THE POWER OF THE GOSPEL

 STUDY 251

THE POWER OF THE GOSPEL

TEXT: Romans 1:13-17; 6:16-23

Everyone is naturally sinful, self-centred and evil. As a result, all laws enacted to regulate the social, moral and commercial life of an average human being have failed to transform their lives. People even make resolutions and decisions to desist from certain crimes but go back to them as soon as the decisions were made. Thus, every natural human is helpless against sin. The inherent sinful nature propels man to seek ways and means of exploiting laws to his advantage. A few people whotry to be morally good and bound themselves with vows and resolutions soon discover that “for the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do”. The fact of the matter is that we are by nature Servants of sins for  "whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin".

Hope through the Gospel

"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". It is the gospel of Christ that can break the  yoke of sin and bring total Freedom. We should not expect a better world we fail to preach the gospel because it is through it that the Holy Spirit will bring conviction on sinner and lead him to repentance and faith in Christ. The gospel is the only hope for man. Without it, man is lost forever. Through the gospel. our relationship with God is restored. We are delivered from the power of darkness and translated into the kingdom of God's dear Son. Also, joy, pence, satisfaction and security become our inheritance.

Harvest of Ripened Field

With all the benefits of the gospel, 'we do not well' if we hold our peace. The lepers of Elisha's day will stand against us on the day of judgment. We owe our generation a debt and God a duty. If we are to be freed from the blood of men, we must let them know the provisions God has made available in the gospel for their salvation. The time we have to do it is now because "the fields ...are white already to harvest!" (John 4:35). Delay can be dangerous.

1. From the text, how does a believer manifest his love to:

i. Christ — Romans 1:16

ii. Sinners — Romans 1:13-15

2. List two things mentioned in Romans 6:22 that we  can experience through the gospel

3. Discuss what changes the gospel brought about in the lives of the following:

i. Zacchaeus — Luke 19:1-6

ii. Paul — Acts 9:1-6, Philippians 3:4-8

iii. Mary Magdalene — Luke 8:2,3

iv. The Samaritan woman — John 4:39-42