The Ultimate Good News
by Pastor Bill Pevlor

     The word “gospel” simply means good news. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the good news about Jesus Christ. The essence of the Gospel is stated in John 3:16 . . . “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” The truths found in John 3:16 are verified in countless other scriptures throughout the Old and New Testaments. Let’s face it; the whole Bible is full of “good news.”

     John 3:16 begins by telling us that God “loved” the world. God loved the world and keeps on loving us. Psalms 136:2 tells us God’s love endures forever. His love is not a fleeting infatuation. His love in not dependent on how we act. (Thank you, Lord) God’s most outstanding personal characteristic is His love for mankind. 1 John 4:8 plainly states “God is love.”

     God is not all talk; His love has been firmly established by His actions. His love is so strong He was willing to give His one and only Son, Jesus Christ. We see that truth in John 3:16. We also see it in 1 John chapter 4, verses 9 and 10, which says “This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”

    Despite the clarity of the scriptures, most people have an incorrect concept of God.  They think of Him as a mean tyrant seated on the edge of His throne itching to vent His wrath and anger at our slightest infraction. The truth is, even when we’ve turned our backs on God, living a life of sin and rebellion, He still loves us. God is not our enemy. God is on our side. Yes, God hates sin, but He loves us.

     The good news of John 3:16 doesn’t end there. It goes on to say “whoever believes in Him (Jesus) shall not perish but have eternal life.” The assurance of eternal life is ours if we “believe” in Jesus. We must believe! And not just that Jesus existed. Historical records (apart from the Bible) verify that a person, known as Jesus of Nazareth, was a controversial religious leader. Merely acknowledging the historical reality of His existence will not produce eternal life.

     Everlasting life with God - eternal life - is found only through believing (completely trusting) in what Jesus did for you. So, what did He do for you? He willingly took the penalty for all your sins upon Himself. He paid the penalty so you could escape the judgment for the multitude of sins you’ve committed.

     Don’t be fooled. Sin may be pleasurable for a time, but the day of reckoning will come. God, from His all-wise perspective, has pronounced a judgment for sin. Romans 6:23 says “For the wages of sin is death...” Judgment day will be “pay-day.” When that day comes, someone is going to endure the punishment for your sins. The good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ is that we have been given an incredible choice. We can pay the penalty for our own sins, or we can allow Jesus to. In the previous paragraph I only quoted the first part of Romans 6:23. The entire scripture says “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

     A gift will only benefit you if you receive it. If someone were to give you a gift and you tossed it aside, unopened, it would not profit you one bit. If the gift were a million dollars, you wouldn’t be one penny richer if you refused to receive it.

     In the same way, God has given a gift to everyone. It is a very expensive gift. If you wanted to buy it for yourself, you couldn’t afford it. God paid dearly for it. It cost Him the life of His only Son. Some receive it. Others reject it. Still, God gives it freely to all. Aren’t you glad that John 3:16 doesn’t say “For God was so ticked off at the world that He turned His back on them. That whoever would sin would be eternally damned without any hope of redemption.”?

     The good news (gospel) is that God didn’t turn His back on us. He sent His only Son to die in your place. If you put your trust in what Jesus did, you will inherit eternal life. This ultimate demonstration of God’s love is the ultimate good news.

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