Oh what joy for those whose rebellion is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight!
Yes, what joy for those whose record the LORD has cleared of sin, whose lives are lived in complete honesty!
Psalm 32
For the prostitute who desperately wants to change, who knows she is living a dirty life and needs God to clean her up, who wants to live a holy life... The Gospel is very good news.
For the businessman who has lost his wife because of an affair he had away from home, and who feels empty and ashamed... The Gospel is very good news.
But for the self-confident, self-righteous person who thinks that, because he recycles, pays his taxes, gives to charity and doesn’t hurt others... The Gospel is irrelevant, silly, and makes no sense. It is also offensive, because it says the he is an enemy of God, and that he cannot better himself into God’s favour by simply trying hard.
The GOOD NEWS doesn’t come until – or unless - we’ve accepted the BAD NEWS, the uncomfortable truth – that we are all rebels who have broken God’s law and picked the wrong team.
The Gospel is actually BAD NEWS to the proud and the self-righteous. It is a crushing blow to the ego of mankind, and leaves no room for people to think they are “topping-up” an existing morality that is pretty good.
It is only GOOD NEWS once the person realises that, in the sight of a Holy, Just and Perfect God, their life is morally and spiritually bankrupt... Only then can they receive the riches of Heaven. Only then can they receive the grace of God that comes from Jesus’ death. Only then can they receive the justification we so need that comes from Jesus’ resurrection. Only then does the Good News really become Good News.
There was no resurrection without the crucifixion. The joy does not come in the morning until the night of weeping and pain. The reward of knowing God does not come until the dying to selfish living. The hope of salvation cannot come until the loss of confidence in our own goodness.
The religious man hopes – maybe assumes – that he is good enough for God, holy enough for Heaven. But the Christian knows he is no way near good enough.
The religious man thinks that God owes him because he is living a good life. But the Christian knows God owes him nothing.
The religious man hopes – maybe assumes – that he has earned God’s favour, prosperity and success. But the Christian knows all he has earned by his own efforts is death, and anything good that happens before then is a blessing and a gift from Above.
The religious men called for Jesus’ execution. But the Christians rejoice in His resurrection.
Hi Pete
ReplyDeleteNice to see you writing a blog. What is the good news?
Rob
I'd say the most succinct summary of "Good News" I know is from I Corinthians 15:1-5,
ReplyDelete"For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas,and then to the Twelve"
There's plenty more to it than that - John Piper has a book of 50 reasons why Jesus went to the Cross, for example.
But this is probably the most central I know of.
Hope you are well.
I am well thanks Pete :-)
ReplyDeleteAgreed. There is definitely more to it than that. Paul is summarising and doesn't even directly mention the Kingdom of God (the gospel Jesus and his disciples preached prior to His death). I would type a much longer response but my 'a' key has recently gone on my laptop so typing is frustratingly slow.
I have read some of John Piper's stuff and recall reading part of the book you allude to whilst still at uni. These days I don't have much time for John Piper as he appears to be far more interested in defending the truth of his tradition rather than pursuing the truth.
May God bless you and your family.