In Romans 1:16, the Apostle Paul boldly declared that he was
not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ because it is The Power of God Unto Salvation.
This word, "Power," as used here is pronounced "dunames"
from the Greek word, "dynamis," which is where our word "dynamite"
comes from. (Blueletterbible.org
and Dictionary.com). Dynamite is explosive power that breaks up
that which was solidified and set in place leaving room for new and improved construction
to take place. So, in the context of this scripture, the Gospel of Christ is
the explosive power of God that works salvation in the heart of man. 2 Corinthians 5:17 tells us that "anyone
who belongs to Christ has become a new person (new creation). The old life is gone, a new life
has begun!" [NLT]. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is powerful enough to penetrate the
hardened hearts of mankind and break through the stubbornness of man's ways so
that the new man can be erected to the glory of God.
The question is not whether the message of Jesus Christ
is powerful enough to reach the masses it is assigned to reach. It is
explosively powerful meaning that it has great reach (as does dynamite) because
it is dynamis power. The question is
whether those of us who have been given and entrusted with the responsibility
of taking the gospel message of Christ to the world (Matthew 28:18-29) are disciplined
enough to handle this power. Power in
the wrong hands is dangerous and can lead to destruction and casualties. If we misappropriate the power, the very
people we are called to reach with the relational, redemptive and regenerative
word of God will be left disillusioned and distant from the very God who came
to save them. As God has called us out
of the darkness of a sinful life into his marvelous light of holy living, we
must be disciplined and responsible enough to preach, teach, and witness of the
Gospel message of Jesus Christ as the good news that it is and not preach ourselves,
our personalities, or agendas. (2 Cor. 4:5-7). We must simply preach Jesus (his birth, life/ministry,
death, burial and resurrection) and how the events of his life and his ministry
relate to mankind. We must share of his redemptive
sacrifice born out of his love for us.
If we would simply lift Jesus’ name up before man and make the name of
Jesus great in the sight of man in the earth, it is then that we will see the
harvest of souls gathered into the kingdom of God because when Christ is lifted
up, he will draw all men unto himself. (John
12:32).
-
Dr. DeShonda Bailey
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