Unveiling the Mystery of the Gospel (Part 1 of 5)

Unveiling the Mystery of the Gospel (Part 1 of 5): The Power that Establishes the Believer

"Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ..." — Romans 16:25a

The Doctrine: Divine Establishment

In the closing of his letter to the Romans, Paul shifts from the logic of justification to a final declaration of God’s sovereignty. The Greek word for "stablish" (sterizo) means to fix something so firmly in place that it becomes immovable. Within the context of this entire letter, Paul is teaching that spiritual stability is a work of God, not an achievement of man. After sixteen chapters of explaining the depth of human sin and the riches of God's grace, Paul concludes that the only way a believer can remain firm in the "obedience of faith" is through the external power of God.

Extracting the Truth in Context

This "stablishing" does not happen in a vacuum. Note the specific boundaries Paul sets: "according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ." God does not stabilize us through vague spirituality or emotional experiences; He uses the objective truth of the Gospel. This is the same power Paul referenced in Romans 1:16—"for it is the power of God unto salvation." Furthermore, to be stablished, one must be anchored in the "preaching of Jesus Christ." This isn't just preaching about Him; it is the proclamation that He is the fulfillment of God’s eternal plan. In context, Paul is asserting that your stability is directly tied to your understanding of the Gospel he has just spent sixteen chapters explaining. If you are not grounded in the doctrine of Christ, you cannot be "stablished."

Personalizing the Truth

We must understand that this removes the burden of "self-fortification"—the proactive process of building inner strength and resilience to face life's challenges. If you feel unstable in your faith, the solution is not to look to yourself for more resolve, but to look to the Gospel. You must ask yourself if your faith is resting on your current emotional state, or if it is being established by the objective, preached truth of who Jesus is and what He has done. To be stablished is to be so convinced of the Gospel of Romans that the pressures of the world and the diverse opinions of "all nations" cannot move you from your position in Christ.

Apply the Truth

To apply this doctrinal truth, you must prioritize the intake of the Gospel. You should study the doctrine and refuse to settle for a surface-level faith; instead, dive into the "preaching of Jesus Christ" according to the mystery doctrine as revealed in our doctrine. Finally, you must submit to the Stabilizer by acknowledging that you lack the power to keep yourself. Turn to Him who is "of power to stablish you" and ask Him to anchor your mind in the specific truths of the Gospel.