The “Good News” is the dominant theme of the preaching of Jesus and the apostles. The “Good News of the Kingdom of God” is mentioned over thirty times in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and as many times in Acts.
So then, what’s so good about this good news? Any study of the Bible provides us with the following understanding of the wonderful depth of how good this News really is:
• Jesus’ message of the “Good News” is counter intuitive. The good news of the Gospel is so amazing, that it has been said, if you don’t say to yourself, “this is too good to be true”, you probably have been misled, or misunderstood the message. Most of the popular religions in the world, demand good works and behaviour modification, in order to be accepted by the gods. But the “Good News” Jesus and His apostles taught, insisted that acceptance by God is “not by our good works”, but because of the free gift that is accepted by believing in Jesus. “When people work, their wages are not a gift, but something they have earned.” Romans 4:4. “Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. God has made us what we are. God made us to do good works” Ephesians 2:9-10. In other words, we have not been saved by our good works, but for good works.
• Believing and placing one’s trust in Jesus’ acts and words, provide us with supernatural access to eternal life with God that empowers us to do good. “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23
• It assures us that Jesus has made it possible for us to be free from all guilt and shame. “let us come near to God with a sincere heart and a sure faith, because we have been made free from a guilty conscience” Hebrews 10:22.
· Through faith in Jesus Christ we can be transformed into “new creatures” and as such are empowered to live lives that can be as influential on others as Jesus’ was. 2 Corinthians 5:17.
• This new life that is available to us is shared by millions, and will inspire innumerable acts of compassion and be a positive force to alleviate human suffering and poverty.
This all looks to me like wonderfully GOOD NEWS!
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