The Good News of Jesus Christ: What We Believe and Why

Jesus Christ, the Firstborn Over All Creation

There is so little good news today. Warnings, fear, and doom seem to surround us. But as Christians, we have the good news of Jesus Christ and people need to hear it. But what is our good news all about?

We believe Jesus is the firstborn over all creation (Colossians 1:15). “Firstborn” refers to His total authority and His priority over everything. He isn't just another teacher, prophet, or religious leader. And He is the firstborn from the dead because by His resurrection He defeated the powers of darkness (Colossians 1:18). Sin and death are no longer the final words. His resurrection was the beginning of the new life that He promises to all who belong to Him.

Jesus created everything and everything that was created was created for Him (Colossians 1:16). When we look at the beautiful world He has made, aren't we reminded of His power and might? In Romans 1:20 Paul explains to us that our physical world is a reminder of our powerful God. Paul tells us we have no excuses for not recognizing Him.

But Jesus did not simply create the world and leave it to itself. Through His death and resurrection, Christians have become part of His family. And each one of us is a valuable member. Our relationship with God has been restored (Colossians 1:20-22). No longer are we enemies, now we can be called friends. But our hope rests not only on His death for us, but also in the fact that He rose from the dead.

The Resurrection: The Foundation of Our Hope

Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 15:19,

"If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable."

Christians sacrifice a lot for their faith. We are different from the world. This may bring persecution or we may be ridiculed. Our hope doesn't lie here, it is in eternity with God.

So if the resurrection is just a story then all we have is the here and now. If this were true, Paul says we would be pitied for giving up a "normal" life for Christ. But because we know the resurrection is true, we should live life and avoid sin (1 Corinthians 15:34).

Jesus Christ, Our Redeemer and the Ground of Our Hope

But there is more good news. Jesus was our ransom (1 Timothy 2:6). He came to save sinners, and all of us are sinners (Romans 3:23). He paid the price for our sin that no mere human ever could and took our punishment on Himself (Isaiah 53:5-6). He came as a flesh and blood man but also, just as truly, God to our world (John 1:1, 14). People throughout the world have come to Him as hopeless sinners and been changed into hopeful, redeemed people who claim His righteousness as their own through His grace (2 Corinthians 5:17).

He is the ultimate gift of grace to the world through the Father (John 3:16). He is the ground of our hope. He is our firm foundation. Our hope is not wishful thinking but an expectation of a promise that will be fulfilled. We can trust in Him because we serve a risen Savior, not a cold body in a tomb. This mystery is the bedrock of our faith. When we doubt the Resurrection, we doubt the basis of everything we hope for. And the love that promises us life everlasting is the same love that we can expect in every trial.

As Paul reminds us,

"For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance." Romans 8:24-25

Nothing Can Separate Us from the Love of God

Jesus came to save us not out of obligation or duty but out of love. And He has told us that nothing can come between us and His great love (Romans 8:31-39). We can endure tribulation, but still be loved. We can be stricken with famine or any dangerous situation, even the sword of an enemy, but still we are loved.

We are conquerors over these trials and tribulations through Christ. We have not won a victory by the skin of our teeth. No, we have won an overwhelmingly decisive victory. And it was not won by our own power because we have none, but by Jesus and His power alone. Do you trust Him to love you, no matter what?

Finding Strength and Purpose in Suffering

In our world today we see the suffering of our Nigerian brothers and sisters who are being maimed and killed for their faith. We see Christians in mostly Muslim countries being imprisoned. Grief, fear, and pain are very real but still we remember His love for us.

We can suffer for our faith but we can also suffer simply because we live in a fallen world (Romans 8:20-22). Great losses can happen individually or to whole communities affected by natural disasters for example, but in the midst of the loss we can trust His love and tender mercy towards us.

Even things that happen that harm us, like sin, pain, or the evil plans of others, can be used by God to bring good to those who love Him (Romans 8:28). We grow spiritually. We grow in endurance. Things that would bring someone in the world to their knees in pain, physically or mentally, can be a place where, because of Jesus, we can shine His light to others. We can show the love of Christ to others even in the midst of pain or fear.

The reason we show love is because we look forward to a joy that we know we will see. The world doesn't understand this joy. We can show those who have no hope what hope looks like when it is lived out. How? Because our faith is in God the Father who is all wise, powerful, loving, merciful, and completely righteous in judgment. We don't have to live in fear because God is trustworthy.

Living Out Our Faith Through the Holy Spirit

When we pray, we trust His will above ours. We can have perfect trust in God and in Jesus, our Redeemer and Savior. Our trust depends also on the Holy Spirit. We are born again by the Holy Spirit to a new life following Jesus. We trust in the Holy Spirit who is the presence and power of God, in our life to draw us closer to the Father. He is the Counselor, Convictor, Helper, Encourager, and our Strength to live out our faith in love.

The Holy Spirit gives us the gift of faith (Ephesians 2:8-9). Scripture tells us what faith is,

"The substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1).

Our faith is visible in the love we show others. Jesus Himself said if we love Him we will love others. Our obedience is our badge of faith. The power of God's love should flow over the whole world through us.

The Trinity works together to help us experience the fullness of God. The Father loves and provides for us. The Son has redeemed us. The Holy Spirit is at work in us, enabling us to live out our faith. The three Persons are one God, working in unity. So what should we do with all of this Good News of the Gospel?

Sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ

We don't keep our good news to ourselves. We want to share it with others (Matthew 28:19-20). This is what we always do when good things happen to us. We want to tell others about our joy. 1 Peter 3:15 reminds us to share the reason for our hope with others. I remember being so excited to tell my Mother about any good things that happened to me. How much more should we naturally want to share what God has done for us? The Good News we share is also grounded in the truth of who God is and what He has done.

The Truth and Presence of God

Today finding truth is almost impossible. "What is the truth," we ask. Our world often sees truth as something that is subjective and changeable; shaped by emotions and life experiences. Others see it as a social agreement between people. But as Christians we know there is an objective truth. It is a truth that never changes.

Jesus is truth (John 14:6). He sees us as we really are and loves us so much that He died for us. His Word is truth (John 17:17). Scripture will show us truth if we take the opportunity to read it prayerfully. And one of the greatest truths Scripture reveals is that God has not left us alone in this world.

Indeed, God is our Emmanuel, our God with us, now and forever. We never have to be alone. We are not a meaningless speck in the universe because our Father knows us so well that He numbers the hair on our head. He takes care of our needs if we trust Him, though perhaps not in the way we always expect (Matthew 6:31-33). He is with us in times of sorrow and in times of joy. God doesn't just watch us like we would watch an anthill. He enters our world through His Son and Holy Spirit so that we can become united with Him through Christ, as Jesus is one with Him (John 17:21-23).

In a world that hears so little good news let us remind it of the many reasons that we, as Christians, have to rejoice. He is our hope and our sustainer. There is no need for gloom and doom. We have a joy that is unspeakable and full of glory!

Joy Unspeakable

by Barney Warren

I have found His grace is all complete,

He supplieth ev'ry need;

while I sit and learn at Jesus' feet,

I am free, yes, free indeed.

It is joy unspeakable and full of glory,

full of glory, full of glory;

It is joy unspeakable and full of glory,

Oh, the half has never yet been told.