The Strength of the gospel
Paul is not ashamed of the gospel for two reasons:
1) The Power of God – to do what we could not do. for it is the power . . .
2) The Purity of God – to be who we could not be. For in it the righteousness . . .
It must be understood that the gospel is not about God’s power, nore the source of power, but the gospel itself is the power. The gospel is the means by which God accomplishes salvation in those who are saved (James M Boice). In the actual preaching of the gospel the power of God is demonstrated in the saving of individuals (John Calvin). Paul is not ashamed of the gospel because it is through the preaching of the gospel that God’s power saves people. (Jones).
The power of the gospel has 4 elements:
Divine Power of God The gospel is divine power. This expression means that it is the way in which God exerts his power in the salvation of people. It is the efficacious or mighty plan, by which power goes forth to save, and by which all the obstacles of man‘s redemption are taken away. This expression implies, (1) That it is God‘s plan, or his appointment. It is not the device of man.(2) it is adapted to the end. It is suited to overcome the obstacles in the way. It is not merely the instrument by which God exerts his power, but it has an inherent adaptedness to the end, it is suited to accomplish salvation to man so that it may be denominated power.(3) it is mighty, hence, it is called power, and the power of God. If is not a feeble and ineffectual instrumentality, but it is “mighty to the pulling down of strongholds,” 2 Corinthians 10:4-5. It has shown its power as applicable to every degree of sin, to every combination of wickedness. It has gone against the sins of the world, and evinced its power to save sinners of all grades, and to overcome and subdue every mighty form of iniquity, compare Jeremiah 23:29, “Is not my word like as a fire? saith the Lord; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?” 1 Corinthians 1:18, “the preaching of the cross is to them that perish, foolishness, but unto us which are saved, it is the power of God.” The apostle thus commences his discussion with one of the important doctrines of the Christian religion, the final preservation of the saints. He is not defending the gospel for any temporary object, or with any temporary hope. He looks through the system, and sees in it a plan for the complete and eternal recovery of all those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. When he says it is the power of God unto salvation, he means that it is the power of God for the attainment of salvation. This is the end, or the design of this exertion of power. (Barnes) This gospel is power unlimited, eternal, and irresistible within the framework of God's eternal purpose, and fully sufficient to achieve all that God intended. (James Coffman).
Delivering Power for salvation Gk soteria deliverance, safety, or salvation The object of the gospel is salvation. (W. H. Luckenbach.) Christ came to save sinners. Fourfold salvation: saved from the penalty, power, presence and most importantly the pleasure of sin. (A.W. Pink)Deliver us from sin –from hell and Deliver us to the Sovereign –to heaven
Salvation is in three tenses:
(1) The believer has been saved from the guilt and penalty of sin Luke 7:50; 1 Corinthians 1:18; 2 Corinthians 2:15; Ephesians 2:5; Ephesians 2:8; 2 Timothy 1:9 and is safe.
(2) the believer is being saved from the habit and dominion of sin Romans 6:14; Philippians 1:19; Philippians 2:12; Philippians 2:13; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; Romans 8:2; Galatians 2:19; Galatians 2:20; 2 Corinthians 3:18.
(3) The believer is to be saved in the sense of entire conformity to Christ. Romans 13:11; Hebrews 10:36; 1 Peter 1:5; 1 John 3:2. Salvation is by grace through faith, is a free gift, and wholly without works; Romans 3:27; Romans 3:28; Romans 4:1-8; Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8. The divine order is: first salvation, then works; Ephesians 2:9; Ephesians 2:10; Titus 3:5-8. (CI Scofield)
the New Testament teaches different aspects of 'salvation'.
1). It speaks of those who have been saved once and for all, ‘the ‘having been saved ones’ (aorist tense). This refers to one act of Christ which is complete forever, embracing salvation from start to finish. And as it signifies that their Saviour Christ has chosen them and called them to Himself, and has made them one with Himself, it means that they are now safe in Him. Their lives are 'hid with Christ in God' (Colossians 3:3). Verses which refer to such an experience of salvation are Titus 3:5; 2 Timothy 1:9, in which the aorist tense is used, indicating something that has happened once for all.
2). It speaks of those who ‘have been saved and are therefore now saved’ (perfect tense). Here there is the twofold thought of what Christ has done in the past (He has saved them) and of what is true now, (they are consequently saved). They are safe in His hands and He will never let them go. Verses which speak of ‘having been saved and therefore now being saved’ include Ephesians 2:5; Ephesians 2:8 (perfect tense, something that has happened in the past the benefit of which continues to the present time). It is a result of being incorporated into Christ by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:12-13). This is what is in mind when we say a person ‘is saved’.
3). It speaks of those who ‘are being saved’ (present tense). This is because when Christ reaches out and saves someone it is with the purpose of their being fully saved. Having provided them with overall forgiveness and justification He now carries out the process of making them totally free from sin. This is a lifelong work as they are ‘changed from glory into glory’ (2 Corinthians 3:18) and it is only completed when they are finally presented perfect before Him, not only in status but in reality. Verses which speak of those who "are being saved" include 1 Corinthians 1:18; 2 Corinthians 2:15. They are expressed in the present tense describing a process going on.
4). It speaks of those who will be saved (future tense). This is looking forward to that day when they will be presented perfect before Him ‘without spot, or wrinkle or any such thing, holy and without blemish’ (Ephesians 5:25-27). See for example 1 Corinthians 3:15; 1 Corinthians 5:5; 2 Corinthians 7:10; 1 Thessalonians 5:9; 2 Thessalonians 2:13. Thus in one sense salvation can be seen as one overall experience commencing from the moment of believing and not ceasing until the person is presented before God holy and without blemish, a process guaranteed from start to finish in those whom the Father has given to His Son (John 6:37; John 6:39; John 6:44; John 10:27-28), and in another sense it can be seen as an experience that is being undergone which will not cease until it is completed. For it should be noted that salvation is God’s work and not ours (Hebrews 13:20-21). And He does not fail in His purpose. See especially John 10:27-29; 1 Corinthians 1:8; Philippians 2:6; Jude 1:24-25.(Pett)
Dispensed power – everyone The gospel is impartial, it is no respecter of persons. (W. H. Luckenbach.) The gospel is not limited it is for everyone. (Boice) Everyone is welcome to come to Christ from the Religious self-righteous Jew; and the Regal –self-sufficient Greek. We have the hope of the nations. We know that is has the power to transform lives, because it has and is transforming our life. So we must tell others of it, we must preach this gospel to all because it is for all. It is the only hope of all. Many are deemed hopeless by the world, there is nobody hopeless as regards to the gospel. Can the Ethiopian change his skin?, or the leopard his spots?” No! No one, because of sin alone, is outside salvation. There is no such thing as being to great a sinner to be saved. The number of your sins don’t matter. The character of sin doen’s matter. There is no difference in the sight of God between a murderer and the self-righteous person. . . . both are equally lost. Herein is the glory of the gospel – there is as much hope for the most desperate, the most vile, . . . sinner, as there is for the nicest and the most respected person. Why? Because it is the power of God in both cases . . . Oh, what comfort! What consolation! (Jones) No wonder Paul was not ashamed of the gospel. As the song writer say, “ His blood can make the foulest clean, his blood avails for me.”
Displayed Power who believes The gospel is conditional (W. H. Luckenbach.) it is equally effectual for “Jew or Gentile,” and for the vilest, as well as the best, of the human race. It will leave none under the guilt and condemnation of their sins, none under the power and pollution of them. The righteousness which it provides for sinners is so pure and perfect, that, when clothed in it, they stand before God without spot or blemish. (Simeon). This expresses the condition, or the terms, on which salvation is conferred through the gospel. It is not indiscriminately to all people, whatever may be their character. It is only to those who confide or trust in it; and it is conferred on all who receive it in this manner. If this qualification is possessed, it bestows its blessings freely and fully. (Albert Barnes) The effectiveness of the gospel is that “everyone” who believes is saved (Rom 10:13). It is God’s power, not ours or those who hear, and if it is God’s power then it cannot fail. Because it is God’s power, what God has determined is certainly and surely being brought to pass and shall be brought to pass. (Rom 8:26-ff) The gospel is the power of God. It doesn’t depend on me . . . If it did all would be lost. It is God’s power to save and to keep, to justify and to sanctify and to glorify- to take us right into heaven. That is why he is not ashamed. (Jones) This effectiveness of the power of the gospel to save and keep all who believed enabled Paul to be unashamed. He knew that he could proclaim this great gospel message and God would work in and through his faithfulness to preach to bring those who believed to salvation. He preached. God powerfully worked. People got saved.
The gospel is not about the power of God, but the gospel itself is the power of God . . . the gospel is God’s way of saving us. It is God’s power producing salvation in us. The preaching of the gospel to save some. 1 Cor 1 This is how the gospel saves, through the foolishness of the thing preached. 2 Cor 5:5 – Phil 2:15 We work out what God works in us. Salvation is God’s mighty working in us through and by the means of the gospel. (Jones).