“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, " (Romans 1:16-17).
Power is defined primarily as; to be able, the ability, to act, capability of producing an effect, whether physical or moral: potency; might, strength, force, or energy in action.[1] Today as Christians we have access to great power. Through His Spirit we can know the mystery of God's power, "the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory; the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood" (1 Corinthians 2:7). The power is in words taught by the Spirit, those being written upon our hearts, not by human wisdom, but by combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words, the Spirit of God and the Word of God (1 Corinthians 2:10-13).
1 Corinthians 4:20 ESV"Christian people fall into a certain outward method of procedure, a peculiar outward mode of uttering their faith, which becomes to true godliness what the body is to the soul. The form is useful, the form is necessary, the form ought to be vitalized—just as the body is useful and is necessary and is vitalized by the soul. If you get both the form, as modeled in the Word of God and the power, as bestowed by the Spirit of God, you do well and are living Christians. If you get the
power alone, without the ordained form, you somewhat maim yourself. But if you get the form without the power, then, you dwell in spiritual death"[2].
To say that I am a Christian and to lack the power thereof is to be spiritually dead. But for most Christians they are operating in a "biblical worldview", not producing or experiencing the power. The letters to Timothy warn that in the end time, there would be people in the church, that would be "holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power" (2 Timothy 3:5). These people are "unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God", v.3. They would be "always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth" (2 Timothy 3:7).
Ultimately "these men also oppose the truth, men of depraved mind, rejected in regard to the faith" (2 Timothy 3:8). They do not operate in power, nor in the spiritual realm, but in a worldview that is biblical, with a mind that denies the very power of faith in Jesus Christ. They have a knowledge of the bible, ever learning, yet they lack the power thereof. "There will spring up in the Christian Church and round about it, a body of faithless men who profess to have faith—ungodly men who will unite with the saints—men having the form of godliness but denying the power"[3]. The power is in what the world thinks is foolish, the power is what turns our wisdom upside down, the power is in and through Jesus Christ. "For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power" (1 Corinthians 4:20).
"For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God" (1 Corinthians 1:21-24). The foolishness and weakness of God is wiser and stronger than men. "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9).
"I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all" (Ephesians 1:18-23).
Words - Hawk Nelson
Power is defined primarily as; to be able, the ability, to act, capability of producing an effect, whether physical or moral: potency; might, strength, force, or energy in action.[1] Today as Christians we have access to great power. Through His Spirit we can know the mystery of God's power, "the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory; the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood" (1 Corinthians 2:7). The power is in words taught by the Spirit, those being written upon our hearts, not by human wisdom, but by combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words, the Spirit of God and the Word of God (1 Corinthians 2:10-13).
power alone, without the ordained form, you somewhat maim yourself. But if you get the form without the power, then, you dwell in spiritual death"[2].
To say that I am a Christian and to lack the power thereof is to be spiritually dead. But for most Christians they are operating in a "biblical worldview", not producing or experiencing the power. The letters to Timothy warn that in the end time, there would be people in the church, that would be "holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power" (2 Timothy 3:5). These people are "unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God", v.3. They would be "always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth" (2 Timothy 3:7).
Ultimately "these men also oppose the truth, men of depraved mind, rejected in regard to the faith" (2 Timothy 3:8). They do not operate in power, nor in the spiritual realm, but in a worldview that is biblical, with a mind that denies the very power of faith in Jesus Christ. They have a knowledge of the bible, ever learning, yet they lack the power thereof. "There will spring up in the Christian Church and round about it, a body of faithless men who profess to have faith—ungodly men who will unite with the saints—men having the form of godliness but denying the power"[3]. The power is in what the world thinks is foolish, the power is what turns our wisdom upside down, the power is in and through Jesus Christ. "For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power" (1 Corinthians 4:20).
"For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God" (1 Corinthians 1:21-24). The foolishness and weakness of God is wiser and stronger than men. "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9).
"I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all" (Ephesians 1:18-23).
Words - Hawk Nelson