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Romans, Part 9

The God of the Bible

Paul firmly proclaims, in the beginning of Romans, "I am not ashamed of the Gospel, for it is power of God for salvation, to everyone who believes." I cannot leave this first chapter without calling your attention to the significance of this statement. The Gospel is the revelation of God, through Jesus Christ. It is the revelation of His nature, His relationship to His creature man, and His plan for the reconciliation of that creature to Himself. That Gospel is now transmitted to us in the Bible.

I believe the greatest danger facing Christianity today is that men are forsaking the God of the Bible, and replacing Him with a God of their own invention. Last week there was a large spread in the local newspaper about the preacher for the largest church in America. He was pictured with a Bible in his hand, and one of his critics was quoted as saying, "Too bad he doesn't use it." There is much truth to that statement. Much of his fascination for people is that he preaches that God will reward you with money and success, if you will come to Him. This could not be the same God who said, "Lay not up for yourselves treasures on earth...but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven." This God bears no resemblance to the One who said, "Blessed are the poor in spirit...or they that mourn...or those who hunger and thirst after righteousness." That's what the God of the Bible says. 

The religious leaders in many large churches today are laying aside their dependence on the Bible as their rule of faith and practice, for they find it does not enhance their power, nor allow for their hedonistic and animal nature desires. It condemns their desire for power, their ongoing greed, their perverted sexual desires, and their lust for pleasure. This spells disaster for their congregants, for it is not only important to have faith in God; it has to be faith in the God of the Bible; the One revealed in Jesus Christ. He is to be found only in the revelation, which culminates in what Paul calls "The Gospel". 

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There are millions of people in the world who believe in a great power, which created the universe. However, the only place where that power is revealed, in His nature, glory and purposes, is the Bible. If you leave that Book, you are left to the imagination of fallible men, to define for you a god who satisfies their own selfish desires. We do not have heathens proposing gods of stone and fantasy. Our danger is worse. We have sophisticated leaders of great religious institutions casting the Bible aside to define a god that pleases them. And millions are following them because their god makes no real demands, and asks for no sacrifice.

Paul says the Gospel is God's power to save those who believe. Believe what? Believe in the God who sent His Son to bring us His message of salvation...believe in the nature of that God...in His righteousness, His truth, His condemnation of sin, and His offer of forgiveness. That's the God of the Gospel, and He alone can give hope to the aching soul of suffering mankind.

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