Inherent power (δύναμις) describes the potential for functioning, the ability or capability to carry something out.
Inherent ability is often translated as, “power”, “wonders”, “mighty works”, or “miracles”, which can cause a lot of confusion in understanding what is being expressed. However, when we go back to its roots, we find that it refers to a person’s natural innate capacity or talent without the need to be taught or trained.
In Matthew chapter eleven, verses twenty through twenty-three, Jesus rebukes Chorazin and Bethsaida for their unbelief because of all the many manifestations of inherent ability that were done before them. In comparison, if these works had been done in Tyre and Sidon, these cities would still remain. However, in the day of Judgment, it will be more tolerable for these cities than for Capernaum, Chorazin, and Bethsaida.
During His earthly ministry, Jesus demonstrated His authority by bestowing inherent ability upon the twelve disciples. He sent them to Israel to proclaim the gospel of the Kingdom of God, equipping them with the inherent ability and authority over demons and diseases, Luke 9:1.
The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to those who are being saved, it is the inherent ability of God, 1 Corinthians 1:18. The gospel of the Christ has within its words the inherent ability to save, Romans 1:16. It is important to clearly and without modification state the good news by which we are saved that is laid out by Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. Christ died on behalf of our sins, was buried, and rose again on the third day according to the Scriptures. Unlike the message of the Kingdom of the Heavens, which could be snatched by Satan out from the mind of the one who did not understand, Matthew 13:19, once a person believes the gospel of the Christ, it cannot be snatched from their understanding. We proclaim Christ crucified, to the Jews a scandal, and to the Gentiles foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jew and Gentiles, Christ is the inherent ability and wisdom of God, 1 Corinthians 1:24.
Knowing the inherent ability of His resurrection is of far more value to Christians than anything this world has to offer, Philippians 3:8. We are to be conformed to His death. God imputes the death of Christ to those who are in the Christ, rendering the sin nature ineffective and separating us from the world system, Philippians 3:10. Therefore, we are not to live according to the strong desires of the flesh, or seek to fulfill the desires from the world system, for God also imputes Christ’s resurrection so that we can now walk in newness of life, living out the righteousness we have in Christ, Philippians 3:11. This is the true inherent power of the Christian life, for we have been given all things pertaining to life and godliness to live out the righteousness we have in Christ.
