Many things in life have good news and bad news associated with them. The entire truth is generally found in a combination of both. Emphasizing one side to the exclusion of the other is not the whole truth. The same is true of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
The bad news is that mankind has a problem with sin, which we find in God’s Word … “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God”-Romans 3:23. No one can earn his or her way into the presence of God because … “As it is written, there is none righteous, no, not one“-Romans 3:10. And as sinners, the punishment that we have earned for our sins is death … “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord“-Romans 6:23. Not just physical death, but eternal death. This is the “bad news”!
Until we know the bad news, we can’t truly appreciate the good news. You would not appreciate a stranger bursting into your home and dragging you outside, unless you first understood that your house was on fire. Until we understand that we are destined for hell because of our sin, we cannot appreciate all that Jesus did for us on the cross.
The good news is that God loves us … “But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us“-Romans 5:8. He wants a relationship with you, but He wants you to do something … “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation”-Romans 10:9-10. His peace is available to everyone who is brought to repentance by the “bad news” and joyfully accepts the “good news” that He is Lord of all. Because of Jesus’ death on our behalf, all we have to do is believe in Him, trusting His death as the payment for our sins – and we will be saved! Romans 10:13 says it again, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Jesus died to pay the penalty for our sins and rescue us from eternal death. Salvation, the forgiveness of sins, is available to anyone who will trust in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
Through Jesus Christ we can have a relationship of peace with God … “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ”-Romans 5:1 Finally, we can have this precious promise of God … “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit”-Romans 8:1.
Would you like to put your trust in Jesus Christ for salvation? If so, here is a simple prayer you can pray to God. Saying this prayer is a way to declare to God that you are relying on Jesus Christ for your salvation. The words themselves will not save you. Only faith in Jesus Christ can provide salvation! “God, I know that I have sinned against you and am deserving of punishment. But Jesus Christ took the punishment that I deserve so that through faith in Him I could be forgiven. With your help, I place my trust in You for salvation. Thank You for Your wonderful grace and forgiveness – the gift of eternal life! Amen!”
Have you made a decision for Christ because of what you have learned here? If so, please fill let us know so we can pray for you and help you learn more about Jesus.