Good News

I think if I were to poll 10 random people, 10 out of 10 would say that they would enjoy hearing good news. All of us are prone to what good in our lives, in one way or another. As I wrote a few days ago about the bad news all of us have inherited thanks to our parents (Adam and Eve), naturally, we want to hear about the good news. If you are like me, I want the bad news first...but want to end on the good news. So, on this beautiful Saturday in Acworth, I'd like to submit to you the good news...

We get the definition of the Gospel from the idea of, "good news." euaggelion (yoo-ang-ghel'-ee-on) which can translate: a good message, i.e. the gospel -- gospel. Mark 1:1 begins with this beautiful word in the original language. Jesus is good news. His life, His obedience to the Father, His willingness to absorb the Father's wrath off of us...and His resurrection from the grave is all the Gospel. The good news that I submit to you today is that through Jesus, we are given the gift of a legal right, a reception of His grace and forgiveness, the beauty of His adoption, and the joy of His presence for all eternity.

Simeon waited to see Jesus for he knew of the Gospel. Read Luke 2:30. John the Baptist declared the Gospel when he saw Christ, read John 1:29. John outran Peter to the empty tomb because of the Gospel, read John 20. The sweet joy of Christ is the good news of His atonement for us. Want to hear good news today? Repent (turn away from) your sins (to break God's perfect law), and turn to His goodness thru His Son.

The gospel gives us a new heart (2 Corinthians 5:17). The gospel gives us a new birth (John 3). The Gospel gives us transformation (Romans 12:2). The gospel gives us the proper way to live (1 Peter 1:15). The gospel gives us something to talk about (Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:15, Luke 24:47). The gospel is good news for in it, we are given life (John 10:10), and everlasting joy (John 3:16).

Do you have this good news? Do you realize that according to His Holy Word, rejection of His Son results in the reception of His wrath? (see John 3:36). Repent and believe in the Gospel today (Acts 3:19, 8:22). Enjoy Him forever. The tomb is empty! That's good news.