WE ARE BELIEVERS
By Bishop Mike Okonkwo
Saturday 17th August 2024
“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 1:16 (KJV)
Grace is too good to be true. God is no more imputing sin upon your life. You are not a sinner! Apostle Paul said in Romans 1:16: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth…” The scripture doesn’t say to everyone who keeps the Ten Commandments or attends church. We often call ourselves Christians, but that is not what the Holy Spirit calls us.
The disciples were first called Christians in Antioch (Acts 11:26). The word Christian means followers of Christ. What the Holy Spirit indeed calls us is ‘Believers’. And all over the New Testament, the scripture refers to us as believers.
The gospel is the power of God to all who believe. “For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, the just shall live by faith.” (Romans 1:17 KJV). Why should I believe? It is important that you believe so that you access the power of the gospel. And that is where many have the problem. They find it difficult to accept their righteous standing, according to the gospel. Without faith, we cannot please God. And without faith, we cannot receive what grace has supplied. “…If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.”(Mark 9:23 KJV)
Jesus said to Thomas: “… because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.” (John 20:29 KJV). The believer doesn’t go by what he sees but by what God has said. You don’t believe you have a car when you have one because you know you already have it. We are called believers, so that what God says concerning us, even though we have not seen it, we believe that it is so. A believer calls those things that are not yet seen as though they are.
Further reading:John 20:24-30
Daily Bible Reading: Morning – Psalms 97-99, Evening – Romans 16