Celebrating the Good News of the Gospel

Do you want to hear the bad news or the good news? It is important that we hear both and until you are recused from the bad news you cannot celebrate the good news.

Regardless of who you are, what background you are from and what you do there is bad news. The Bible says, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23). When it comes to our condition before God there is bad news because we are sinners. Despite our best efforts to cover up our thoughts or actions, God sees who we really are – nothing is hidden from Him. The consequence of our sinful condition and conduct is the wrath of God (Rom. 1:18), which leads to eternal punishment.

But there is good news. The word “gospel” comes from the Greek word euangelion, which literally means good news. The good news of the Gospel is not a new message. In fact, it was promised after sin first entered the world (Gen. 3:15) and is also found in many other passages in the Old Testament (eg. Isaiah 53:5-6). What is the good news of the gospel? It is good news because it contains the message of God’s salvation to sinful man. This salvation is not limited to a single race or to a particular generation. It is for all who believe (Rom. 1:17). It is the only message that has hope. The good news of the gospel is as follows,

“Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures” (1 Cor. 15:1-4)

The good news of salvation comes by God’s grace, through faith alone in the Lord Jesus Christ. For all who have received this good news ought to celebrate it – it is good news! How can this be done? Here are a few practical ways in which God’s people can celebrate the good news of the gospel:

• In prayer, regularly give thanks to the Lord for the gospel

• Remind yourself often of what Christ has done for you in the gospel

• Don’t be ashamed of the gospel “for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes” (Rom. 1:16)

• Allow the truth of the gospel impact the way you live (Phil. 1:27)

• Tell others about the good news that you have (Mark 16:15) and can be theirs by faith in Jesus Christ