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Jumpstarter 8 of 10

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Historical Kingdom Christian Movements  /  The Anabaptists  /  Discussion Questions
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Question 8
Bercot contrasts the Reformers’ assurance (“Boom, you are saved… nothing can happen…”) with Paul’s “Kingdom of God is not in word, but in power” (1 Cor. 4:20), meaning power to live Christ’s life; how does this challenge common evangelical ways of talking about grace, assurance, and works, and what evidence of “power” would your community expect to see if you took Paul and the Anabaptists literally?
Another way to ask: Bercot contrasts quick assurance of salvation with Paul saying the Kingdom is “not in word, but in power,” meaning power to live like Christ. How does that challenge common talk about grace, assurance, and works, and what “power” should your church expect to see if you took Paul and the Anabaptists seriously?

Direct Answer According to Bercot, the challenge is that assurance talk that requires no discipleship turns Christianity into “words” and doctrine, while Paul and the Anabaptists point to observable power to live Christ’s life as the evidence of new birth.

Support from Transcript:

  • Bercot summarizes the Reformers’ message as: believe Christ died for your sins, “Boom, you are saved… Nothing can happen… that could take away your salvation,” and it “required no discipleship.”
  • He contrasts that with Paul: “the Kingdom of God is not in Word, but in power” (1 Cor. 4:20).
  • He clarifies this power is not miracles but “the power to live the Christ’s life,” given “in the new birth.”
  • He insists new birth is “an objective reality that transforms a person’s life… witnessed by others.”
  • He applies it: if someone claims regeneration yet “your life is not any different from that of the world,” something is wrong; there must be real transformation, even if not perfection.
Discussion Follow-ups What “words-only” assurances do Christians lean on today? If your church expected “power,” what concrete changes would it look for—especially in the hard commands Bercot listed?

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