They were convinced by the power of miraculous signs and wonders and by the power of God’s Spirit. In this way, I have fully presented the Good News of Christ from Jerusalem all the way to Illyricum. – (Romans 15:19)
We claim to preach it. We want to live in light of its message. We are commissioned to share it.
Getting the gospel right is vital to the Christian faith. Calling something “the gospelâ€Â that is most definitely not the gospel could be devastating. Saying something is not “the gospel†that is in fact part of the gospel could likewise be detrimental to our faith.
We should not be satisfied in either the kingdom camp or the atonement camp. Perhaps we can all be happy campers if we join with others in proclaiming a “both-and†gospel instead of an “either-or.â€
The proclamation of Jesus was empowered by the miracles and signs that accompanied the message (Heb. 2:3-4).
Acts shows this happening, first among Jews and then through Paul among non-Jews. Paul’s message was accompanied by the same kinds of miracles and signs as accompanied the message of Peter and the other apostles. This demonstrated that the message to the Gentiles was every bit as authoritative as the message to the Jews. This is important for two reasons:
First, the message itself was validated; and second, those who received this message and became followers of Jesus were validated.
The Holy Spirit is the source of the message, the power behind the message, and the power validating the message by works of power. The Holy Spirit ensures the validity of the message we declare and the acceptance of all peoples who respond to it.
Prayer : O God, I recognize that you are the glorious Father who every person on earth needs to know. I thank you for the power of the Holy Spirit in the message of Jesus. I thank you for the power of the Holy Spirit resting on those who declare this message and uniting people from all over the world through this message. And I pray that you continue to work with power through the Holy Spirit to validate this message and bring conviction in the lives of those who need to respond to it. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
