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."
