“For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes – the Jew first and also the Gentile.” (Romans 1:16 NLT)
What comes first to mind when you think of power? Being a lover of Mustangs, I think of a strong, powerful engine, but I also thought of the power of nuclear energy, illustrated through the destructive force of a nuclear explosion. However, as massive as the destruction caused by such a blast can be, it pales in comparison to the unharnessed power of sin unleashed in a person’s life.
Sin is what nailed our Savior to the Cross and what sentences many each day to an eternity of separation from a loving God and His holy heaven. We tend to think of gross evil when we think of sin, and it certainly is, but what’s scary is the subtlety of sin at work in people’s lives who think their own goodness is going to earn them a place in heaven.
It’s easy to understand why a rapist, murderer, gangster, or someone steeped in corruption should go to hell, but what about a person who loves their family, provides for their needs, pays their taxes, goes to church, serves the PTA or other social network and is just a good all-around person? Should they go to hell also?
That’s the frightening dimension of sin. Sin is gross negligence of the presence and power of God available to every person but only activated in and on behalf of those who choose Jesus as their Lord and Master. Sin is choosing to do things our way rather than God’s, believing what we think is best, rather than what God’s Word (the Bible) says.
The real power of God is the Holy Spirit’s activity living in and through the life of a born again believer. The writer of the Hebrew letter reminds us in chapter 12:14: “Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord.” The word translated “work” in this verse conveys the idea of “running after” or to pursue with intentionality or on purpose.
Holiness doesn’t automatically happen in our lives, we have to long for it, pursue it, desire it. And yes, of course, it’s a gift from God, but like the gift of salvation, it must be received, cherished, protected, and sought after all the days of our lives. Like salvation, our holiness isn’t received in idleness, but in pursuit of carrying out God’s purposes every second of every day and activated in and through our lives by HIS power, not ours.
William Gurnall reminds us to: “Pray not only against the power of sin, but for the power of holiness also.” What is he suggesting? Holiness of heart and life demands energy that we cannot supply ourselves, it must come as the result of believing prayer, prayer not offered by those who believe they’re good enough without it.
And here’s the scary, subtle part of that to me: my sense is too often people aren’t negligent because they don’t care, but because they don’t know to care; they haven’t been taught to care by those of us who know and love Jesus. Might our ministry to our friends and loved ones, especially those who are nominal or “borderline” believers, be to awaken them to their need to (a) seek Jesus with their whole heart, and (b) learn to pray with diligence and intentionality as they seek to grow in holiness of life.
There’s power in sin to separate us from God, but there’s more power in God’s Spirit to save, sanctify, and satisfy us in the Lord Jesus.
Food for thought.
Blessings, Ed 😊
Walking With Jesus 