Romans 1:16, commentary and pictures

The gospel of Christ is the power of God bringing salvation to everyone who believes. To the Jew first and also to the Greek means it was offered first to Israel, entrusted with God's revelations and awaiting the Messiah, and then freely and equally to the Gentiles from every people in one church. That gospel is Christ and Him crucified lifted up, God's love revealed in His death for the sins of the world to bring pardon, cleansing, peace and restored purity. Its power saves only those who receive Christ as a personal Saviour in living faith that works by love and purifies the soul, humbling self in full surrender and bringing His words into daily experience. To be unashamed of it is to openly confess faith and proclaim it simply to all classes and nations, for the debt to labor for Greeks and barbarians, wise and unwise, high and lowly, rests on every disciple.

Words and Historical Setting

The gospel of Christ is God's power to save everyone who believes. Its saving power is revealed in a life changed by grace, where genuine believers are not shaped by the world but show faith working through love, endure trials for truth, help those in need, and use their abilities in God's service as Christ's character is reproduced in them to reveal the Father's attributes. It can be presented simply by pointing people to Christ rather than by relying on impressive speech or human wisdom, and it brings heavenly light to darkened minds and illuminates the soul where science and literature cannot. That power must sanctify ministers who preach the Word through belief of the truth, do a thorough work in the churches, and convert every family, so that truth is obeyed in righteousness and not held in unrighteousness under the wrath of God. The next verse explains that God's righteousness is revealed through faith and that the just live by faith, while God's wrath is revealed against ungodliness and unrighteousness; those who believe are the obedient, whose growing faith helps them endure by seeing the invisible God and strengthens them to obey Him, and the faith professed must be acted by sharing received light and knowledge with others.

To the Jew first and also to the Greek means salvation was offered first to Israel and then freely and equally to the Gentiles. Israel had the first place and particular advantage because it had been entrusted with God's oracles and revelations and was awaiting the Messiah, yet the gospel is equally effective for Jew and Gentile alike and Paul was not ashamed to proclaim it to both. The message of Christ's mercy and everlasting life is for everyone who believes, gathering believers from every people into one church, and Christ's followers are to carry it from Jerusalem to all nations, tongues, and peoples. It is to be made known freely to all people, Jews and Gentiles alike. Israel's rejection of Christ brought threatened ruin requiring repentance.

Paul's readiness to preach the gospel at Rome also and his freedom from shame come from being debtor to Greeks and barbarians, wise and unwise. That debt means obligation rests on the believer to labor for all classes of men, for Jew and Gentile, learned and unlearned, for those in high positions and for those in the most lowly walks of life, for rich and poor, without distinction of class, learning, or social position. The commission to teach all nations and to teach them to observe all things commanded belongs to every disciple of Christ and is accepted in accepting Christ.

The setting is Paul's desire to proclaim this gospel in Rome even though he arrived fettered and treated as a criminal. His imprisonment made him fear that his hopes of winning many people to the truth would be disappointed, so the verse stands amid his desire to preach despite the shame and limits of his chains. Its power was later displayed in his clear, compelling public defense before Nero, which overcame error, brought light to hearers, led many to follow the truth, and would continue beyond his death to reach nations. The same unashamed faith was shown by converts in Nero's household who openly confessed their Christianity despite the hostile court around them.

What the Gospel Is

The gospel is Christ and Him crucified lifted up as the only hope, God's love revealed in Christ's death on Calvary for the sins of the world, and Christ came to bring this gospel to humanity. Its central atoning sacrifice as sin-bearer for the whole world arouses the sluggish mind, quickens mental and spiritual powers, counterworks Satan's work, and restores man to original purity and to a transformed character where obedience takes the place of rebellion. It reveals justification by faith guiding repentant sinners to the way of life, with Christ's blood as the source of cleansing from sin, pardon, and peace, offered to all who believe, Jew and Gentile alike. That ransom reaches every soul however fallen who accepts God's law as the standard of righteousness, recognizing guilt and Christ's sacrifice, turning from sin and not resisting light, while those persisting in unbelief cut themselves off from mercy. For this power to save, preaching must make Christ crucified its burden rather than pleasing fanciful discourses afraid of plain requirements, since only preaching through the Holy Spirit tendering the heart to penitence gives lasting faith, whereas mere mental assent falls away.

The gospel belongs to the whole Bible from Genesis to Revelation, not to the New Testament alone. It is revealed in all prophecies of the first advent of Christ as Saviour, and every act of the old dispensation to turn men from sin or bring forgiveness was done with reference to the Saviour to come, who is the steppingstone by which man is exalted. It does not separate the Son from the Father and His law, for to cry Christ and the gospel while turning from the Father and despising His law dishonors God, because men fail to glorify God by obeying His law, the foundation of His government in heaven and on earth.

The gospel is the doctrine of the cross, the imputed righteousness of Christ, a truth greater and more precious than any ever brought before. It surpasses what Moses brought from the mount with face glorified by communion with God, what the high priest brought reappearing from within the holy of holies, and what Isaiah brought fresh from seeing the Lord high and lifted up with His glory filling the temple, coming to people not in word only but with active divine power and efficiency working in everyone who believes. That power is conveyed when workers are imbued with the Holy Spirit, with lips touched with a live coal from the altar, deriving efficiency from God after meeting with Christ. It is additional light upon the Scriptures in the added proclamation of purity, lowliness, faith, and the righteousness of Christ, sent to prepare a people to stand in the day of God, so that many who hear will be moved and humbled and drink of the waters of life. It is to be preached boldly together with the law as faith and the righteousness of Christ, a precious subject full of light and the message for the present time to church members and outsiders at large public meetings, which outsiders understanding will feast upon and take their stand for, while needy scattered believers receive help.

The gospel is the truth, the living Word of God in Scripture, the wisdom and power of God unto salvation to all who receive it. It is revealed in the character of Christ on earth in His divinity, life, work, doctrines, sufferings and final triumphs, and that record is to be the source of strength, respected, obeyed, studied and made teacher and guide in all educational departments until teachers, children and youth discern the only true and living God as the divine object of faith, love and adoration. God's Word is true philosophy and true science, the great educating book above all human productions and human reason, to be received as a whole with no part rejected as uninspired, acknowledged as the Lord's voice, searched diligently from childhood to manhood and womanhood as for hidden treasure and as spiritual food satisfying the soul, making the obedient student wise unto salvation with power to prove its own divinity to the humble contrite mind apart from human reasonings, while refusing books that mix jots and tittles of truth with mental poison and avoiding slack haphazard work in securing an approved character. Through the Bible the Father, Son and Holy Spirit seek channels to communicate divine principles wherever people are, working in the receptive heart to produce good result. Therefore schools and conferences and churches must give the best ministerial talent to educate students and youth in the Scriptures, teaching simply as Christ taught so the highest education is plain to common people and those in darkness, since human opinions and sensational preaching count for very little. It is the believer's weapon for heralding the gospel, lifting the standard, combating error by presenting truth, holding forth the word of life, and speaking truth in simplicity without controversy, contention or wounding words.

The gospel is the science of salvation, which is the science of the Bible, pure undefiled religion and true godliness working through obedience to God in practical works of human benevolence and every plan of human kindness. This science gives light on hidden things in God's Word, so those who constantly study Scripture understand it and true natural science better than so-called learned men with boastful physical science.

The gospel is living practical renewing power in the soul from God, not merely rites, ceremonies, creeds or theories. It stands in contrast to a shut-in self-centered profession with no love for souls, no watchful care, and nothing of practical godliness, which becomes a stumbling block keeping others from taking their stand. It is pure, plain, simple, unvarnished truth, the only cure for weary sin-sick souls, transforming all who come to Christ in faith with power to convict and convert.

How It Saves Believers

The gospel saves because in it God's righteousness is revealed from faith to faith, and the just live by faith without drawing back, while at the same time God's wrath is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of those who hold the truth in unrighteousness. Those who believe are the obedient, whose growing faith endures by seeing the invisible God and strengthens them to obey Him and to share with others the light and knowledge they have received. Those who pursue transgression and refuse to repent after being visited and labored with are to be separated from church fellowship and not retained on the books, lest the saints be held accountable for their evil deeds.

Saving faith is not superficial profession, a name on the church record, supposed belief while works deny it, or mere mental assent that falls away. It is continual, growing faith working by love and purifying the soul, shown by works and by continual cooperation with God in the great work of salvation. No one can create this faith; the Spirit working upon and enlightening the searching mind creates it as God's gift, impresses truth on the heart, and enlightens those who search for truth as hidden treasure. It grows by coming to God in earnest prayer in constant distrust of self and increased trust in God behind every promise, and its power is experienced when human agents cooperate with the divine in exalting heavenly things above the earthly, as the Holy Spirit quickens every faculty of the soul and all powers of the mind, developing talent, awakening energy, and inspiring hope without confusing the intellect. Experiencing that power requires living faith that grows stronger day by day.

Its power works only for those who receive Christ as a personal sin-pardoning Saviour and become complete in Him, calling men and women to consecrate themselves and use their gifts for the upbuilding of His kingdom in the proclamation to all nations, kindreds, tongues, and peoples. It is received by humbling self and becoming meek and lowly in heart, with all glory for success belonging to Christ. It is experienced when glorifying Christ is made the great aim of life, when every purpose formed, every work engaged in, and every pleasure enjoyed is to the glory of God in full surrender to live and work and suffer for Him. That receiving is bringing the precious words of the Saviour, which are spirit and life, into daily experience, which is eating the flesh and drinking the blood of the Son of God, talking faith and walking by faith. It is received only by undivided wholehearted service and is lost when the devil is allowed to control the mind and guide the imaginings, which brings truth into disrepute.

If the gospel does not bring salvation to someone, the fault is not in the gospel, for there is no defect in God's plan for the salvation of men, but in failing to receive Christ personally and in men not being practical believers, practical receivers of the grace and righteousness of Christ. Its beauty and power are revealed to the humble, while those proud in their own wisdom and vain philosophy cannot see them, and to the unrenewed the work of God's Spirit appears foolish, the gospel remaining hidden from unbelievers because their minds are blinded. When professed receivers are not complete in Christ, it is often because the human teachers who conveyed the truth had no living connection with God themselves, so believers do not take Christ as their personal Saviour but follow afar off for lack of education in vital principles.

It carries God's own saving ability to deliver sinners from sin's horrors, convert them, transform mind and heart, and make truth sanctify the soul and make the cross triumphant. God's grace restores lost kingship and gives mastery over self, and living out its principles demonstrates this power in Christlike lives. Through grace people may receive Christlike character, be reclaimed and restored to privilege as God's sons and daughters, and become witnesses to saving power. Even those who have greatly offended God are accepted when they repent, receiving His Spirit and being sent to proclaim His mercy, as illustrated by the restored demoniacs telling what the Lord had done for them. In the converted person it produces the new birth as a child of God with changed character and circumspect conduct, giving faith that works by love and purifies the soul, making him a laborer together with God, the Lord's helping hand, whose message convicts the conscience of the sinner. It is for the regeneration of the whole being, a work to be done through sanitariums with students given training in practical missionary work during their course of study.

Received and enthroned in the heart, precious pure elevating truth sanctifies unto God and has transforming power upon mind, character, and life, sanctifying the heart and cleansing life from every species of iniquity, beginning in the home. It lifts a person from depravity and profligacy and brings every faculty into subjection to Christ and into His service. That power must do a thorough work in ministers who preach the Word through belief of the truth, in the churches, and in every family, so truth is obeyed in righteousness and not held in unrighteousness under wrath. Those entrusted with sacred responsibilities must undergo a thorough change from darkness to light, and God requires every soul that names His name to have truth thus planted and enthroned; knowing or handling truth without this heart-deep change leaves blind guides and ministers of darkness rather than ministers of God. Its power remains sure as revealed in the Bible standard, the truth in Jesus and the love of God expressed, even when professed Christians set their standard very low and fail to become pure, upright, and changed in words and actions; their failure does not disprove the truth but shows they are not what they claim to be.

Beholding a loving, tender, compassionate Saviour in the fulfilled Word fills believers with His love, grace, and benevolence to go about doing good. No one is to imitate defective men in habits, speech, manners, and character, but must individually know Christ as Saviour before studying Him as pattern and example, studying His character feature by feature, beholding His love, being filled with His charms and assimilated to His image. So transformed, believers represent Jesus Christ and through Him represent God to the world, not in words merely but by walking in His footsteps and being imbued with His Spirit, presenting Jesus who came to represent the Father. Placing the righteousness of Christ in the law distinctly reveals God in His true character and reveals the law as holy, just, and good when seen in its true character. Genuine believers are not shaped by the world but show faith working through love, endure trials for truth, help those in need, use abilities in God's service, reproduce Christ's character, and reveal the Father's attributes, with self hidden and Christ alone appearing so the world sees God in His followers in His beauty. Those who receive the blessings of grace are laid under special obligation to place all capabilities and powers at God's service and to relate themselves to the Master's work so every action reveals conversion, for the evidence in the life must prove Christianity, and an unchristian spirit proves need of reconversion lest there be disappointment in the great day of final reward.

It brings heavenly light to darkened minds and illuminates the soul where science and literature cannot, for only the Son of God can bring light into the darkened mind, taking away darkness and shining new heavenly light into the soul. In those who believe it becomes part of character and personality, making them living letters known and read by all through whom godliness spreads like leaven into the multitude. Those thus changed live in Christ, grow into His full stature, cooperate with God in a work that never perishes but lasts through eternal ages, and stand before kings and great men to show His praises, with only goodness counted as true greatness and efficiency with God.

Flowing from God as an overflowing fountain of life, strength, efficiency, and power, its power stays with true missionaries to furnish them for service. God's people must wake from spiritual sleep and put this power to use, and when used it proves more than sufficient to meet and overcome the power of the enemy. This saving power sufficient to overcome the enemy is to be shared with the whole world through the message of mercy.

Its power is found in truth when obeyed, not in numbers, wealth, worldly prosperity, or outward display. It does not lie in human ability, earthly circumstances, numbers, outward wealth, display in dress or furniture, name, companies and written vows and pledges, human capability, art, skill, or pride of physical and medical science, but in God who controls all means of success. God guides the footsteps of those who walk in the way of His commandments, and a church is truly powerful when it holds firmly to God's Word. It is the Holy Spirit working through gospel ministry, with medical missionary work bound up with it in varied methods of healing, subduing, transforming by grace, separating from sin and sinners, rescuing the wretched from vice, healing the sick, turning wrath into praise, passing by the scientist and taking common people with least light to give them understanding of principle that closes mouths of the self-exalted, making the weak as David, bringing great light to those in darkness, gathering grapes from thorns and figs from thistles, and keeping all its original power of development and practical virtue to be magnified by all who keep the beginning of their confidence firm to the end.

Proclaiming It Without Shame

To be unashamed is to acknowledge faith openly and, when asked, to explain the hope held with meekness and reverence. Those who truly possess the religion of Jesus are not afraid to bear the cross before others, but speak, sing and pray openly about what the Spirit works within them, gladly seeking help to live rightly. Faith is not to be hidden nor doctrines concealed to gain honor from the world, and educators especially are to teach Scripture openly and commend Bible religion by life and character. Lack of holy living is what makes people hesitant, leaving them without confidence toward God or before the church.

Being unashamed means carrying the banner of truth however unpopular, refusing to hold peace but proclaiming glad tidings of salvation in every place, in season and out of season. It means going forth as missionaries for God and soldiers of the cross near the end of time, facing danger, enduring privation and hardship, and suffering reproach for truth's sake with joyful faces and uplifted heads without shame because redemption is near. It is fulfilled in swift worldwide work, earnestly and swiftly crying the last message of mercy with a loud voice as pictured by the third angel flying through heaven. Those who live it prove they have tasted the powers of the world to come, stand on the solid Rock instead of sliding sand, cannot be easily moved from the faith once delivered to the saints, and are strengthened by their Leader to meet difficulty as messengers of righteousness representing Christ and revealing the triumphs of His grace.

Its saving power is proved before the world by the lives of bold last-day soldiers, with truth shining from what they speak, from their countenances and from their lives. They are marked by purity and incorruptness through the refining, ennobling influence of Christ's grace on character, by sacrifice of friends and every worldly interest, by shining faces and unswerving fidelity recorded in the books of heaven, flashing bright beams of gospel truth upon the path of those in darkness. Refined, able and educated men and women throwing the whole weight of their influence on the Lord's side, parting with friends to proclaim the unsearchable riches of Christ, show the world that Christianity exalts character into righteousness and true holiness and give evidence of what the gospel can do.

The message is to be presented simply by pointing people to Christ, rather than by relying on impressive speech, human wisdom, philosophy and vain deceit, science falsely so called, high-flown language, or dependence on human agencies. It is to be preached in simplicity and Bible godliness with lamps constantly trimmed and burning, taught plainly as to little children, with kindness of heart shown in loving deeds, with schools where the ignorant can be instructed in simple ways, and following Christ's example so students are won to Him. Putting Christ's spirit and life into earnest words spoken distinctly as real things, holding forth the word of life the Lord sends, makes known the only message unto eternal life. Ministers are to preach this gospel rather than vain philosophy, holding it forth as the word of life.

Preaching must make Christ crucified its burden, lifted up as the only hope and tower of strength in every emergency, rather than pleasing fanciful discourses that fear to present plain Bible requirements. Only such preaching, through the Holy Spirit tendering the heart to penitence and conversion, gives lasting faith, since mere mental assent accomplishes nothing and falls away. It is to be preached as a living personal Saviour in a simple and earnest manner, with calm reasoning from the Scriptures rather than excitement and sensationalism and not as human productions, so hearers lay hold by faith of the power of the Word of life and do solid, genuine, enduring work. Saving power does not come from human inventions, machinery, well-rounded sentences or faultless grammar, but when the Holy Spirit speaks through the living human agent with convincing power as living water flowing in God's own channels under the latter rain. That is received and made successful by keeping fast hold of Jesus with earnestness and energy, with a sense of personal inefficiency and helplessness and whole reliance on Him, while hearts imbued by the Holy Spirit give light, comfort and hope to those hungering and thirsting for righteousness.

Truth, the Word of the living God in Scripture, is the believer's weapon for heralding the gospel, lifting up the standard, combating error by presenting truth, and holding forth the word of life. It is to be spoken in simplicity without controversy, contention, debate or wounding words, to convince minds and relieve spiritual poverty. Communicating it floods the heart with light and convinces the mind, while by cooperation with power from God alone through the Holy Spirit it quickens, stimulates, sanctifies and strengthens the one who shares the treasures of God's Word, enabling him to make truth so plain that it vibrates in other minds. The messenger in herself is weakness while God is strength, so power to save comes from God and not from human ability, and is felt with special force when proclaimed under the Spirit through a human speaker by living faith growing stronger day by day.

Bearers become living channels of light under the Holy Spirit's power when they approach the mercy seat seeing the bow of promise, kneel with contrite hearts, and seek heaven with forceful Jacob-like earnest prayer that will not be denied. Lifted out of cherished self, emptied of self and filled with praise and gratitude magnifying the God of all grace who magnified Christ, they express truth by life and character and by lips touched with living fire, and then God reveals His power by making them sharp sickles in the harvest field. The Word and its testimony going forth, kept in view with God's glory as guide, is to fasten conviction on hearts and consciences as believers talk faith and walk by faith, speaking and acting under the Holy Spirit's guidance with strict regard for the fear of God who searches hearts. Those who walk humbly and intelligently in the light graciously given will not be left to labor in human strength, and prayer is to be made that those hearing the truth preached will indeed receive its saving power.

It must be made known freely to all without barriers erected, to Jews as well as Gentiles, as freely to one as to the other, to every class, nation, kindred, tongue and people, including the richest Gentiles and the lowliest. Fully grasping its great truths depends on the Lord opening closed eyes and awakening and quickening dulled senses, because only a short time remains to prepare for eternity. Carrying it to the heathen involves far more than churches in favored lands understand, and those with true light upon the Word are to let that light shine in good words and works. God's people must wake from spiritual sleep and put to use the power flowing from God as an overflowing fountain of life, strength, efficiency and power, and when used it is more than a match for the enemy's power.

Worldwide proclamation must be more decided on the field of conflict where battle after battle is fought, to bring souls deceived, being deceived, and erring to stand on the platform of eternal truth and do thorough work in preparation for immortal life. That requires working as never before, with liberal, self-denying, self-sacrificing contributions in all countries to keep the treasury supplied, sanctification by the Holy Spirit, humble walking with God, and making plain the words of truth with fewer human words and more Scripture. Its inherent power, too little expected, is meant to revive the true missionary spirit and send every believer into the field as home missionary and foreign missionary, each doing the work God has given him. Entered through Bible readings and holding forth the Word of life in humble reliance on the Spirit, with idols abolished and self dying and Christ living in every effort, the work advances by continual sowing beside all waters while gathering fresh seed, educating God-given powers, giving illumination through schools and the press with its far-reaching knowledge, and laboring with brain, strength and heart until God opens the way and blesses every self-denying effort.

Medical missionary work is its right helping hand to open doors for proclamation, joining Christlike care for the body with Christlike ministry to the soul so that relieving physical suffering opens the way to meet spiritual needs. Preaching that the kingdom is at hand is still to be joined, by the divine plan, with healing the sick, cleansing lepers, raising the dead and casting out devils, freely giving what was freely received through workers connected with the divine Healer. Its transforming grace and miracle-working power, witnessed before the afflicted and bringing them to the Saviour as the only antidote for sin, wins many souls, brings success in emergencies as the Holy Spirit works upon hearts so salvation is seen, and requires faith working by love and purifying the soul. Following Christ's pity, sympathy and care, using healing facilities and praying in faith for the sick, with sanitariums training students in practical missionary work for regeneration of the whole being, extends its influence. When physicians and nurses receive that saving grace and determine to do God's will, His will becomes a living working agency shutting out in thought, word and action anything forbidden, bringing a strong spiritual atmosphere where angels are present and reaching from them to patients.

Proclaimed everywhere by disciples with hearts full of deep, far-reaching benevolence and without grievous complaint, glorying only in the cross, it impelled them to the ends of the earth, caused hearts to yield to the Holy Spirit, and daily added new territory as converts confessed Christ and the bitterest opponents became champions. Paul's clear, compelling public defense displayed that same power, overcoming error, bringing light to hearers, leading many to follow truth, with influence to reach nations beyond his death. Through the church as witness and depositary of the wealth of Christ's grace, lifting the downtrodden law and presenting the Lamb that takes away sin, will finally be manifested the full display of God's love to lighten the world with glory. Christ's prayer for oneness as He was one with the Father will be answered, the rich dowry of the Spirit given, and through its constant supply His people will become witnesses of saving power.

Its power comes upon new believers fitting them at once for service, so that some filled with God labor diligently without weakening others by unkind criticism and devote themselves to carrying truth to distant regions. In small gatherings God uses people who surrender all, the believing soul gains spiritual strength, every child becomes a worker together with God, and the Spirit brings the passions of the heart into subjection to Christ. Every teacher in every line must understand and depend on this power rather than confidence in human judgment and experience, self-sufficiency, or domineering mastery requiring every worker to carry out one man's ideas. Those over others must be under discipline to God, learn from the great Teacher, understand themselves, gain deeper experience in dealing with minds, and not interfere with the Lord's appointed workers.

Knowledge made holy is saving power at work in every believer, while knowledge turned to wrong use brings destruction. Every moral and spiritual truth carries influence proportionate to its character and importance, and Christ's work was tested and brought forth prominently. The plan of redemption, center of all truth before revealed and presented anew in exalted manner from beneath rubbish and error, means everything to a lost world, draws without force or compulsion, convinces and quickens minds, thrills the soul, calls forth the intellect and prepares it for saving power, replacing old truths in the gospel framework and renovating the world as light and truth vibrate through the universe. All true evangelical work demonstrates that power when Christ is received as sin-pardoning Saviour and the Word of life is held forth to win souls, with love shown in good works begetting love and healing grace manifest in changed lives. Saving souls, brought to men because Christ died to give it, is the work most dear to infinite love, highest in God's estimation, bringing greatest satisfaction and joy to Father and Son, shared by all cooperating with Christ nigh and afar off when the redeemed stand around the throne.

Living Its Saving Power

The gospel is God's power to save everyone who believes, and that power appears in a life changed by grace rather than shaped by the world. Genuine believers show faith working through love, endure trial for the truth, help those in need, and place every capability and power at God's service so that every action reveals conversion and reproduces Christ's character and the Father's attributes. Those who remain connected with Christ faithfully develop their abilities and opportunities to benefit others and influence them for good, and the evidence given in the life must prove Christianity, for an unchristian spirit proves the need of reconversion lest there be disappointment in the great day of final reward.

Its transforming power was visibly witnessed in the humble people of Meaux, whose sincere reception made their lives testimonies to what it accomplishes. The gospel becomes effective saving power when it is woven into practical life and lived and practiced in unity and love that builds up instead of tearing down. Quarrels, dissension, discourtesy and selfishness are to be put away, and when believers are sanctified to obedience of the truth, put away all differences fully and thoroughly, and move together with blended zeal, piety and wisdom, the gospel exerts decided influence in vigorous earnest action with combined effort, mutual support, and enlargement of the kingdom in the cities. Its true interpretation joins Christlike care for the body with Christlike ministry to the soul, so that relieving physical suffering opens the way to meet spiritual need, following Christ whose power was shown in healing before calling the healed to cease from sin, with ministers praying in faith for the sick while using the healing facilities God has provided.

That saving influence is injured when ministers and workers hold lax, loose principles and make mistakes in life and example. Such wrong example grieves Christ, gives those who love talk rather than practice an excuse, gives opposition and the synagogue of Satan occasion to make much of every defection, places other souls in peril, and turns influence toward death instead of life. Keeping it effective requires deep personal holiness, holy guard over thoughts, words, habits, dispositions and character, revealing God's character, and a consistent life in which practice harmonizes with teaching so that influence cooperates with God in saving souls, especially since opposers watch for defects.

Those entrusted with sacred responsibilities must undergo a thorough change from darkness to light, for knowing or handling the truth without this heart-deep change leaves blind guides rather than ministers of God. In the converted person the gospel produces the new birth as a child of God with changed character and circumspect conduct, giving faith that works by love and purifies the soul, making him a laborer together with God whose message convicts the sinner's conscience. When a minister remains unconverted and carries objectionable traits into ministry, he becomes an instrument of the enemy, places truth in peril, diminishes his power for good, casts reproach on the ministry, and robs his message of its power to convict.

Precious, pure, elevating truth, when cherished and received into the heart, sanctifies unto God and has transforming power upon mind, character and life. Through it believers become Christlike in spirit as well as in form of doctrine and representatives of Christ to the world, and living the truth day by day makes influence pure, refined and elevated, flooding the heart with light and convincing the mind. That same power bears testimony to an unbelieving world, and its testimony either saves or condemns. By cooperation with power from God alone through the Holy Spirit, sharing the treasures of the Word quickens, stimulates and strengthens the sharer, enabling him to make truth so plain that it vibrates in other minds while impressing those helped.

Believers are to take up the work where Christ left it and reveal Christ to the world as Christ revealed the Father. Believing to the saving of the soul means taking hold of His merits, being cleansed from the defilement of sin, standing in liberty as sons of God with a wide place for the feet, and having the fullness of God's love in the heart. Then, unashamed to let it be heard, they tell what Christ has done by talking of the crucified and risen Saviour and not talking of the devil.