Good News in English

Why was Christ death on the cross the greatest news ever told to mankind?

How did God demonstrate His love towards mankind by Jesus death on the cross?

BAD NEWS!
To understand why the death of Jesus Christ on the cross demonstrates God’s amazing love and why it is the greatest news ever told to mankind, you first have to understand some really bad and truly devastating news. So brace yourself and read on…

The Bible says, “…it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Heb. 9:27). Death will come to us all; it is only a matter of time. Ten out of ten people die, but if that wasn’t bad enough, we are all going to appear before the judgment seat of God almighty, who will be a true and righteous judge! You may now ask yourself how this can be such a bad thing. After all, you have been a pretty good person haven’t you? Certainly you have no need to worry, right? Think again!

Most of us may well agree that God should punish murderers, rapists and drug dealers and He will, but God will not stop there. God is actually so good and so righteous that He will also punish all liars, thieves and fornicators. The Bible says “But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone…” (Rev. 21:8)

The Bible tells us that God is a holy God and that all manner of sin and unrighteousness is detestable to Him. It reads “The face of the LORD is against those who do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.” (Psalms 34:16) So the question is, have you done evil? Have you ever lied? Have you ever stolen anything, regardless of value? Have you ever committed sexually immoral acts? Have you ever envied another person’s position or possession? Have you ever committed adultery? Maybe you think you haven’t but Jesus said “…whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” (Matthew 5:28). Have you ever done that? Have you ever murdered anyone? Maybe you think you are innocent of that one, but the Bible says “Whoever hates his brother is a murderer…” (1 John 3:15) Have you ever hated anyone? If you have, then according to God’s perfect standard of righteousness, you have committed murder!

DEVASTATING NEWS
So the shocking and devastating news are, that all of mankind “have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23). The terrible state of mankind is that we all “like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way…” (Isaiah 53:6), that all of mankind “have together become corrupt; There is none who does good, No, not one.” (Psa. 53:3).

This is terrible news indeed, because you are going to face a good, holy and righteous judge, who will give you justice and who will give you what you rightly deserve. Because God is a good judge and not a corrupt judge, He will not simply overlook your sin, but make sure that evil is punished wherever He finds it, and that perfect justice is done. The Bible reads “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness” (Rom. 1:18) and again it says “For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.” (Eph. 5:5-6)

GOOD NEWS
But wait! Is it somehow possible that peace and reconciliation can be made between a holy God and a filthy sinner? Is it somehow possible, that a good and righteous judge can pardon and make a way for a guilty criminal to go to free? The good news is, IT IS POSSIBLE! It is true that God is a holy and righteous God, but at the same time, He is also loving and merciful, and yes, He has indeed provided a way for peace to be made between the sinner and Himself, and He has made a way for a guilty criminal to go free.

The Bible says that “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16). What happened? In His great love and mercy, God sent His only begotten son to save sinners. Jesus Christ came and lived a perfect life without sin and He fulfilled the law that you broke. In other words – His righteousness was perfect. He then went to the cross and became a perfect sacrifice in order to pay for all of your crimes and all of the sins you have committed against God and after three days, He rose again from the dead, proving that He was God and forever He defeated death on your behalf.

You broke God’s holy law but on the cross, Jesus took your just punishment upon Himself. The Bible say “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5) and again it says “…He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.” (Isaiah 53:12) On the cross, all of God’s holy and righteous wrath and anger for sin fell upon His son Jesus Christ. God treated His son as though He had lived your life and committed your sins. The punishment you had rightly deserved came upon Him. Jesus Christ was without sin and He was completely innocent, but in order that your sins could be washed away, He laid down His life for you.

INCREDIBLY GOOD NEWS
Are you ready? The incredibly good news is this: If you repent of your sins and put your faith in Jesus Christ to save you, God will wash away ALL your sins and clothe you with the perfect righteousness of Christ. Isn’t that incredible? If you put your trust in Christ who bore your sins on the cross, God will look at you on the Day of Judgment as though you had lived the perfectly righteous life of Jesus Christ! The Bible says “Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, But righteousness delivers from death.” (Proverbs 11:4). What you desperately need on the Day of Judgment is righteousness, and God almighty, in His great love and mercy, has provided a way for you to be clothed in His perfect righteousness. Only the perfect righteousness of Christ can be sufficient and can shelter you from the wrath and righteous anger of God on the Day of Judgment. Thus, only Jesus Christ can save you from the wrath to come and eternity in hell.

WHAT MUST YOU DO?
Are you broken and miserable over your heinous crimes against a good and holy God? Do you now realize the magnitude of your sins and the depravity of your heart? Do you realize your utter helplessness and total inability to save yourself? Do you now see your desperate need of God’s amazing grace and forgiveness through the saving work of your Lord Jesus Christ? If so, then there is hope for you, for it is written that “The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saves such as be of a contrite spirit.” (Psalms 34:18) and again it says “…to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembles at my word.” (Isaiah 66:2). If this describes you, then turn and forsake your sins and come follow Jesus! Forsake your wicked way and believe the good news of the gospel. Humble yourself and cry out to God to forgive you and to save you…

The Bible says “Seek the LORD while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the LORD, and He will have mercy on him; And to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.” (Isaiah 55:6-7) and again it says “For you, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.” (Psalms 86:5) and again “The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth. He will fulfill the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them.” (Psalms 145:18-19) and finally Jesus Himself said “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30).

Come to Jesus, come to the one who says “But whosoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.” (John 4:14)