Tag Archive | The Good News of Jesus

Revelation 5: 1-3 ” Then I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, ‘Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?’ But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it.”

Oct16

The angel was asking, who is worthy?  Who is deserving enough, with the power and capability to loosen the seals of the scroll?  And it says… there was no one.  Certainly it couldn’t be sinful man, for like Isaiah when he saw the Lord, we’d all have to exclaim, “Woe to me! I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips.”  But there is One that is worthy of opening the scroll. Only one that lived a perfect and sinless life here on earth.  His name is Jesus Christ, the Worthy One.

Galatians 3:10 ” All who rely on observing the Law are under a curse, for it is written: Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.”

Oct7

I had the “Rules of the Road” booklet for the State of Illinois out the other day when I thought to myself, “My goodness! Driving a car sure has lots of rules and regulations tied to it!”  The same goes for the Old Testament Laws spoken of here…all 613 of them.  In this verse Paul was quoting Deuteronomy 27:26 and basically telling us that it’s impossible to keep all 613 Laws perfectly.    So what are we to do?  We’re doomed before we even try.  Enter Jesus Christ,  who came to redeem us from the judgement and punishment of this curse, for it tells us in Galatians 3:13 “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law by becoming a curse for us…”    In other words, our inability to keep all the Laws was overcome by the blood of Jesus Christ on the Cross.

Ephesians 6:19 ” Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the Gospel.”

Sep23

So what stops you from sharing Jesus with others?  Awkwardness? Apprehension?  Do you realize that even the early Church had reservations about telling others the Good News of the Gospel…for in Acts 4:29 the Believers prayed, “Enable Your servants to speak Your Word with great boldness.”  So I pray for you today that the Holy Spirit would give you the words to speak to that unbelieving friend, stranger, or relative.  And that you would speak with confidence, boldness, and articulation as you share the Gospel Message with them.

Hebrews 2:14-15 ” Since the children have flesh and blood, He too shared in their humanity so that by His death He might destroy him who holds the power of death – that is, the devil – and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.”

Sep5

Jesus Christ took on flesh and walked among us…fully man, yet fully God.  For death is the destiny of every man. (Ecclesiastes 7:2)  Yet Jesus came to earth to give us freedom and victory over death.  “Where, O death is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” (Hosea 13:14)  So we no longer need to fear death…for Jesus came to set us free.

Hebrews 7:25 ” Therefore He is able to save completely those who come to God through Him, because He always lives to intercede for them.”

Jul12

What does the Gospel mean to you?  I’ve been thinking about this all week in preparation for a meeting this Sunday.  To me, it boils down to Religion vs Relationship.  It’s the difference between ceremony and connection, liturgy and linkage, ritual and relationship.  For Religion is mostly man-made, piling on the things we can’t do…while a Relationship with Jesus Christ is about freedom.  It’s about freedom from sin and death and freedom from the Law we can never keep.  But the biggest difference between Religion and Relationship is this…Religion can’t save you.  Only Jesus Christ who lived a perfectly sinless life has the ability to bring you into His glorious Kingdom and eternal life…it’s only through Jesus that you can make your way back to God.

Mark 14:37 ” Then He returned to His disciples and found them sleeping…”

Apr17

It could have been me among that group of dosing disciples.  There they were in the Garden of Gethsemane, having just been warned by Jesus to watch and pray as He moved off to pray alone.  Coming back to them, Jesus was dismayed to find them all sleeping and asked, “Are you sleeping?  Could you not keep watch for one hour?  Watch and pray so that you won’t fall into temptation.  The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” (Mark 14:38)  Yes, it could have been me that Jesus found asleep.  For how many times have I started to pray only to have my mind wander and become distracted after only a few minutes?

Colossians 4: 5-6 ” Be wise in the way you act towards outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt so you may know how to answer everyone.”

Apr1

In this verse it tells us how we should approach evangelism and share the Good News of Jesus with others.  It’s about being encouraging not convicting…listening not preaching…and having conversations not sermonizing.  It’s also about not having an “us versus them” mindset, but rather thinking “we” as a group.  Finally, it’s about living with integrity but also being vulnerable and transparent about our own struggles.  For none of us is a perfect Christian without faults and flaws.  And when we can show this side of us…we become more believable.