Things New and Old: The gospel is NOT the power of God unto salvation.

Things New and Old

Ancient truths revealed in the Scriptures are often forgotten, disbelieved or distorted, and therefore lost in the passage of time. Such ancient truths when rediscovered and relearned are 'new' additions to the treasury of ancient truths.

Christ showed many new things to the disciples, things prophesied by the prophets of old but hijacked and perverted by the elders and their traditions, but which Christ reclaimed and returned to His people.

Many things taught by the Apostles of Christ have been perverted or substituted over the centuries. Such fundamental doctrines like salvation by grace and justification have been hijacked and perverted and repudiated by sincere Christians. These doctrines need to be reclaimed and restored to God's people.

There are things both new and old here. "Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things" 2Ti 2:7.

Sunday, March 16, 2025

The gospel is NOT the power of God unto salvation.

The gospel is NOT the power of God unto salvation.
The gospel is the message that declares God's power
in saving His people in Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ is the power of God,
and the wisdom of God, unto salvation.

Romans 1
¶16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
(every one that believeth - present active participle, every believing one)

Below are 4 translations (N, R, E and K) of Romans 1:16.
Do they read all the same to you? Are these translations saying the same thing?

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. (Niv)

For I am not ashamed of the gospel: it is the power of God for salvation to every one who has faith, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. (Rsv)

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. (Esv)

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. (Kjv)
(note: only Kjv reads "the gospel of Christ".)

Can you discern the STARK differences?
What do you actually believe? Does it matter to you whether you believe the truth or fables?

##1
Why is Paul not ashamed of the gospel of Christ?
Paul is not ashamed of the gospel of Christ because he is most certain and assured that the gospel, the good news of what God has done in Jesus Christ to save His people, will be perceived and received by the believing ones as a message declaring the power of God unto salvation.

The gospel is NOT the power of God unto salvation.
The gospel is the message that declares God's power in saving His people in Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ is the power of God, and the wisdom of God, unto salvation.

1Co 1:24 "But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God."

The gospel is the good news. Good news declares the POWER of God, ALREADY exercised, unto the salvation of His people; and the gospel is perceived and received as such by the believing ones - those already regenerated by God.

1 Cor 1:18 "For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God."

Good news inform and instruct, edify and educate, renew and liberate THOSE who are ALREADY saved by the power of God in Jesus Christ. The gospel of Christ... what about it?

Well, the gospel of Christ PRESUPPOSES the prior power of God ALREADY EXERCISED in the work of salvation. Otherwise, there would be NO gospel! The gospel is the good news of what has happened by the power of God in Jesus Christ. It is not the good news of something good will happen by the power of God on condition that you do something!

To deny this is to leave Paul WITHOUT the gospel of Christ, and how could Paul be ashamed of that which did not exist?

##2
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. (Niv)

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. (Kjv)

Niv says what the gospel DOES to everyone who believes - the gospel BRINGS salvation to them.

Kjv says what the gospel IS to every believing one - the gospel is the message declaring the power of God unto salvation (i.e. the gospel is the good news of God's power unto salvation) to them. To others the same message is foolishness!

1 Cor 1:18 "For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God."

See the VAST difference now between NIV and KJV????????

##3
For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as ...it is written, The just shall live by faith.
======

For in the gospel of Christ is proclaimed the great news of the righteousness of God's own provision in Jesus for the salvation of His people.

The gospel is proclaimed from faith to faith; it is preached by those who believe to those in whom the Spirit of God has worked faith within them.

Why would Paul be ashamed of the gospel when he is assured that the just (those justified freely by the free grace of God while in the state of condemnation and death) shall live by faith, THAT IS, believe the gospel? ONLY those already freely justified by God's grace are capable of believing the gospel of Christ.

Sin, the transgression of the law, brought condemnation and death.
Righteousness, through Christ's obedience to the law, secured justification and eternal life. Romans 5:18.

This righteousness secured by Jesus Christ in His work of redemption is freely accounted to each elect when God justifies them by His grace.

Romans 3:24 "Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus."