The Bible Echo, vol. 8

June 15, 1893

“The Work of the Gospel” The Bible Echo 8, 12.

E. J. Waggoner

The work of the gospel is to put GOD’S righteous works in the place of man’s and righteousness. It is to work in man the works of GOD, and to cause him to think the thoughts of GOD. It is to save him from all unrighteousness, to deliver him from “this present evil world,” to redeem him from all iniquity; that is the result; by what means is it to be accomplished?-By the power of GOD. We must know, then, what that power is, and how it is applied. BEST June 15, 1893, par. 1

Immediately following the statement that the gospel is the power of GOD unto salvation, the apostle tells us how we may know the power. “For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead.” Romans 1:20. That is, GOD’S power is seen in the things that He has made. Creation reveals the power of GOD, for His power is creative power. The fact that GOD creates is that which distinguishes Him as it the one true GOD. The psalmist says: “For the LORD [JEHOVAH] is great and greatly to be praised; He is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the nations are idols [nothing]; but the LORD made the heavens.” Psalm 96:4, 5. BEST June 15, 1893, par. 2

Again we read: “But the LORD is the true GOD, He is the living GOD, and an everlasting king; at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation. Thus shall ye say unto them, The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, even they shall perish from the earth, and from under these heavens. He hath made the earth by his power, He hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heavens by his discretion. When He uttereth his voice, there is a multitude of waters in the heavens, and He causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; He maketh lightnings with rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of his treasures.” Jeremiah 10:10-13. BEST June 15, 1893, par. 3

Psalm 33:6, 9, tells us how the LORD made the heavens and the earth: “By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth.” “For He spake, and it was; He commanded, and it stood fast.” It was made by his word. When GOD speaks, the very thing itself exists in the words which describe or name the thing. Thus it is that He “calleth those things which be not as though they were.” Romans 4:17. If man should call a thing that is not as though it were, it would be a lie; but not so when GOD so speaks, for his very word causes it to be. When He speaks the word, there the thing is. “He spake, and it was.” BEST June 15, 1893, par. 4

The same way that creates also upholds. In Hebrews 1:3 we read that CHRIST, who created all things, upholds all things “by the word of his power.” Also the apostle Peter tells us that “there were heavens from of old, and an earth compacted of water and amidst [through, margin,] water, by the word of GOD; by which means the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished; but the heavens that thou art, and the earth, by the same word have been stored up for fire, being reserved against the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.” 2 Peter 3:5-7, Rev. Ver. The creative power of the word of GOD is seen in the preservation of the earth and the heavenly bodies, and in the growth of all plants. To the same effect are the words of the Lord by the prophet Isaiah: “To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One. Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number; He calleth them all by names by the greatness of His might, for that He is strong in power; not one faileth.” Isaiah 40:25, 26. BEST June 15, 1893, par. 5

The reason why this is so is found in the fact that the word of GOD is living; being the breath of GOD, it has the incorruptible nature of GOD, so that its power never diminishes. The fortieth chapter of Isaiah is wholly devoted to showing the power of GOD, a sample of which we have just quoted. The word by which all these things are upheld is the spoken of in verses 7, 8: “The grass withereth, the flower fadeth; because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it; surely the people is grass. The grass withereth, the flower fadeth; but the word of our GOD shall stand for ever.” The apostle Peter quotes these words, and adds: “This is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.” 1 Peter 1:25. BEST June 15, 1893, par. 6

Thus we are brought around again to the statement that the gospel is the power of GOD unto salvation. But the power of GOD is shown in creating and upholding the earth; therefore the gospel is the creative power of GOD exercise for the salvation of man from sin. So the apostle says: “If any man be in CHRIST, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of GOD.” 2 Corinthians 5:17, 18. “For we are His workmanship, created in CHRIST JESUS under good works, which GOD hath before ordain that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10. The work of redemption is the work of producing a new creation-new men, new heavens, and new earth-by the same word that created all things in the beginning. BEST June 15, 1893, par. 7

(Concluded next number.)