Gospel (Good News)

Ever wonder what God's Word has to say to you?

The Bible is 100% true and completely trustworthy.  Not only has this book been proven throughout history, we can know that what it says about the future will also happen.  God gave the Bible as a means of communicating who He is and what our purpose here on this earth is. 

For instance, the Bible says that we are all sinners.  After careful consideration, I'm sure you will agree that there are things in your life that are not pleasing to God.  This is sin.  Unfortunately, God does not compare us to other people and then pick the best people in the end.  Romans 3:23 says "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."  This means that God compares us to Himself - and He's perfect!  No matter how good we may think we are or how good others may tell us we are, God sees our sin, and we all fall short.  None of us is good enough for God. 

So how do we take care of our sin problem? 

There's no way we can be as good as God.  We can't do enough good to outweigh the bad.  In fact, Isaiah 64:6 says "We are all infected and impure with sin.  When we proudly display our righteous deeds, we find they are but filthy rags."  Even when we try to do good, we are doing it for the wrong reasons:  To make ourselves look good.  To get someone to do something for us.  To show to God that we are really good people.  Trying to appease God by doing good things is gross to Him.  Why?  Because He made a better way.

Let's see if you can pick out what God says we need to do in the following 3 verses:

• Acts 16:31 - "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved..." 
• John 3:16 - "For God so loved the world, that He gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."
• Romans 10:9 - "...If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."
• Mark 1:15 - "...The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel (good news)."

We could continue, but are you getting the idea?  The word "believe" was in each verse.  The only way we can be made good in His eyes is by His way (believing that Jesus died, was buried, and rose again).  God wants us to humble ourselves and come before him, sorry for our sin and admitting that we can't do it on our own.  

Then What?

Let's think about this... God loved me so much that He sent His Son, Jesus, to die a horrible death, and even worse, He wore the shame and disgrace of my sin so that I wouldn't have to be punished.  The only appropriate response is love for this awesome God.  Gratefulness that we are not doomed to an eternity without God's grace. 

Hebrews 10:26-27 & 19-24 says:

²⁶If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, ²⁷but only a fearful expectation of judgment ...

¹⁹Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, ²⁰by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, ²¹and since we have a great priest over the house of God, ²²let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.  ²³Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.  ²⁴And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds...

What does this mean?  NOW is the time to do good!  Out of love and appreciation for all that God has forgiven us of and all that He has given us. 

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