Grace and Peace Episode Season 2 Episode 3
Presbyterian Church of Easton
February 6, 2022
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 1:7)
Romans 1:16 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. 17 For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”
The Apostle Paul was writing during the height of Roman power. Everywhere he looked Roman legions were there to project Roman power and to preserve the PAX ROMANA, or the peace that comes from supreme Roman authority. Compare this to the gospel Paul was preaching. He talked about a single person, Jesus, who had been arrested, convicted and executed. Which of these two, Rome or Jesus was more powerful? Paul argued that Jesus was more powerful.
The gospel of Jesus Christ is more powerful than any political power because it is the power to transform lives. Through the Holy Spirit our sins are forgiven and Christ’s righteousness is imputed to us. When God looks at us in judgment, our savior, Jesus Christ, declares us forgiven. Our bondage to sin and Satan is broken. We transformed to a new life in Christ.
So which is more powerful: the PAX ROMANA or the Gospel of Jesus Christ? There is no question about it. Rome’s power was a temporary blip in history. The Gospel of Jesus Christ has been transforming lives for two thousand years. So the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the most powerful thing ever unleashed on earth.
According to Paul the transforming power of the Gospel of Jesus is only available to those who believe. We never earn our own salvation. Our God is holy, and we can never measure up to his standard alone. But if we believe in the Gospel of Jesus Christ then we receive its transforming power.
How does the Gospel of Jesus Christ do all of this? It proclaims that the righteousness of God, not our own personal righteousness, is imputed on us. This means that the perfect righteousness of Jesus Christ is reckoned and accounted to the believer. By obeying God, all the way to cross, Jesus earned perfect righteousness which belongs to us through faith.
Let’s pray. Heavenly Father, we ask you to reveal the Gospel of Jesus Christ to us through the church. Give us the gift of faith. And bless us with new, transformed lives. We pray all this in the name of Jesus. Amen.
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