The transforming power of faith

Good morning, everyone,

Our theme for month: “Sound doctrine, strong faith”

Our Bible verse for today: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek.” Romans 1:16 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “The transforming power of faith”

One of the reasons God requires us to live by faith is because faith is transformative. We certainly see that in the life of the Apostle Paul. Verse 16 is both the theme of this letter to the Romans and the theme of Paul’s life. The Gospel of Jesus Christ – the Good News that God will forgive your sins, that you will have the promise of eternity in heaven, and also that the Holy Spirit will enter your heart now and begin a lifelong transformation to change you from the person you were into the person God wants you to be – that’s the story of the Gospel. It is the best news the world has ever heard. That Good News is for everyone, and it is such a powerful truth that anyone who chooses to embrace it, by faith, will experience the power of God at work in their lives.

That is the message Paul drives home in this letter, but it was also the story of his own life. By Paul’s own estimation he was the worst of all sinners. In 1 Timothy 1:15 Paul wrote this about himself, “This saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners – and I am the worst of them. But I received mercy for this reason, so that in me, the worst of them, Christ Jesus might demonstrate his extraordinary patience as an example to those who would believe in him for eternal life.”

Paul was referring to his own radical conversion to faith in Christ. We read about it in Acts chapter nine. Up to that point Paul had been one of the most fanatical and fearful Pharisees. He hated Christians; he persecuted them; he hunted them down; he even presided over their executions. When he said he was the worst of all sinners he wasn’t exaggerating.

But then he had an encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ. He placed his faith in Christ for the forgiveness of his sins, was saved, and then radically transformed. Paul went from being the biggest enemy of Christianity to being a missionary, evangelist, preacher, teacher, church planter, mentor to other pastors, and God used him to write that largest portion of the New Testament. It was a radical transformation that illustrates the power of faith.

No matter how lost a person is and how far they are from God, no one is beyond the reach of the Holy Spirit. If that person is still breathing there’s a chance for them to come to faith in Jesus, and as we have seen in the life of the Apostle Paul, faith in Jesus is a powerful force. It brings about a radical transformation.

Tomorrow we will consider some additional examples of this important truth. For today, I encourage you to never give up on anyone – no matter how far away they seem from God. Pray for them; witness to them; believe that they can be saved and transformed.

God bless,
Pastor Jim

(If you like what you are reading in these daily devotionals and if you would like more content from Oak Hill Baptist Church, join us on Sundays at 10:00 – in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you just can’t make it, online at www.YouTube.com/@oakhillbaptistcrossville

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