God’s Power to Save

 by J. F. Dancer

When Paul wrote the letter to the saints at Rome, he explained to them why he had not yet visited them. He had promised to come and still intended to do so (Romans 15:24), but had been prevented (Romans 1:13). Then he set forth the basic principle of salvation - "…the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth…" (Romans 1:16). He was ready to preach the gospel in Rome, for it was the means by which people could be saved from their sin.

Essentially, the gospel refers to "good news" and pertains to the death, burial, resurrection, and new life (I Corinthians 15:1-8) of Jesus. There are some facts that those who are to be saved must believe. But there is also something in the gospel that demands obedience. In Romans 10:16, Paul mentions some who had not obeyed the gospel. In II Thessalonians 1:8, condemnation is promised (at the coming of Jesus) to those who have not obeyed the gospel. So, the gospel involves both things to believe and things to do, because one believes.

This is illustrated in Acts 2, where Peter and the other apostles preach in Jerusalem. Peter reminds those present that Jesus was crucified and buried, and then affirms that He was raised from the dead. He tells those present that they should "know assuredly" that when God raised Jesus from the dead, He made Him both Lord and Christ (Acts 2:36).

Upon believing this, some of the people asked what they needed to do (Acts 2:37). They now believed the facts but realized they were not right with God. What did they need to do? They were told to "repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins…" (Acts 2:38). About 3,000 of those present gladly did what Peter told them to do (Acts 2:41).

When Paul reminded the saints at Rome of what they had done to be forgiven he told them they had been "…buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life" (Romans 6:4). On down in the chapter he reminds them that when they obeyed this they were "…then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness" (Romans 6:18).

Truly, they had obeyed the gospel! They believed the facts presented to them about Jesus, and they obeyed the commands they were given. When Jesus told the apostles to go into all the world and preach the gospel, he told them that those who believed the things preached (the good news) and were baptized would be saved (Mark 16:15-16). In Acts 2, they are doing what Jesus told them to do. Certainly, those who obeyed were blessed as Jesus said they would be because their sins were forgiven.

Have you heard the good news about Jesus? He died for you, he was buried, and he arose from the dead. Have you believed and been baptized for the remission of your sins? The gospel is the power that God uses to save. If salvation is your desire, this is the way God will accomplish it.