Topic: THE TRANSFORMING POWER OF THE GOSPEL
Text: ROMANS 1:1-32
Reflection:
Apostle paul opened his letter to the Romans by letting them know his stand in Christ; he recognised that he’s “a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle and separated unto the gospel of God” Romans 1:1
“Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:” Romans 1:3-5
Apostle Paul is one man that experienced a dramatic transformation in his life, from being a persecutor of believers, to becoming a preacher and teacher of the same Christ whom he was persecuting. No one else would have done this except Jesus Himself.
“So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.” Romans 1:15-17
What then is the Gospel?
What is the gospel if it has such power as to transform a person (especially someone as Paul)? According to the scripture, the gospel is the Life of Jesus Christ, including all his deeds and teachings. “The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,” Acts 1:1. The gospel also according to our text is the Power of God that saves, the power that brings about the salvation of souls (Romans 1:16).
What then is Salvation?
Salvation is the deliverance from the works and bondage of sin and its consequences through faith in Jesus Christ. The works of salvation includes the following:
- Justification: this is the work of salvation done when a sinner realises his/her filthiness before God and sincerely repents, the same is justified.
- Sanctification (Romans 6:3-11): this is the continuous transformation in the everyday life of a believer by the work of christ on the cross. It is not a stage to be attain in life, but it is a continuous process.
- Glorification (Romans 8:16-25): this is the final work of salvation which is the eternal glorification of the believer at the second coming of Jesus Christ.
Righteousness is the very life of God and Faith is simply submitting to the will of God.
Conclusion:
If you must experience the transforming power of the gospel as did apostle Paul and others, you must sincerely acknowledge your weakness and totally submit to the will of God, only then God will have His way in your life and His Righteousness will be reveal in you, the righteousness of His son Jesus Christ.
