The apostle Paul boldly stated, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek" (Romans 1:16).

Paul was not ashamed of the gospel of Christ because it is the power of God for salvation. The word "power" is translated from the Greek word dunamis, from which we get our English word "dynamite." The gospel is not a mere story or philosophy. It is the power of God!

The gospel has the power to pierce the heart and judge man's thoughts and intentions (Hebrews 4:12), to cast down every thought, scheme, and false doctrine which exalts itself against the truth (2 Corinthians 10:5), to turn sinners away from the power of Satan and unto the light of God's grace (Acts 26:18), to rescue men from the power of darkness and deliver them into the kingdom of Christ (Colossians 1:13). When received into one's heart, the gospel has the power to cause one to be born again (1 Peter 1:23) and to grow and produce fruit (Luke 8:15). The gospel has the power to save man from the punishment of his sins (Romans 6:23) and to restore his fellowship with God (2 Corinthians 5:18-20). How could anyone be ashamed of such power?

It must also be pointed out that Paul correctly stated that the gospel is the power of God for salvation - not one of many different powers. The gospel does not share this distinction with any other religious teaching or tradition that can be found in the world. The apostle Peter said of the name of Christ, "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12).

If the gospel is God's power for salvation, then why do we find churches in our area involved in all kinds of programs and events that have nothing to do with the gospel? If the church is in the soul-saving business, then what right does it have to be involved in any other kind of business?

The Knollwood church of Christ is not ashamed to state that the only thing that we have to offer to Beavercreek is the soul saving gospel of Jesus Christ.

This week (Sep. 4-9, 2011) we will be engaged in a Gospel Meeting. We have invited Neil Tremblett from Bloomington, Indiana, to come and preach the gospel for us during this meeting. Everyone is invited to come and hear gospel preaching.