It is then that we discover that naturally we are not fit for it, and many of God's chosen vessels have had to be kept in the work by the very power of God itself.
The creative power of God gives light and life and hope to a believing soul, and God points to Jesus, when He declared: hear Him, from His fiery throne.
You have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding Word of God. 1 Peter 1:23 But to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ - the power of God and the wisdom of God. 1 Corinthians 1:24
But they are also privileged to witness the enemy's crushing defeat, so abundant is the power of God, and thus highly is the spiritual believer honored. -L.S.C.
What think ye of Christ? for He is the power of God and the wisdom of God, and in Him is salvation- redemption.; sanctification; glorification.
God’s Christ
It is by God’s doing we are in Christ Jesus and eternally united with Him, and to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ - the power of God and Christ -the wisdom of God, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption 1Corinthians 1:24
The righteousness of Christ is imputed to us – in our new life in Christ, for Christ is the power of God and that power has raised us up into newness of life.
I am not saying that; but I am saying that if that represents for them their spiritual life if they must have that, if that is the realm in which they live... that they do not see beyond that and are not free from that as a thing in itself then they have missed the meaning of Calvary, and they are bound to miss all the meaning of Christ crucified the wisdom and the power of God.
in fastings. By purity; by knowledge; by long-suffering; by kindness – by the Holy Ghost; by sincere, genuine, agape love; by the word of truth; by the power of God; by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left; by honour and dishonour; by evil report and good report.
Do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God. (2 Timothy 1:8 ESV)
Hebrews 5:8-10 We are all living stones, being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 2:5 We have been made a kingdom of priests to the glory and power of God His Father, forever and ever!
In everything – commending ourselves as bond-servants of God… in much endurance; in afflictions; in hardships’ in distresses; in beatings; in imprisonments; in tumults; in labours; in sleeplessness; in hunger; in purity; in knowledge; in patience; in kindness; in the Holy Spirit; in genuine love; in the word of truth – in the power of God.
If the need of man were the sole measure of His grace, then man only would be thought of, the work of the Lord Jesus would be simply for man, and the power of God expended merely in rescuing man and securing his relief.
Hebrews 5:8-10 For we are all living stones, being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 2:5 We have been made a kingdom of priests to the glory and power of God His Father forever and ever!
The Father would not have His people act in the excitement of freshly-gained knowledge, and well would it often be, if instead of pushing on in the impulse of newly-acquired truth, there were first a tarrying, as it were, three days, to digest it, to make it, by the power of God’s Spirit, thoroughly part of the new man.” -H.F.W.
And all that’s required of us is to know Him – believe Him and act on His Word, And in the Lord Jesus Christ we have the power of God and the wisdom of God.
Resurrection is the supreme proof of the power of God.
We may make a lot of other manifestations of the power of God and they may all be quite wonderful we will never take anything from what is of the Holy Spirit but when we have said all, the supreme thing is the power of His resurrection.
All facets of Salvation are by the power of God and because of the grace of God. All God does in redemption, rebirth, justification; and sanctification is by grace.
All God’s Work
How sad that so many believers strive in their own strength to live a godly life, when all that is needed is to yield to the power of God working within them. But the truth is that salvation from the penalty and power of sin is ALL God’s work.
God’s Standard
The saving of believers is all by grace and requires complete dependence on Christ. The sanctifying, maturing life can only be lived effectively when dependent upon Him. But too often instead of yielding to the power of God, we strive in our own strength.
Always guarded by the power of God through faith.... In such a hope keep on rejoicing, although for a little while you must be sorrow-stricken with various trials (1 Peter 1:5, 6, Wms.).
Tough Lessons
But Saul of Tarsus met Jesus and had to be taught some of life’s toughest lessons. He learned that his own wisdom; knowledge; charisma and ability counted as nothing. He learned about faith: that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. 1Cor.2:5.
while Paul reminds us Christ is the power of God, and the WISDOM of God – Christ Jesus, Who of God became to us WISDOM and righteousness and sanctification and redemption. 1Corinthians 1:24,30
He had come to understand that the gospel of God and the message of the Cross is foolishness to those that are lost, but to us who are being transformed into the image and likeness of the Lord Jesus, it is the power of God.One of Paul's fellow-workers was a dear saint called Tychicus.
In this verse, after reminding the Corinthians of his and his co-workers great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; through glory and dishonour, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; Paul is able to conclude that he and his co-workers were sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.
We should rejoice in our calling and our birth, our salvation, and our sanctification, knowing that death has been conquered, and we are kept by the power of God unto good works and words.
But the glory of the gospel and the eternal truths that it contains far outweigh the pain of persecution in this world, and so Paul confesses: I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for he knows that it is the power of God that brings salvation to ALL who believe.
He did not hesitate to proclaim the gospel of Christ to a skeptical world of fallen men, despite his message being a stumbling block to the proud Jewish nation and foolishness to educated Greeks citizens, for Paul knew: The gospel of Christ is the power of God unto salvation for everyone who believes.
But today, the gospel is to be preached to Jew and Gentile alike, for all have sinned, all fall short of the glory of God, and all need the gospel of Christ: Which is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes on the Lord Jesus Christ.
He knew it is the power of God for salvation to all who believe, and it was while on the witness stand that he summarised his encounter with the risen, glorified Lord Jesus Christ, on the road to Damascus.
He is Jesus Who has been made to us: The power of God and the wisdom of God, and righteousness, and holiness, and redemption, and salvation, belong to Him.
May we not be ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation for ALL who believe – through Christ Who loved us and gave Himself for us.
We should not be ashamed of the glorious gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation for all who believe, and yet the majority of mankind reject His gracious offer of salvation by grace through faith and pour scorn on the irrefutable, undeniable, incontrovertible evidences of His divine majesty.
The message that Paul delivered was a demonstration of the power of God as the Holy Spirit worked through him, causing a spiritual stirring in the hearts and minds of those that heard his healing words of truth which brought them to a saving faith in Jesus Christ.
Paul relied on God alone and delivered the message of the Cross which is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
But to those of us who have been saved through faith, walking in truth and love, and growing in grace through the process of sanctification, it is the power of God.
Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God, and the message of the Cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, the message of the Cross and the shed blood of Christ is the power of God to all who believe.
But he also showed his delight that the gospel he taught didn't simply come by word-of-mouth, but also came through the supernatural power of God: Our gospel did not come to you in word only, Paul wrote, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction.
He wanted the supernatural power of God upon which the gospel is secured to be the focus of their attention.
Although Paul understood that faith comes by hearing and hearing from the Word of God, which is generally communicated through speech, verbal communication, or the direct teaching of a minister, he wanted to get across that the gospel he delivered is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes; to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
The grace of God appeared on earth in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ, for He is the power of God and the wisdom of God, and through Him alone was salvation brought to all men (for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and the wages of sin is death but the gift of God's grace is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord Who appeared in Person, bringing salvation to all men).
May we nail our spiritual colours to the mast of our little boats, walk in a manner that is worthy of the calling wherewith we were called, and may we not be ashamed of the gospel of Christ for it is the power of God to all who believe.
What a wonderful testimony of these dear saints of God, and what an encouragement to us to boldly proclaim the glorious gospel of Christ, which is the power of God unto salvation for all who believe.
Paul came to them, determined to preach nothing but Jesus Christ and Him crucified, knowing that the message of the Cross is the power of God unto salvation, for all who believe.
He knew that the gospel of Christ was the power of God to salvation to everyone who believes...to the Jew first, but ALSO to the Gentile, and for this reason, he was the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of the Gentiles.
The shed blood of Christ as the redemptive price for the forgiveness of sin and His glorious Resurrection from the dead with its promise of eternal life and our blessed hope in Christ's soon return, is our glorious hope and our sufficient strength, for it is the power of GOD and the wisdom of GOD.
But to us who have been saved by grace through faith in Christ Jesus and who continue to 'be being saved' through the wonderful, sanctification process of the indwelling Holy Spirit conforming us day by day into the likeness of Christ Jesus our Lord, the message of the Cross is the power of God and the wisdom of God, to Whom be all praise and glory for ever and ever amen.
The severity of the previous six judgements caused many in Pharaoh's court to recognise the almighty power of God, respond to the warning they received, and honour His holy name: There were those among the servants of Pharaoh who feared the Word of the LORD.
They needed to be reminded that spiritual revelation and the Christian faith must not be based on the human wisdom they appeared to honour, but on the power of God and His perfect, holy wisdom and Word.
Paul understood that the practice of prayer would result in spiritual growth and maturity in the faith, because of the power of God and His precious promises.
Finally, let us rejoice that the power of God to change the unbelieving hearts of the ungodly is the same in our own generation as it was in Paul's day.
And all who are saved by grace through faith can rejoice in Christ Who is the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
His understanding is a table that is overflowing with good things, and all these good things are all found in Christ – Who is the wisdom of God and the power of God - and by grace through faith, we are one with Christ and He is of God.
The spiritual fruit of the believer who shares the truth of the gospel with others and points souls to Christ, brings life and truth and hope and salvation to the lost, while in Chapter 15 we find: A wholesome tongue is a Tree of Life, while perversity is a breach in the spirit. Both verses point to Christ as Word of truth, the Nourisher and Sustainer of the soul, for in Him is Life, and He is the wisdom of God and the power of God, for all who believe.
He recalls the great mercy and protective power of God towards His blood-bought children, and the incorruptible and undefiled inheritance that is ours in Christ.
Paul's apostolic ministry is an example for us all to emulate, and in this verse he explained the reason he had to undergo the different troubles and trials he listed; Paul was faithful to lift up the name of Jesus and preach the gospel of Christ, which is an offence to the world: For the word of the Cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
Paul proclaimed the gospel: In truthful speech; in the power of God and by the weapons of righteousness on the right hand and on the left.
Paul spoke the word of truth through the power of God wherever he went.
Paul was not ashamed to preach the gospel of Christ wherever he went, for he knew that it was the power of God unto salvation for all who believe, but he relied on the sustaining power of God in the Person of the indwelling Holy Spirit, to keep him and equip him in his task.
When we as children of God are empowered by His Spirit, we have an assurance that no matter from what direction the attacks of the enemy may come, we are enabled to stand fast: By the Word of truth; in the power of God and by the weapons of righteousness, both on the right hand and on the left.
Paul was never ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for he knew it was the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes and so he reminded Timothy, and us, that suffering for Christ's sake is a heavenly badge of honour, and encouraged us: Join with me in suffering for the sake of the gospel, according to the power of God.
We are sealed by the Spirit, preserved, and protected, and we are kept safe and secure by the power of God until the day of redemption, and nothing can pluck us out of His hands.
To the Jews it was a cause for stumbling, and to the Gentiles it was foolishness, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Gentiles, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God.
By grace, through faith, Noah and his family were kept securely by the power of God, while the wicked were condemned for not responding to His offer of salvation: For whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned because he has not believed in the name of God's Son.
During his lifetime, Paul had to face much personal criticism and significant hostility towards his message and his ministry, but he was not ashamed of the gospel, because he knew the gospel of Christ was the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.
And throughout the Word of God, we discover that, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and that the Lord Jesus Christ Himself is the power of God and the wisdom of God, to all who believe - and we are one with Him.
We become new creatures with a new nature, a new beginning, and a new destiny, imputed with Christ's righteousness and receive an eternal inheritance in Christ: Born (again), not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but born from above, by the power of God.
We are not to be ashamed of the gospel of salvation which is the power of God unto all who believe, and we are to glory in the name above all name, Christ Jesus our Lord.
The message of the Cross is foolishness to those who are wise in their own understanding and who are perishing, but to us who have been saved by grace through faith in Christ's sacrificial death and glorious Resurrection, it is the power of God and the wisdom of God.
The teachings of these unscrupulous men, were contrary to the teachings of Paul - for the preaching of the cross is an offense to those that are perishing, but to those who are saved, it is the power of God unto salvation.
Paul was not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for he knew that it was the power of God unto salvation for all, both Jew and Gentile alike who would trust in Christ for the forgiveness of sin.
The indestructible life of Christ Jesus, was greater than king David, for He was raised from the dead by the almighty power of God and was the perfect Sacrifice for their sin – and by faith in Him, redemption would be theirs.
When the Christian Church was birthed at Pentecost, Peter stood up and addressed the men of Israel and Jewish converts. He told them that Jesus of Nazareth, Whom they all witnessed performing many mighty miracles through the power of God, was the promised descendent of king David, and that He was to sit on the throne of His father, forever.
Paul knew that Timothy could be timid and was sometimes intimidated, and so he encouraged him not to be embarrassed to testify of the Lord Jesus, nor to be ashamed of Paul, his father in the faith: Rather, share in suffering for the gospel, by relying on the power of God, were Paul's encouraging words.
The plain message of the gospel of Christ was simple and straightforward so that the faith of these Christians, and those that would follow, would not be founded on the wisdom of men - but on the power of God.
Paul's message may have been unimpressive from a human perspective, but the message of the gospel is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes... and Jesus Himself promised... that if HE was lifted up... and the gospel of God was spread abroad... the Spirit of God would draw all men to the Lord Jesus.
However, we who have been saved by grace through faith in Christ, do have a responsibility to share the good news with others - as led by the Holy Spirit, so that their faith and ours does not rest on man's wisdom but on the power of God - alone.
God has turned the values of man on their head so that the boastings of the carnal heart will be utterly demolished by the wisdom and power of God so that no one may ever boast in themselves.
The gospel of truth that these believers had embraced so readily, is the same gospel that is freely available to all who will trust on the Lord Jesus Christ: For the gospel of Christ is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes, and all who abide in Christ will grow in grace and produce the precious fruit of righteousness.
And it is not what we do that keeps us in the power of God, but the promises of the Lord Himself, Who pledged that, nothing can pluck us out of His hands and nothing can remove us from the hands of His Father.
But in a wonderful chapter that describes with unspeakable joy the glorious expectation of the Body of Christ, and the wonderful inheritance of the saints that is kept for us in heaven by the power of God, this single verse has often become a stumbling block.
As believers today, we should not be reluctant to be labelled 'Christian' for in so doing, we acknowledge the Person and Work of Lord Jesus Christ in our lives, for in Him is the power of God unto salvation for everyone who believes.
Trusting in the power of God and His faithfulness towards His people, together with a dedicated prayer life, is often the process God uses in forwarding His own plans and purposes for the redemption of His people.
The moment you trusted Christ as Saviour, you were born into a heavenly inheritance that can never fail and is being kept by the power of God in heaven for you.
Timothy had not abandoned Paul, like so many other Christian colleagues, so the apostle used this opportunity to encourage the younger man to remain faithful to his calling, to fan into flame his spiritual gift, and never to be ashamed of the gospel he preached, for it is the power of God unto salvation to all who believe.
The promise of the New Covenant was to be fulfilled in the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ - such that all who trust in Him as their perfect, sinless, Kinsman Redeemer - Jew and Gentile alike, are beneficiaries of this gracious promise which includes a renewed heart and an enlightened mind - with godly understanding and right judgements - and this would come through the power of God's own Holy Spirit.
And in light of these superlative facts, Peter presents a heart-felt motivation that should spur on all believers who are kept by the power of God, towards godly conduct, righteous living, and unceasing joy.
From the limited, finite perspective of fallen man, the Cross is idiocy, but from the omniscient, infinite, eternal perspective of our holy and righteous God, Christ is the power of God.
Romans has been one of the greatest discourses on Church age doctrine and Christian living, that not only defines the gospel... but gives some of the greatest insights into the glorious gospel of Christ - which is the power of God unto salvation to ALL who believe.
Just as Christ was raised from the dead by the power of God, so too the believer-in-Christ will be raised into newness of life, through the same wonder-working power of the almighty God.
But those of us who are saved by grace through faith in Him, recognise the Cross as the power of God and the wisdom of God.
When you look at the person of Christ, you see the one and only Person that is able to save a lost sinner; you see the one and only Work that was carried out for the redemption of fallen mankind, and you see the one and only gospel of the grace of God: the message of the Cross, which is foolishness to those that are perishing but to us who have been saved it is the power of God and the wisdom of God.
We started our spiritual journey by grace through faith in Christ, and we are kept throughout our life-journey by the power of God by faith, but we are to exercise that faith in Christ by believing the truth of His Word, by trusting our lives into His hands, by abiding in Him and He in us, and by learning to say: Thy will, not mine be done.
It was Isaiah who prophesied: I will destroy the wisdom of the wise and bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent, for when Christ is rejected, ignored, dismissed, ridiculed, or replaced, the wisdom of this world is brought to nothing, for Christ is the power of God, and Christ is the wisdom of God.
Let us take to heart the truth of the gospel and share the gospel message to all we meet: For the message of the Cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, to us who are being saved it is the power of God and the wisdom of God.
Paul taught that like all born-again believers, they would also be kept by the power of God, because He is faithful to keep His promises to His people, even when we are faithless towards Him.
The gospel of Christ is the power of God unto salvation for everyone who believes, for it is by faith we are saved... but how many refuse to place their trust in the very God Who created them, and Who sent His only begotten Son to be the sacrifice for the sin of mankind.
Just as we were saved by the grace and power of God, so also, we are to be established by that same grace and power, through the ongoing process of sanctification.
The only way to develop in our Christian faith is by the power of God within.
Just as God established Paul in his Christian faith and consecrated him as apostle to the Gentiles, so too we are established in Christ and sanctified - through the power of God within.
Because we are children of God, we have been given everything we need for life and godliness, and all we need to do is to appropriate what is ours through the power of God, Who establishes us.
For in Him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom, knowledge, truth, and life eternal, for Christ is the power of God and He is the wisdom of God, and we are one with Him, by faith.
Let us never forget that the gospel of Christ is the power of God unto salvation to all who believe and let us share the truth with all who will listen so that many who kneel before Him will do so willingly, and joyfully confess Him as Saviour and Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Man in the arrogance in his own prideful understanding, is increasingly dismissive of the Cross of Calvary, the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and the glorious gospel of grace, and yet it pleased God in the wisdom of His will, to demonstrate the power of God and the wisdom of God through His own crucified Son.
And to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks (to those who have trusted Christ Jesus as Saviour, by grace through faith), Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God.
Another significant distinction was that they stood fast on the authority given to the Lord Jesus, believing that the same mighty power of God had been entrusted to them, in and through the name of Jesus.
Their testimony included Christ's absolute sovereignty, proof of their divine authority, the immense power of God, and their proclamation of the glorious gospel.
The Lord God was their Defence and Defender, and so they fought under the authority, direction, and power of God, Who from that day on, became to Israel: Jehovah-Nissi: The Lord Is My Banner.
Jesus is the only Way, the only Truth, and the only Life eternal, and NO-ONE comes to God the Father except through God the Son, by the power of God the Holy Spirit.
No wonder the apostle Paul was able to write: We preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, CHRIST the POWER of God and Christ the WISDOM of God.
God laughs to scorn any intelligent analysis or pseudo-scientific premise that circumnavigates the Cross of Christ, or renders His crucifixion as an insignificant delusion, for: Christ is the power of God and Christ is the wisdom of God.
And the gospel that Romans declares is the power of God unto salvation to all who believed, for in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith as it is written: For the righteous will live by faith.
Peter reminds us that as we walk through this Christ-rejecting, sinful world, our miracle of new birth guarantees that we are also being kept IN this world by the power of God.
He created the heavenly host and is greater than every angelic being, for He is the wisdom of God, the power of God, and the express image of the invisible God.
It was Christ's triumph at the Cross that enabled John to proclaim to all who believe: You are from God, little children, and have overcome them. The strength of the enemy may be great, but greater is the power of God almighty.
At salvation, we received Christ's resurrected life, which gives us the opportunity to draw on His sufficient power, for without Him our old nature can do nothing, but in Him our new life can do all things for He is the power of God, from Whom our strength is drawn.
In Him we are kept by the power of God, and one day in Him we will be finally glorified, for in Him we have all we need for life and godliness, in this life and in the ages to come.
A crucified Messiah was a scandal to the Jew and an offensive stumbling block, but Paul preached Christ crucified, for it is the power of God unto salvation for everyone who believes, to God's chosen people first but also to the Gentiles, for the message of the Cross alone is able to save His people from slavery to sin and release them from the curse of the Law.
His death paid the price for our sins and the gift of His resurrected life is the power of God for our justification, as well as the ongoing process of lifelong sanctification for all who trust in His name.
In this day when every aspect of the glorious gospel of Christ is a stumbling block to many and foolishness to those that are perishing, let us remember that the message of the Cross is the power of God and the wisdom of God to all who believe, for the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger.
But he also gives an evaluation of those that are saved by grace through faith in Christ; who recognise the message of the Cross as the power of God for salvation, to God's eternal glory and praise.
And the Word of God proclaims the gospel of Christ, the message of the Cross, which is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.
Peter rejoiced in God's great mercy, knowing that all who trust in Christ for the salvation of their soul through faith in Him, are shielded by the power of God until the coming of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ - Who is ready to be revealed at the last time.
And we are also to ask the Lord to: Deliver us from evil, where our heart-cry is to be kept by the power of God from the artful wiles and cunning schemes of the evil one who delights to shipwreck the faith and limit the effectiveness of all God's children.