outfit that needs a bit of sprucing up.

If you have experienced the power of the Gospel, you don’t need any explanation. If you haven’t, or you’re not sure, here are some things to consider:

Does the Gospel you have heard, or living or are preaching:

Motivate you to soup it up or tinker with it, if so you are dealing with “another” gospel.

Make you feel all warm and fuzzy and inoffensive in that Jesus is A way to God, but not necessarily THE way, if so you are dealing with “another” gospel.

Motivate you to tell everyone about your church, or your pastor, or your favorite tv evangelist,  if so you are dealing with “another” gospel.

Keep you silent in the face of “modern” science which clearly has advanced since the time of Jesus,  if so you are dealing with “another” gospel.

Motivate you to study and discuss the scriptures, and maybe even to teach them, but not to share Jesus,  if so you are dealing with “another” gospel.

Allow you to consider “sin” as “old-testament” or  “politically incorrect,”  if so you are dealing with “another” gospel.

Help you judge a church by how much you are feed, how much better you feel after the service is over, how the music and the preaching “reach” you,  if so you are dealing with “another” gospel.

Console you in that your job is to sit quietly, listen attentively and write checks neatly,  if so you are dealing with “another” gospel.

If you think your job is to invite someone to your church and not to introduce them to your savior,   you are dealing with “another” gospel.

If you think “repent and be baptized” is extra and optional, you are dealing with “another” gospel.

If you aren’t sure you have heard the “real” gospel, open your new testament to the Book of Acts and read some of the sermons recorded there. Try Peter’s in Chapter 2, or here’s a whole list. They are simple. They talk about Jesus, sin, repentance and salvation. That’s real good news. That’s power gospel.