Believe the Good News
We all like to hear good news. To the world, "good news" usually refers to worldly accomplishments or something to do with our worldly possessions. Good news can mean a job promotion, our favorite team winning the big game, or just learning that something went the way we wanted it to go. But this is not the "good news" our Lord was speaking of.
In all of history there was never, nor will there ever be in the future, "Good News" that can compare to the Good News that our Lord and Savior was referring to in this Scripture passage. The Good News our Lord was speaking of is in many ways beyond our comprehension. Simply put, the Good News is that we don't have to die in our sins. The sinner can be redeemed! We have hope! There is a way for even sinners like us to have eternal life with our Heavenly Father.
Oh, what Good News that is!
To be redeemed from the penalties of our sin and have eternal life in the presence of our Heavenly Father. What a gift! What Good News!
In the world that we live, "good news" often comes with strings attached. Good news often has a cost associated with it. The good news of a job promotion may have come at a cost of many years of hard work and sacrifice. You may wonder then, "What is the cost of the Good News that Jesus spoke of?" Is there a cost associated with this Good News?
The truthful answer is "yes, no, and yes." Let me explain.
First of all, yes. There was a huge cost that had to be paid to bring this Good News to us. A terrible and horrible cost had to be paid. "God purchased you at a high price..." (1 Cor. 7:23 NLT). This was a cost none of us would, or could, pay. It was a cost paid on our behalf by someone who loved us more than we can imagine. It cost our Lord His very life. The Creator of the universe willingly stepped down into His creation and became man. He showed us the loving character of His Father. He walked among us and, although sinless, died the death of a criminal. He was the Lamb of God who willingly laid down His life to pay for the sins of all mankind.
Oh, what Good News!
Secondly, no. In the way mankind normally looks at cost, there is no "cost" to us. We can't buy this Good News with gold or silver or with money of any kind. We can't earn it no matter what we do or how hard we try. Absolutely no amount of money, works, or good deeds can earn our salvation. Many are deceived on this point. The Good News tells us how God makes us right in His sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, "It is through faith that a righteous person has life" (Romans 1:17 NLT). "Can we boast, then, that we have done anything to be accepted by God? No, because our acquittal is not based on our good deeds. It is based on our faith" (Romans 3:27 NLT). Our salvation is through faith and faith alone. The Good News is priceless in value, yet no cost can be paid to acquire it. It is a free gift from our Heavenly Father.
Oh, what Good News!
And finally, yes. There is indeed a cost to us. Although we can't pay anything for this Good News, it will cost us everything we have. Jesus said unless we are willing to give everything we have we can't be His disciples (Luke 14:33). You see, our Heavenly Father wants our hearts, our minds, and even our bodies. He wants everything we have. Our Father wants us to seek Him in all that we do, to pray unceasingly, and to say at all times, "Your will Father, not mine." God calls for us to turn from our lives of sin (repent) and turn to Him. This means we are to live a life of repentance, a life of humility, and a life of obedience.
In Romans Paul says, "So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him" (Romans 12:1 MSG).
Without the Good News that Jesus brought into the world, we would have no hope. We would be hopeless and doomed, simply waiting the death sentence we so justly deserve. But...Jesus brought us Good News!
Jesus is the Good News!
All glory, honor and praise to our Redeemer Jesus.
Turn from your sins (repent) and believe the GOOD NEWS!
John & Sandy Luke
ReignDown USA Board Members
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