THE EXCELLENCY OF THE POWER OF GOD

II Corinthians 4:7: We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

God instructs us to read and teach his word. This is not to be done in a way that the world calls wise but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power. The word need not be taught through plays, visual aids, or even cute little children's books. In our foolish wisdom we think we need such aids. Not so. Why is that? By saving sinners through the word, Christ the Word receives all the glory.

After all, it was Christ the Word, with no aid from any other, who accomplished the will of Almighty God. It was the Word alone who lived and died for sinners. The Word alone perfected forever those given him from eternity—Christ the Word. Giving us clear proof of how he gives spiritual life, Christ the Word called out his apostles and other disciples on this earth with only his word. With only a word, Christ the Word made the lame to walk, the deaf to hear, the blind to see.

Even so, our all-wise God brings glory to his great name by creating all things through his word. Just as God commanded light to shine out of darkness in the creation of the world his word alone makes the sinners black-heart new in light.

The Word of glory has never, nor will he ever, need man to aid him in the creation of anything or anyone. If we touch it, it is polluted. If the Word touches it, it is made perfect. Therefore the apostle says to all believers who teach—pastors or parents or any other—we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

Read the word of God. Teach the word of God. If a sinner is saved it will be by the excellency of the power of God and not of us. In this way the triune God receives all the glory in the saving of a sinner.

Clay Curtis

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