The Gospel is the Power of God

IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

The Gospel is the Power of God

Date: Feb. 21, 2023

Passage

Romans 1:8-17 (ESV)

8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world. 9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you 10 always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God’s will I may now at last succeed in coming to you. 11 For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you—12 that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine. 13 I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that I have often intended to come to you (but thus far have been prevented), in order that I may reap some harvest among you as well as among the rest of the Gentiles. 14 I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. 15 So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.

16 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. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV) is adapted from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. All rights reserved.

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Daily Bread

Key Verse: 1:16

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 did not know the Roman Christians, but he was very thankful to God for their faith. So, he prayed constantly for them. He prayed to thank God for their faith, and he prayed that a way might be opened for him to come to Rome. He wanted to go to them for two reasons. He wanted to go to Rome so he could meet with them, and they could be of mutual benefit. They would strengthen each other's faith. They would pray for each other and encourage each other with testimonies of the work of God. When we meet coworkers at conferences we have never met, we can be a blessing to each other simply by encouraging each other’s faith. Paul felt a deep obligation to preach the gospel to the Romans.

Why did Paul feel such an obligation to preach the gospel? Because in the gospel, we find God’s power to save us from our sins. We are lost in sin. We cannot save ourselves. But when we believe in the righteousness of God, revealed in the gospel, we receive salvation. The righteousness we find is not in the law but is by faith. That is why “the righteous will live by faith.”

Prayer: Prayer: Father, the gospel is the power of God for the salvation for all who believe. Thank you so much for saving us with your gospel.

One Word: One Word: The gospel is the power of God

God’s Plan for Rebekah’s Twin Sons

Genesis 25:19-34

Key Verse: 25:23

And the LORD said to her,

  “Two nations are in your womb,
    and two peoples from within you shall be divided;
  the one shall be stronger than the other,
    the older shall serve the younger.”

Today's Question

What does the third commandment require?

See answer and references