Gospel Dynamite

"I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise. So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." (Romans 1: 14-16 KJV)

The gospel is God's power to save the believer. The word "power" is from the Greek word "dynamis" and is the word from which we get our English word "dynamite" and its other forms. According to the English dictionaries, "dynamic' is from the French dynamique, which itself is from the Greek word dunamikos, an adjective meaning powerful, and from the noun dunamis, meaning power (force,or energy), and from dunasthai, to be able.

Today we use this English word in various ways, such as when we say that a certain movie star is "dynamite at the box office" or when we say so and so is a "dynamite personality" or is a "dynamic speaker," and when a hot potato topic is styled "political dynamite." In vernacular, we hear people say of somone - "he is a dynamo."

Gospel preachers, as Paul, are truly spiritual dynamos and dynamic speakers, and the message they preach is truly spiritual dynamite, having great power, in the hand of the Lord, to accomplish deliverance for the sin sick soul. It truly has, when blessed by the Spirit, explosive power!

"For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." (Hebrews 4: 12 KJV)

The gospel and word of God is alive and powerful! It was created and designed to be an instrument and a means to accomplish predetermined ends. Just like a sword, it is able to do what its maker designed for it to do. Yes, the sword, in itself, cannot do its work. It must be handled, must have an agent to weild or make use of the instrument. Who is the primary agent who uses this sword, this gospel dynamite?

Surely the chief agent or swordsman who effectually uses the powerful sword of truth is the Holy Spirit, or God himself; And surely too are gospel ministers, as Paul, who are also agents or swordsmen, weilding and handling this powerful spiritual saving instrument. The Holy Spirit is the first cause, and the gospel minister and message are secondary causes.

The word of God, and specially the gospel, is "alive" because it contains the very "breath of God." The word "inspiration" literally means "God breathed out the scriptures," or "breathing into them life." (See II Timothy 3: 16 KJV) God's word is no dead word, but alive and full of saving power.

"Where the word of a king is, there is power: and who may say unto him, What doest thou?" (Ecclesiastes 8: 4 KJV)

"And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power." (Luke 4: 32 KJV)

The gospel calls all men to repent of their sins, and to come to Christ for pardon and for a new life, and for salvation from sin. This call is general to all who providentially hear it audibly. But, this call is ineffectual without the attendance of the Holy Spirit's work in using that word, and he does not work the same in all who audibly hear it. Jesus said - "for many are called, but few are chosen." (See Matthew 20: 16 & 22: 14 KJV)

But oh the power of the gospel message when it is energized by the Holy Spirit! What powerful effects it brings! It is the word of the king and comes with power, when the Holy Spirit is weilding it.

"And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all." (Acts 4: 33 KJV)

What a privilege to have been the object of this work of the Spirit and the word! What a blessing to witness its ongoing effects, both in ourselves and in others who are savingly transformed by the gospel of Jesus Christ! Truly these are stories of "amazing grace"! Of the glorious power of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ! Every turned and repenting sinner is evidence of this power in the gospel, of this spiritual dynamite.

"Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls." (James 1: 21 KJV)

"Able to save your souls" is the gospel! Oh that men could truly see and believe this!

"In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise." (Ephesians 1: 13 KJV

"And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and (able) to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified." (Acts 20: 32 KJV)


Again, what power in the gospel!

"For the kingdom of God is not in word (merely), but in power." (I Corinthians 4: 20 KJV)

"For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake." (I Thessalonians 1: 5 KJV)

This confirms what has been said above; the word alone, without the attendance of the Spirit's power energizing the word, does not effect salvation, although it may, by itself, produce external reformation.

"For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe." (I Thessalonians 2: 13 KJV)

When the word is blessed to be received with faith, with an inner conviction that the word preached is indeed the very word of Lord God, it truly does transform in a miraculous way!

"Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish." (Ephesians 5: 25-27 KJV)

The word of the gospel has power to cleanse and to spiritually wash the soul of all the stains of sin, guilt, and shame. The gospel has the power to strip the sinner of all his self righteousness and to clothe him anew, in spirit, in pure snow white garments, the pure righteousness of Jesus Christ.

"The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream; and he that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat? saith the LORD. Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?" (Jeremiah 23: 28, 29 KJV)

Not only does the word of God, and the gospel message of Christ, possess the power of a sword, but also the power of a fire and the power of a hammer. What powerful instruments are these in the hands of the gospel messenger who is speaking by the Holy Spirit to the hearts of the chosen! It is that hammer that breaks the hard heart of the sinner. It is that fire that burns away all the dross of sin that surrounds a sinner's heart and soul.

"O Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee? O Judah, what shall I do unto thee? for your goodness is as a morning cloud, and as the early dew it goeth away. Therefore have I hewed them by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of my mouth: and thy judgments are as the light that goeth forth. For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings." (Hosea 6: 4-6 KJV)

Not only is the word of God a hammer, a fire, and a sword, but also an ax to chop and to hew, as a wood carver or worker in marble! The Lord uses his word, through the faithful teacher of it, to shape and to sculpt the sinner into a fine spiritual specimen of saving grace and divine power!

"But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life. And who is equal to such a task? Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, like men sent from God." (II Corinthians 2: 14-17 KJV)

The gospel is like a powerful drug, or a toxin. It has the power either to heal or to destroy life. To the believer, the gospel is life giving aroma, but to the unbeliever, it is toxic, producing nothing but death.

"Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts." (Zechariah 4: 6 KJV)

Men are saved by the Spirit and the word of the gospel. That is the formula for spiritual regeneration and new birth. It is effected, not by the power of human oratory, but by the power of the Spirit and the sword.

"Then came the officers to the chief priests and Pharisees; and they said unto them, Why have ye not brought him? The officers answered, Never man spake like this man." (John 7: 45, 46 KJV)

These officers had been sent to take Jesus by force in order that he might be arrested. But, the officers did not do as they had been ordered. Their reasoning was that they heard him speak, apparently with great power, so that they were deeply impressed, and could not perform their task.

Friend, do not neglect the word of God. To do so is to neglect the only means available for your salvation.