Good news!
October 19, 2009 (Monday)
The Apostle Paul wrote, “I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ! (Romans 1:16).” He was not ashamed because the gospel is the good news that God saves people who believe in Jesus. He showers them with grace.
The gospel is good news of a new righteousness. The old righteousness was thought to be obedience to God’s laws. People have learned, however, that their sinful nature keeps them from always obeying the laws of God. Only Jesus has obeyed perfectly. The law, then, becomes a “schoolmaster,” teaching us that salvation cannot be earned and must be the gift of God. God puts us right with him, and we are found in him, not having our own righteousness, but his (Phil 3:9). The new righteousness is by grace through faith. It is God’s doing. It is his gift to us (Romans 6:23).
The gospel is good news of a new life. We are told in Romans 1:17 that the righteous one shall live by faith. In Christ we have a new life. It is a life free from fear. We no longer fear condemnation (Romans 8:1). Believers know they are no longer headed for hell. They have no fear of God’s changing his mind about their salvation. The new life is a life free from sin’s domination. It’s like having been freed from prison and set free. The new life is an abundant life that never ends.
The gospel is good news of a new power. It is the power of the cross (1 Cor 1:23-24). To those living by the law, the cross is a stumbling block. To pagans, it is foolishness. To us who are saved, it is the power of God and the wisdom of God. It is “the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16).
The gospel is good news — the best news this old world has ever received. It is the news that God loves us so much that he gave his only son so that whoever believes in him might not perish but might have everlasting life (John 3:16).