The Gospel Is GOOD NEWS

But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. Ga 1:8,9*

The Gospel Really Is GOOD NEWS

If ever there was a time when we could use some Good News it’s right about now. It seems like every day we find ourselves heading deeper into disaster and despair as a nation. From the job market to the stock market to the Gulf oil spill situation to the political insanity of our leaders – it’s as though everything in site is going through the meat grinder.

It is high time for some Good News for sure. And I have some for you; it’s called the Gospel of Jesus Christ. And here it is in a nutshell: you and I were lost and separated from God without hope of ever being able to climb the wall that sin had built between us and God. Our good wasn’t good enough, our smart wasn’t smart enough our strong wasn’t strong enough our right wasn’t right enough. How were we ever to meet the requirements of the Perfect God who made us from whom we went astray through disobedience and who we will one day stand before in Judgement? According to the Bible even our best isn’t good enough.

Isaiah the prophet wrote, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way;” (Isa. 53:6) We were lost; sick unto death without remedy. The Death Penalty was on us and we deserved it. But guess what? God had a solution to the problem. He had a plan that was so wonderful even the angels in heaven could not comprehend it. He took His own son Jesus and, as Isaiah further proclaimed, “and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.” Gods Son took our punishment upon himself

John 3:16 is much more than a sign at a sporting event or a bumper sticker on a VW Van. It really is the Good News. God loves you so much He gave his own Son as a sin offering to pay for your transgressions, and for mine and anyone who will believe and come to him in repentance and obedience.

“That’s what bad people need for sure? I’m a good guy; even spiritual. I’m basically nice and pretty honest and all that. That should do it, right?” No . . . that’s one of those “other gospel[s]” Paul was talking about. That “let him be accursed” thing doesn’t sound that good to me. I wouldn’t go that way. Jesus said, ” I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6). That’s either a true statement or Jesus was a liar. If there is another way available then Jesus isn’t the right one because He lied to us.

There are a lot of choices out there and some may even give you ‘inner peace’ but that probably won’t be enough when you go to meet God in the end. I can’t imagine Him saying, “How’s that inner peace working for you?” I think He will ask instead, “What did you do about my Son who died for you?” I wouldn’t want to be standing there pulling out a deck of Tarot Cards or quoting some wise sayings from the Eastern Masters at that moment for sure.

Dr. Jesus really is the Good news and He is still taking on new patients. Why don’t you make an appointment right now? Just humble yourself and ask Him to forgive you and point your life in a new direction following His lead. He will give you his Spirit to guide you and He’s got a great instruction manual that’s pretty easy to get your hands on. If you can’t find one let me know, I’ll help you with that.

And by the way, you can stop worrying about all the insanity that’s going on right now. He will walk through it all with you every step of the way. Now isn’t that real GOOD NEWS?

Craig Marlatt