GOOD NEWS

The Good News of Jesus Christ

“[Jesus] said to them, ‘I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well; for I was sent for this purpose.'" - Luke 4:43

The Bible is an amazing book with one central theme. That grand theme is the good news that Jesus Christ came into the world to redeem sinful people. This is what is commonly referred to as the Gospel, which simply means “good news.” Many people today have heard bits and pieces of “the gospel,” but often the gospel message as it is revealed in the Bible is largely unknown. Please take a minute and allow us to share with you the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to the Bible, God’s Word.

The Bible tells us an incredible story about God. There is one triune God, three persons united in love - Father, Son and Holy Spirit. God is perfect in every way, in His love, mercy, goodness, and justice. He created us to live in perfect harmony with Him. As a loving parent provides rules to protect their child, so the Father, in His love for us, provided laws for our good and well-being. While God is perfect, we are not. We’ve all chosen and behaved in ways that are contrary to Him. This rebellion against God’s laws, care and authority is called sin. Because God is perfectly just and righteous, He cannot have harmony with us in our sinful state. The penalty of our sin is death, and separation from our Creator in hell for all eternity.

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." - Romans 3:23

"For the wages of sin is death..." - Romans 6:23a

But... there is hope! In His great love for us, the Father made available a way, a substitution for the penalty of our sin. He sent His Son Jesus Christ into the world as a man - He was fully God and yet fully man; but the Son lived a life without sin, perfectly pleasing to the Father. Then, Jesus willingly paid the penalty of death for our sins on the cross. He was the perfect sacrifice. In the Jesus’ death, God poured out His wrath - the wrath that we deserve - onto His Son.

"But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." - Romans 5:8

But Jesus was more powerful than death - after three days, He rose from the dead, defeating sin and conquering death once and for all. It’s in the power of the Son’s resurrection from the dead that we can receive new life in the Holy Spirit. We can have the perfect righteousness that we didn’t earn, that Jesus provided for us. And for all of eternity, we can live in right standing with the Father. The way we receive that is by turning from sin, which means we reject our own way of living, our own way of trying to make ourselves acceptable to God. We put our full hope and confidence in the work of Jesus Christ on our behalf. And one day, Jesus will return to earth to judge sin and purge the world of evil.

"Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come." - 2 Corinthians 5:17

Make no mistake, this good news demands a response. If you want to be forgiven of your sin and saved from its consequences, you must believe in Jesus Christ (John 3:16). If you want to know that your relationship with God has been restored, you must receive what He has done for you (Romans 10:9). You must acknowledge that there is nothing you can do to save yourself - that salvation is a gracious gift from God (Ephesians 2:8-9). You must admit that you’re not a good person, you’re not doing fine, and you do need a Savior. Ultimately, you must surrender control of your life to Jesus (Galatians 2:20). Are you ready?

Do you believe that you have rebelled against God and deserve His wrath? That Jesus Christ is the Son of God who died the death that you deserve for your sins? That He rose from the grave and lives to stand in your place as your Substitute and Savior? If that is your heartfelt conviction, you can tell Him in words like these… “Jesus, I know I can’t save myself, and I know you have promised to save those who repent and put their faith in you alone. I trust you to forgive my sins and give me eternal life. Thank you for dying in my place to make my salvation possible!”

If you’ve done that, then a whole life of getting to know Jesus lies ahead, beginning right now! There’s much more to learn from the Spirit of God who comes to live in all those who put their trust in King Jesus!

If you would like to know more about the message of the good news of Jesus Christ, we invite you to contact us to begin a conversation. We would love to hear from you!