The Power of the Gospel

By Jeff Curtis

Rome was power-mad, and so is today’s world. We want to be stronger, go faster, and build bigger – but even after almost two thousand years, there is no power comparable to the gospel. The story of the cross is still “the power of God and the wisdom of God” (1Corinthians 1:24). James Meadows referred to it as “God’s dynamite to blast sin, tradition, paganism, and helplessness out of men’s hearts.”

The gospel is clearly not God’s power of forgiveness; it is also God’s constraining power. Jesus said, “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself” (John 12:32). Also, the gospel is God’s remaking power. Multiplied thousands of lives have been changed as men and women have responded to the story of God’s love (2Corinthians 5:17). The story is told of a man whose life was so altered that one of his employees remarked, “He is not the same man!” It’s the same skin, but there’s a new man inside!”

The gospel is so important that we dare not “neglect it, ignore it, change it, pervert it, …or refuse to hear it.” Above all, those of us who are Christians dare not “fail to preach it.” It is still God’s power – His only power – to salvation. Today, some are preoccupied with finding new ways “to attract people to church.” Coy Roper asserted, “Whatever attracts people to the church, no one will be saved until and unless we preach the gospel and obey it.” The Gospel is still God’s remedy for the sin-sick people. If we don’t share it with all who we know, they will be lost.

Is it possible that, unlike Paul, we are ashamed of the gospel? Most of us would never admit to being ashamed of it, but are we embarrassed to tell our friends about our faith in Jesus? Are we afraid to try to teach them because we may lose them as friends? The Contemporary English Version expresses Romans 1:16 like this; “I am proud of the good news! It is God's powerful way of saving all people

who have faith, whether they are Jews or Gentiles.” May god help us always to be proud of the good news – and to act like it.

Sin is a Slippery Slope

by Andy Sochor

Often when we use the term “slippery slope,” it is in reference to an action or behavior that may not be wrong in itself but could easily lead to actions and behaviors that are wrong. Sometimes there is wisdom in considering this, especially on a personal level.

However, the Lord described a similar situation among His people. Yet instead of warning that questionable decisions could lead to sin, He explained that sinful behavior leads to divine punishment.

God said that “the land [was] full of adulterers” and that “their course also [was] evil” (Jeremiah 23:10). He continued, “For both prophet and priest are polluted; even in My house I have found their wickedness” (Jeremiah 23:11). What was going to happen as a result? God explained, “Therefore their way will be like slippery paths to them, they will be driven away into the gloom and fall down in it; for I will bring calamity upon them, the year of their punishment” (Jeremiah 23:12).

We are often tempted to minimize the problem of sin. When we do this, it is very easy to continue in it rather than repenting. If we do not turn from our sin, we stand to face eternal destruction for it.

So, remember that sin is a slippery slope. God has provided a way for us to escape the punishment that comes because of it. Yet when we become accustomed to sin, we run the risk of continuing down the path of destruction until it is too late.

Added to the Church

By Jeff Curtis

When Peter made his confession about Jesus in Matthew 16:16, Jesus promised him “the keys of the kingdom” (Mattew 16:19). That is, Jesus promised that Peter would be the first to open the door of the kingdom / the church and allow people to enter. That is what happened on the Day of Pentecost. Peter gave the terms of entrance into the church, and three thousand took advantage of the offer of a gracious God. When they were baptized, they were saved; when they were saved, God added them to the church.

Many important truths can be drawn from verses 41 and 47. First, we have a simple, but profound, definition of the church. The church is the body of the saved – those who have been saved by the blood of Christ. People often speak of church membership and salvation as two different things. Those who do so generally have in mind denominations. One can be saved and not be a part of any denomination, but cannot be saved and not be a part of the Lord’s church. According to the two verses under consideration, church membership and salvation are one and the same.

Next, these verses teach that we don’t “join” the church; rather, the Lord “adds” us to the church. Is this merely a question of semantics? No, a vital biblical principle is at stake. Whenever and individual “joins” an organization, he does it. By fulfilling certain requirements, he earns the right to be part of that organization. But an individual cannot earn the right to be part of the Lord’s church. The church is the body of the saved. Since an individual cannot save himself, he cannot make himself a member of that body. The One who saves us through His grace makes us a part of the body. A distinction must be made here between the universal church and the local congregations. After the Lord adds us to the church universal, we then need to “join ourselves to” a faithful congregation of God’s people. God adds and we welcome.

Other truths could be deduced from verse 41 and 47, but it should be emphasized that when we are scripturally baptized, we become part of a spiritual fellowship called “the church/”

God didn’t intend that we should be spiritual loners. Sooner or later, all of us need others to help and strengthen us. in establishing the church, God provided a built-in support group, a spiritual network.

Regarding salvation, all of us must deal with the past, the present and the future. We have sins of the past with their oppressive guilt; we wonder whether or not we will have strength for the future. We have present challenges that threaten to overwhelm us. God has foreseen every need. When we are baptized as penitent believers, God helps to take care of the past by forgiving is of every sin (Acts 2:38); God helps to take care of the future by giving us His Spirit to strengthen us and help us (Acts 2:38); and He helps take care of the present by making us part of a loving family called the church (Acts 2:41,47). These are not the only ways He has foreseen and provided for our spiritual needs, but these are three important ways God provides for us, all are found in Acts 2.