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Jesus Good News

The good news of Jesus and His Heavenly Father are absolutely complete. I am aware that many want to add to it. In some cases, some completely remove the core of the message and nothing of value is left, other than a promise of prosperity and feeling good about myself. What I have from Jesus is all I need and I am complete as a result.

The stunning part of the good news is the glorious riches we share in.

The key to understanding the gospel is to know why it’s good news. To do that, we must start with the bad news. The Old Testament Law was given to Israel during the time of Moses. The Law can be thought of as a measuring stick, and sin is anything that falls short of God’s goal and the “perfect” according to that standard. The righteous requirement of the Law is so stringent that no human being could possibly follow it perfectly, in letter or in spirit.

Despite our “goodness” or “badness” relative to each other, we are all in the same spiritual boat—we have sinned, and the punishment for sin is death, i.e. separation from God, the source of life. In order for us to go to heaven, God’s dwelling place and the realm of life and light, sin must be somehow removed or paid for. The Law established the fact that cleansing from sin can only happen through the bloody sacrifice of an innocent life.

“I am not ashamed of the good news (aka gospel), because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile” (Romans 1:16).

The good news is a bold message, and we are not ashamed of proclaiming it. It is a powerful message, because it is God’s good news. It is a saving message, the only thing that can truly reform the human heart. It is a universal message, for Jews and Gentiles both. And the good news is received by faith; salvation is the gift of God.

The gospel is the good news that God loves the world enough to give His only Son to die for our sin. The gospel is good news because our salvation and eternal life and home in heaven are guaranteed through the Messiah.

“He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus the Messiah from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you” (1 Peter 1:3–4).

  • Colossians 1:25–27 (NASB) —Of this church I was made a minister according to the stewardship from God bestowed on me for your benefit, so that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God, that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints, to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is the Messiah in you, the hope of glory.
  • Romans 10:12–13 —For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Master is Master of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; for “Whoever will call on the name of the Master will be saved.”
  • Ephesians 3:8 —To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of the Messiah.