Not trying to bait anyone with the headline, but this—what I’m about to say, rightly understood in its context—is actually the best news ever. I’m talking about the glorious, one-of-a-kind, grace-filled, man-humbling, God-exalting, supernatural gospel, and while “gospel” translates to “good news,” it’s much more than those words mean on the surface. It is without a doubt the best news ever!
The Current State
Our world is in bad shape. We’re recovering from a pandemic and don’t know if it’s officially behind us at the time of this writing. Death is all around us. Wars, disease, sorrow, injustice, and corruption seem to be at an all-time high. Depression, domestic abuse, human trafficking, drug use, broken homes, and general violence seem to have increased, too. Additionally, although society is more conscientious of mental health, it’s evident many of us are fumbling through life, doing the best we can to avoid giving up on everything (if that’s you, please know that there are people you don’t even know who care about you and are praying for you—seriously!) Bottom line: we could really use some good news, some of this “best news ever.”
I’d love to tell you this world is going to get better and things will “self-correct,” but I don’t believe that’s where we’re headed.
More Bad News
The bad news gets worse when we realize that we’re all flawed, broken, messed up–ultimately, sinful. Long ago, God created us perfectly in His image. We once enjoyed a truly good and peaceful existence (Gen. 1:31). Unfortunately, man broke God’s rule (he sinned), and ever since, he has experienced suffering, death, and misery. Ever since, man by nature has been born sinful (Ps. 51:5; Rm. 3:23; Eph. 2:3). He also sins through his actions (Col.1:21). God, being holy, has to exercise justice on sinful beings. Since He’s just and eternal, His judgment towards those who have violated His commands will likewise be just and eternal.
Not convinced you’re that bad or that you’re truly a sinner at all? Perhaps you believe God is pleased with your life because you are? Let’s put that to the test quickly:
- Have you ever lied–even little “white” lies?
- Ever stolen anything regardless of value–for instance, music, candy, or someone’s answers on a test?
- Ever look at someone who wasn’t your husband/wife with sexual intent?
- Ever used God’s name in vain or as a curse word to express disgust?
- Always honored God as God alone and supreme in your life?
- Always honored your parents?
Those are just some of the Ten Commandments, and when God judges us, He won’t use our standard of morality. He’ll use His. This will not be some unfair judgment, either; we will have deserved everything we receive.
See the connection? We would all be without hope if that’s where the story ended, but it doesn’t.
The Good News
Here’s where that oh-so-beautiful message about Jesus comes into play. Knowing our weakness, frailty, and impending punishment, God made a way for guilty sinners to escape what they deserve, and He did so while maintaining His justice (Rm. 3:26).
“He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” -2 Cor. 5:21, NASB (1995)
The above expresses the great exchange–the innocent for the guilty, the unblemished for the marred, the perfect for the imperfect. A paraphrase of 2 Cor. 5:21 might read like this: “God made Him, Jesus, who was without sin to become sin on our behalf in order that we might become God’s righteousness in Jesus.” Quite simply, the only God and Creator of all things made a way to save bad people through the person of Jesus Christ.1 Jesus lived a perfect life with no sin (Heb. 4:15), died a horrifying death on the cross, and rose from the dead (that’s right, rose from the dead!) on the third day just as He said He would. Now, all those who turn from their sins (repent) and trust in Him will be forgiven and receive the eternal mercy of God that was purchased with Christ’s blood. Repent and trust–that’s it!
Remember, this same Jesus Christ is still on the throne. Nothing has caught Him by surprise. While the world will continue to be in turmoil and seem out of control, we can rest assured that everything is still in His sovereign control (Phi. 2:9-11). This is good news. This is the gospel. This is the message that has been passed down from Jesus through Paul, Peter, and various faithful Christians through the ages. It is indeed the best news ever!
1. Jesus is God incarnate, the second person of the co-equal, co-eternal Godhead, who is distinct from God the Father and God the Holy Spirit. See the post on the Trinity here.