GOOD NEWS! The Gospel brings salvation. The Gospel is for everyone who believes. The Gospel is lived by faith. The Gospel is the power of God.
Last Sunday, we discussed our faith as Christians, highlighting what distinguishes us from other major world religions—the Gospel of Jesus. In John 14:6, Jesus boldly declares, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” This statement draws a clear line in the sand, yet it carries an inviting message—the Gospel of Jesus beckons everyone to cross that line.
The Good News of Jesus reveals our true nature: we are people in desperate need of salvation, yet simultaneously deeply loved by a just and merciful God who rescues. And Better News, our rescue isn’t contingent on our efforts but rather flows from the boundless grace and the free gift of God through the completed work of Jesus. Furthermore, the Best News is that, through His generous gift, we now live a life empowered by His Spirit, intimately connected to God.
As Paul writes in Philippians 2:13, “For it is God who is working in you both to will and to work according to His good pleasure.” In this Good, Better, Best News, what shines through is that every aspect of it is centered on God and devoted to His glory. If God does all the work, then He gets all the glory.
The essence of the Gospel, the Good News of Jesus, lies in the transformation from a sinner who once chose a path of death and destruction to a believer and follower of Jesus, who is the Lord and King over death. In His profound love, He traded our death for His life and empowers us, through His Spirit, to live it out with unwavering faith.
To God Be the Glory by Fanny Crosby
To God be the glory, great things He hath done. So loved He the world that He gave us His Son,
Who yielded His life our redemption to win, and opened the life gate that all may go in.
[Chorus: Praise the Lord, praise the Lord! Let the earth hear His voice.
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord! Let the people rejoice.
Oh, come to the Father, through Jesus the Son. And give Him the glory; great things He hath done.]
Oh, perfect redemption, the purchase of blood, to every believer the promise of God.
The vilest offender who truly believes, that moment from Jesus a pardon receives.
[Chorus: Praise the Lord, praise the Lord! Let the earth hear His voice.
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord! Let the people rejoice.
Oh, come to the Father, through Jesus the Son. And give Him the glory; great things He hath done.]
Great things He hath taught us, great things He hath done. And great our rejoicing through Jesus the Son.
But purer, and higher, and greater will be our wonder, our transport when Jesus we see.
[Chorus: Praise the Lord, praise the Lord! Let the earth hear His voice.
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord! Let the people rejoice.
Oh, come to the Father, through Jesus the Son. And give Him the glory; great things He hath done.]
Missed Sunday’s message on the Gospel? Watch here…