The most sole facet of Christianity is its all-sufficiency in things pertaining to life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). The cause of our Lord does not need gimmicks, entertainment, family life centers, gyms, or any projects of men in order to attract the people. The gospel of Jesus Christ can stand on its own merits as the one and only message of redemption. Gimmicks have no power to make men faithful to Christ. God’s Word has the power, His only power to save men from sin and place their feet on the way of holiness (Romans 1:16). People listen, the gospel has not lost its power! When people were attracted to Christianity and the church in the first century, they were drawn to Jesus by means of His doctrine! The Holy Scriptures truly supply us with the complete revelation of all that mankind needs for time and eternity (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Sergius Paulus was interested in hearing the truth. When he responded, he responded to the word of God, not to the “warmth” that flowed from Paul or Barnabas or the assurance that his “felt needs” would be met. The text says he believed because he was “astonished at the doctrine of the Lord” (Acts 13:12).
The system of faith, once delivered (Jude 3), shall never be broken (John 10:35). God’s word is enduring (1 Peter 1:25; Matthew 24:35), “is quick, and powerful” (Hebrews 4:12). The power of the word of God is compared to the crushing impact of a hammer which breaks a rock into pieces (Jeremiah 23:29). “Buy the truth, and sell it not …” (Proverbs 23:23). The truth is the only means of salvation (1 Timothy 2:4). It is the only deliverance from sin (John 8:32), the only principle of holiness (John 17:17), and the one thing needful (Luke 10:42). There is only one thing which will build up the saints of God and that is the “most holy faith” (Jude 20). It is exceedingly clear, as one reads the New Testament, that God’s power (1 Corinthians 1:18) does not rely upon gimmicks of men. James says, “Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls” (James 1:21). We are made clean by His word (John 15:3; 1 Peter 1:22), not by our wisdom! People, when we think the plan of God, the One who rules in the kingdoms of men (Daniel 4:25), needs help from our schemes and gimmicks we are sadly mistaken (Acts 7:48-50). Man cannot direct his steps (Jeremiah 10:23); his heart is not a dependable guide (Proverbs 28:26); his way may be in error (Proverbs 14:12); man’s thoughts are not God’s thoughts or God’s ways (Isaiah 55:8-9). God’s word is active and working, powerful enough to do what it is designed to do (Isaiah 55:11).
Listen, the very nature of God’s word is such that it will do its job in the one who hears it. It gives men the “power to become the sons of God” (John 1:12). The word of God is a lamp to guide us (Psalms 119:105); to make us free (John 8:32); make us wise and complete (2 Timothy 3:15-16). It is the standard in which all men will be judged by in the last day (John 12:48). So, we must all abide in the teaching of it (2 John 9-11); preach and teach only that which is in the Bible (Galatians 1:6-9); do not add to or take away from it (Revelation 22:18-19); speak as the oracle (words) of God only (1 Peter 4:11). “For do I now persuade men or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ” (Galatians 1:10). Only those who do God’s will will be saved (Matthew 7:21-23). God’s written word is the only sure way (2 Timothy 3:15-17).