Thursday: Power of the Gospel
Daily Lesson for Thursday 26th of February 2026
Read Colossians 1:28-29. What is Paul’s focus? Why do you think “everyone” (ESV) is repeated three times?
The focus of Paul’s preaching was Christ and Him crucified (1 Corinthians 1:23). According to Ephesians 5:27, the purpose of Christ’s sacrifice is “that He might present her [the church] to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish” (NKJV). Thus, the aim of Paul’s gospel preaching is to “present everyone mature in Christ” (Colossians 1:28, ESV). He does this by teaching and warning—teaching the various points of Christian doctrine and practice (2 Thessalonians 2:15, 1 Timothy 4:11, 1 Timothy 5:7, Titus 1:9) and warning of the consequences for rejecting the gospel and of the dangers of false teachers (Acts 20:29-31, Romans 16:17).
Image © Krieg Barrie at Goodsalt.com
This is how we grow to be mature Christians, by accepting the teachings and heeding the warnings of Scripture. Maturity is an important concept. The parents of a newborn baby celebrate every milestone—first words, learning to walk, and learning to read. What parent would not be alarmed if their child, after several years, was still unable to walk or talk? Growth and development are normal and expected. The same is true of the Christian life.
The Greek word translated “mature” (teleios) means perfect and without defect. Through the process of Christian growth, we become keenly aware of the depth of God’s law and that its requirements are “exceedingly broad” (Psalms 119:96, NKJV). We understand it extends to “the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).
But we need to be careful, which is why Paul used the word “warning” in Colossians 1:28. The way that “seems right . . . is the way of death” (Proverbs 14:12, NKJV). Spiritual discernment comes from a Spirit-guided knowledge of God’s Word. False teachings usually have some truth but either add to or take away something of what the Bible says (see Isaiah 8:20). The latter often succeeds, if not by directly doubting what God says, then at least by questioning whether it is really possible or whether it is applicable to our day. We must be wise as serpents but harmless as doves when it comes to discerning doctrinal truth from error.
How do you understand what it means to be “perfect in Christ Jesus” (Colossians 1:28)? How does an understanding of what Jesus accomplished for us at the cross help in knowing what it means to be “perfect in Christ Jesus”?
For a day out, Carmel and I visit Sydney. It is a 90-minute train ride to the heart of the city. We usually catch one of the ferries and sit out in the sun and travel out to the coast at Manly or Watsons Bay, or we travel up the river to Paramatta. The total cost for the whole day’s travel is $2.50 each. It is the best travel value for money ever. We enjoy it because Sydney is a really beautiful city. The combination of harbour, iconic buildings such as the Opera house and the City Tower, the Coathanger Bridge, the harbour foreshore, the great surf beaches make for a visual feast.
But every time we go there, we see cranes sticking out above the buildings, orange street barriers blocking the streets, jackhammers belting the living daylights out of sandstone rocks. Most recently they built a Metro railway under the city. In spite of the fact that the whole thing was underground, they had to knock down buildings and dig huge holes for new stations. Sydney is a city under construction. I have lived near Sydney for most of my life now and it has always been under construction. The contruction never stops. Not only are they expanding it, they are renewing some of it. There is a constant battle between those who want to keep the heritage and those who want new shining buildings. For the most part it works and Sydney has always remained beautiful.
Perfection in Christ is best understood when we recognise that we are a work under construction. This is not a paint or veneer job, finished by lunchtime. God does not want us to look good, he wants us to be rebuilt from the ground up. And that is the work of a lifetime.
Amen, for that very awesome reflection.
how much time do you want to get ready and fit for heaven. God is calling you to be ready (having removed all sin from your life) now. Not tomorrow or the following day…ready now. Today may be your last day and you will not get to heaven being a sinner. These lessons can be so weak at times. They bring too much philosophy into it. We should be dealing with Scripture as it reads and not so much some philosophical understanding. Ellen White warns against philosophy. RH Aug 19, 1909
Bible:
I rest in that promise.
What is grace?
Definitions do not do grace justice. It is like icecream, you have to experience it to appreciate it.
Amen…!
How is that going for you, Lesley? Not for others, you? I’m just curious. Have you removed all sin from your life? It’s easy to condemn others just like the pharisee did to the tax collector. And can you actually remove all this sin from your life? I think when we just see how much sin encompasses, it is impossible to remove it from our lives. Now Jesus can do it. But the secret is to abide in Him and let Him work and cooperate with Him. Otherwise, we will not have any joy in Him anyway and I’m not sure we’ll want to go to Heaven either.
Christian faith is more than a collection of facts or doctrines; it is the power that flows from knowing Christ personally. The gospel is not only for those who are lost; it is for believers as well. The good news speaks into every area of our lives, our health, our marriages, our parenting, and our careers. We need the gospel daily. That is why we must dive deeply into the Word to truly understand it and lay hold of all that the finished work of our Lord Jesus Christ has made available to us. The world urges us to anchor our hope in human achievement or in doctrine alone, yet neither can truly connect us to Christ. As James reminds us in James 2:19, even the demons believe true things about God—and shudder. Their knowledge does not lead to delight in God’s infinite perfections but to fear of His coming wrath. True faith is not merely believing that God is one; it is trusting and treasuring Him through the transforming power of the gospel.
The Bible says that the gospel of Jesus has great power to save all mankind. On the other hand, some had it being preached by Jesus Himself, but got lost. Likewise, in the world today, millions upon millions have had the same gospel; unfortunately, they will be lost. So where does the power of the gospel lie? Paul says, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes…” (Romans 1: 16). The gospel is the only power that God has to save mankind. It is real and powerful for salvation. This power is not mechanical, but it is only available to those who have received (accepted) it and believe it. Paul continues to say that “The word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:18).
The gospel is always powerful, but it depends on the heart upon which it falls. Jesus illustrated this reality through the parable of the Sower (Matthew 13). The gospel must be received for its power to be manifested in the life of the receiver. Paul continues to stress the human responsibility in enabling the power of the gospel. ““If you confess with your mouth… and believe in your heart… you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9). The gospel does not subjugate the human free will. Therefore, for the gospel to work in our lives, we must accept its authority by surrendering our lives daily to the leading of the Holy Spirit. We must yield to the will of God.
The Bible is clearly emphatic that we should never neglect the gospel of Jesus. “How shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?” (Hebrews 2:3).The danger is not only neglecting the gospel but also being indifferent and hardening of our hearts. “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.” (Hebrews 3:15). In fact, greater warning has been given to us, for whom much truth has been revealed. “Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required.” (Luke 12:48). If we continue sinning because the gospel has power to save, we deceive ourselves.
“Dear friends, if we deliberately continue sinning after we have received knowledge of the truth, there is no longer any sacrifice that will cover these sins.” (Hebrews 10:26, NLT)
The Gospel breaks down barriers of hostility between people.It removes divisions based on race, status, or background.
The gospel of Jesus Christ which is also defined as “the good news” is the only antidote to our sick and dying world – a world plagued by suffering, misery, pollution, heart-wrenching wars, terrorism, hunger and death etc. The prophecy of 2Tim. 3:1-5 is also fulfilling upon us
2 Timothy 3:1. But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come:
2. For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3. unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good,
4. traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
5. having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!
The gospel (good news) is the only proven source of joy for humanity right now and as we spread the gospel (good news) in a friendly manner, we will discover the power of the gospel (good news) to heal wounded hearts, mend broken homes, give hope and assurances to the rejected sinner, give peace to the suffering and above all the gospel (good news) will give a sense of direction to our lost world.
The question is do we have enough of the gospel (good news) in ourselves to be able to share with others?
The world right now needs men and women, filled with the gospel (good news) and possessed by the Holy Spirit to spread the gospel (good news) to every nook and cranny of the world, preaching Jesus Christ with all our might as the only solution to humanity’s misery and pains.
“And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.” Matt. 24:14
Colossians 1:27. God wants to use you to attract others to Him with the glorious riches of what has been revealed and which is seen by Christ living in you, who is our only hope of glory. Colossians 1:28.
Therefore, we preach Christ, the substance of our message, and with all earnestness we teach and warn everyone so that we may present them to God complete in Jesus Christ because of what He has done for them. Colossians 1.29 I work hard, using all my energies for Him, but He is the One who strengthens me and keeps me going. From The Clear Word
To be perfect in Christ is to nudge, encourage, influence, others to the foot of the cross of Christ. With our talents, sometimes so meager and seemingly so simple and humble, yet it is those of us who are willing to be made willing who Christ highly values in partnership in His efforts to draw people to Him. There Christ draws them to himself, if they do not resist the drawing they become as we, followers of Christ, growing, yes growing over a lifetime into perfection in, yes in Christ. Everyone has their own understanding of what it is to be in Christ, we must be careful to restrain, hold back if you prefer, from judging people who have not grown into Christ as much yet as we have.
God bless in you all’s journey with, in, and of Christ.
We are perfect as long as we continue to abide in His grace. It is ok for us to our human part to attain perfection but realizing that God completes our efforts makes it all powerful.
Being “perfect in Christ Jesus” means relying on Him completely—trusting His righteousness, letting His character shape us, and growing step by step through His grace.
The cross shows us that perfection in Christ is not about reaching sinlessness through our own strength. It is about being made whole through His sacrifice and being changed over time by His love.
As Paul wrote, “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27). His presence in our lives is what makes real spiritual growth and maturity possible.
Hebrews 10:26 is a serious warning, but it is not meant to take away hope. It does not mean that someone who struggles or falls into sin cannot be forgiven. It points to the danger of knowingly rejecting the truth and continually choosing a life of rebellion against God.
In that sense, the passage is both a warning and an invitation: hold on to the truth, remain sensitive to the Holy Spirit, and trust that Christ’s sacrifice is enough for all who truly repent and continue walking in faith.
Becoming perfect like Christ is not about self-generated sinlessness; it is about complete responsiveness to divine love. Perfection, in its deepest sense, is mature love — a heart so surrendered that nothing resists God’s will.
Therefore, we must ask the Holy Spirit to reveal whatever hinders our deeper response to the love being poured out upon us daily. This is not to discourage us — but to refine us.
God’s love is always moving toward us, but it waits for our cooperation. As we continually respond to His unfailing love, it reshapes our motives, purifies our desires, and aligns our character with Christ’s. In this way, perfection is not something we achieve apart from Him — it is what His persistent love produces in a heart that does not resist.
The love and grace of Christ, the Author and Finisher of our faith, never stop. The question is: will our surrender keep pace with His unfailing love and grace?
Knowing and accepting the teachings of scripture is important, but somehow I feel maturity has to go beyond that, surely. I know people who are about as grounded in the “truth” as anyone, but they are not necessarily a blessing to be around. Maybe we need to also be deeply grounded in the Truth (Jesus). I believe maturity or perfection is a very broad thing.
The Gospel is the power of God that saves us from sin and presents us faultless before the father.
Therefore we should come boldly to the throne of grace that we might find grace during the time of need.
Perfection can be studied. It can be desired. But, from a human point of view, perfection can be called BALANCE. Balance also has a name!