THE GOSPEL IS GOOD NEWS

The definition of the word Gospel can be summed up as ‘the good news,’ referring to the message about Jesus. But what is so good about this good news?

First of all, know what ‘the good news’ is not. Even after giving their lives to Christ, many believe that they need to be good for God to bless them. They become influenced by incorrect teaching or people’s expectations on them and come to believe that if they make mistakes, God is not happy with them. That is not the Gospel we read about in the Bible. The good news is not: “God is unhappy with you!”

When you give your life to Jesus, your relationship with God becomes all about what Jesus has done—not what you have done or have failed to do. Romans 5:19 (NKJV) says “For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.” In other words, one man (Adam) sinned and made us sinners. Another man (Jesus) was perfectly obedient and made all who call Him their saviour righteous (in right standing with God). Adam broke the agreement mankind had with God. Jesus restores it when you give your life to Him.

Why is it such good news? Because we don’t have to earn our way to Heaven! Your good behaviour is not involved—only come to Jesus as you are and believe.

Your relationship with God is not an “in and out” experience. Some think that when you make a mistake, you are out of His good books and when you ask forgiveness or behave well, you are in. It’s not true.

In fact, when you try to earn God’s acceptance, Galatians 2:21 (NLT) says you “treat the grace of God as meaningless.” It also says “if keeping the law could make us right with God, then there was no need for Christ to die.” After all, what was the point of Jesus’ sacrifice if you still need to earn God’s approval?

The good news doesn’t stop with Heaven. Isaiah 61:1-3 (NKJV) says “the Lord has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor…heal the brokenhearted…proclaim liberty to the captives…comfort all who mourn….To give them beauty for ashes….The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness.”

These verses tell us about the good news Jesus brings. If you feel broken, have lost hope and you can’t seem to trust again, Jesus can heal you everywhere you hurt. If you are held captive by addictions, He sets you free. If you struggle with your finances, He enables you to prosper. If you mourn, He comforts you. Even if you are mourning the loss of a dream—you do not have the marriage you had hoped for or you are filled with regret about your career—Jesus can replace your grief with joy!

There is more good news. The Bible contains thousands of promises God has made to mankind, but many in the Old Testament have ‘ifs’ attached: if you do this, God will do that. However, 2 Corinthians 1:20 (NIV) says “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘Yes’ in Christ.” This verse tells us the ‘ifs’ have been removed…by Jesus! It does not say His promises are ours if we earn them. It’s not sometimes yes. It is YES.

When you really wrap your head around what Jesus has done, you begin to understand how good the good news really is. You come to know how amazing Jesus is and you fall in love with Him more than ever before!