The Good News

Clansi looks at our role in sharing the “good news.”

Probably the most famous verse in the Bible is found in John 3. Verse 16 says, “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” (NIV).

This is the good news—the “gospel” that Christians talk about.

The gift of Jesus is eternal life.

The good news is that all it takes is belief—it is a free gift. Romans 6:23 says, “The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (KJV). Romans 8:1 says, “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (NIV).

Those who accept Jesus as Lord have their past guilt washed away. They are given a future that is good and bright and eternal, based not on what we have done but on what Jesus has done.

This is great news. And it is news we are commanded to share.

Some of Jesus’ last recorded words are in Matthew 28:19, 20.

Here, Jesus instructs His disciples in what they are to do now He has risen from the dead. “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Eternal life is given because God loves us—because He loves “the world.” And because He loves the world, He wants the world to know about Jesus. So He calls us—you and me, ordinary people—to tell others about Him.

This can be scary, exciting, intimidating, terrifying and fun. It might be all these things at once, or more terrifying than anything else. Remember what Jesus promises in Matthew 28:20—“Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

No matter how things turn out, no matter who we are talking to or what situation we are in, Jesus promises to be with us.

And that’s good news.