The gospel changes a life from the inside out.
When someone believes the gospel and follows Jesus, there’s a change in their life. That change doesn’t come from trying harder or getting new friends; it comes from the power of the gospel.
In Romans 1.16 ESV, the Apostle Paul writes, “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.” Paul had experienced the power of the gospel in his own life. When he became a Christian, his identity changed. His purpose changed. His goals changed. His attitude changed. His actions changed. Everything changed because of the power of the gospel.
The gospel is the power of God at work in us.
The gospel, Paul says, is the power of God. The story of Jesus coming to earth, living a perfect life, dying a sacrificial death, rising again, and ascending to the position of authority in heaven opens the way for God’s supernatural, miracle-working power to work in a person’s life.
The gospel brings salvation and restores us to God.
The gospel is the power of God, Paul says, for salvation. When someone hears the gospel, they become aware of their sin. They have to face the fact that sin brings about the penalty of death and separation from God. But they also learn from the story of Jesus and how they can be forgiven and made right with God.
The gospel transforms those who truly believe.
Of course, sometimes you share the gospel with someone and they don’t change. They keep on living how they’ve been living. That’s why Paul qualifies his claim by making it clear that the gospel works to change everyone who believes. It’s possible for a person to listen with their ears but not really hear what you’re saying with their heart. Those who hear the gospel and believe are reconciled to God; those who listen to the gospel and reject it are not.
The gospel is available to everyone.
The gospel isn’t reserved for a small group of privileged people. Paul makes it clear that the gospel is available to everyone, both Jews and Greeks. The Jews were God’s chosen people. They were devout, religious people but they needed to hear and respond to the gospel for salvation. The Greeks saw the world in a completely different way than the Jews. They also needed to experience the power of the gospel.
The gospel still has power to change lives today.
Today, the power of the gospel is available to everyone. When you share the gospel, you’re inviting people to experience God’s power to change their lives both now and for eternity.
This blog features an excerpt from one of our Student Series books, Reach Your World.
