The Power of the Gospel to Establish Romans 16:25

As Paul the apostle continued his final words to the believers in Rome, he told them, “the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.”, and in chapter sixteen and verse twenty-five of Romans Paul shared with the believers about, “the power to establish you according to my gospel” where we read:

Now to him that is of power to establish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,

The verse begins, “Now to him that is of power to establish you according to my gospel, ...”. The writer began with the word, “now” which means “moreover and” “to him that is of power” or “to the one who is able by virtue of his own ability and resources, state of mind, favorable circumstances or permission of law or custom” “to establish you” or “to make the believers in Rome stable, firm, set fast, fixed, strengthened, constant and confirmed” “according” which means “down from, through out, toward and along” “to my gospel” or “Paul's glad tidings and good news of salvation through Jesus Christ”. Paul referred to the one who is “capable and able” to make the believers in Rome to be “stable and confirmed” by Paul's “good news of salvation”.

The verse goes on to say, “... and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,” Paul added the words, “and the preaching” which means “and the heralding and proclaiming” “of Jesus” whose name means “Jehovah is Salvation” and is “the Son of God, the Savior of mankind and God incarnate” “Christ” which refers to “the anointed One, the Messiah and the Son of God”, “according to” which means “down from, through out, toward and along” “the revelation” or “the laying bare, the disclosure of truth concerning things before unknown” “of the mystery” which means “pertaining to the hidden, secret and unknown purpose or counsel”, “which was kept secret” or “that was hidden and unknown” “since the world began” or “from the time begun whether short or long”. Paul referred to the “power to establish” the believers in Rome through the heralding of “Jesus Christ” which before was “hidden and secret”.

When we think through the words of this verse, we see how he referred once again to the presentation of the “good news” of Jesus Christ which was “hidden and secret” since the beginning of the world. When man “sinned” in the garden of Eden, (See Genesis 3: ) he became separated from a relationship with God. Since that time God set forth a plan to send His Son Jesus as the “Savior and Lord” who would pay the price for the “sins” of the world and restore the relationship with Himself. Paul's commission was to “herald” or “preach” this message to everyone, and those who put their “faith and trust” in Jesus shall not only be “saved” and “established” but shall also receive “everlasting life”.

Next time Paul tells the believers in Rome how the gospel was, “made manifest....to all nations for the obedience of faith”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.