It Remains!

We pick up the newspaper and watch the news on television or listen to it on radio and perhaps wonder where is the GOOD NEWS! Certainly there are challenges that continue in the world around us and turning a deaf ear to those realities does not make them go away or move us to do what we can to either help resolve them or bring healing to those who are hurting because of them. For some the news is so frequently bad that for them the GOOD NEWS is in receiving no news! Don’t we long for some GOOD NEWS to bring some cheer as we journey on through life? The truth is there is still GOOD NEWS that was, is, and always will be GOOD NEWS to those who will accept it. This GOOD NEWS has spanned several thousand years and is just as good as when it was first accepted in faith.

The proclaiming of this GOOD NEWS even took place during the time of Abraham. Paul noted this as he wrote to the church at Galatia.

We read…
“(7) Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. (8) And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, PREACHED THE GOSPEL [Greek, “proeuaggelisato”, from “proeuaggelizomai”] BEFOREHAND TO ABRAHAM, saying, ‘IN YOU SHALL ALL THE NATIONS BE BLESSED.’” ( Galatians 3:7-8 ESV)

GOOD NEWS FOR ALL NATIONS was linked to the promise made to Abraham.

When it was time for the Messiah’s coming we read…
“(10) And the angel said to them, ‘Fear not, for behold, I bring you GOOD NEWS [Greek, “euaggelizomai”, from “euaggelizo”] of a great joy THAT WILL BE FOR ALL THE PEOPLE. (11) For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” ( Luke 2:10-11 ESV)

GOOD NEWS FOR ALL PEOPLE was linked to the coming of Christ into this world. He was the fulfillment of the promise relating to the seed or offspring of Abraham. ( Galatians 3:16)

And since then that GOOD NEWS has continued to be heralded around the world.
“(1) Now I would REMIND YOU, brothers, OF THE GOSPEL [Greek, “euaggelion”] I PREACHED TO YOU, which you received, in which you stand, (2) and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you -- unless you believed in vain.” ( 1 Corinthians 15:1-2 ESV)

Paul then went on to point out how the core of the Gospel centered on the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. ( 1 Corinthians 15:3-4) Jesus came into this realm, gave Himself as the adequate sacrifice for our sins, rose from the dead, and ascended into heaven to prepare a place for us to spend an eternity with Him. GOOD NEWS intended FOR ALL PEOPLE!

Regardless of what else is going on in this world, the GOOD NEWS of Jesus as the means of our salvation from sin and the source of our eternal hope remains not only GOOD NEWS, but actually the BEST NEWS that can be received! The reason this continues to remain true is because “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” ( Hebrews 13:8 ESV) Even in a world of chaos and the unpredictable we have this constant to hang onto. May we continue to maintain a steadfast hope in Him as we pass this GOOD NEWS on to those around us.

Have a great day ENCOURAGED BY THE NEWS INTENDED FOR EVERY EAR!
Carl

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