Christian Living

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WHAT'S SO GOOD ABOUT THE NEWS?


Let's start this way: News is not good if it doesn't promise something better than the prevailing situation.
It's good news to know that you won a jackpot!
It's good news to see your dream come true!
It's certainly good news to know that you survived a disastrous situation!
But when you were in that situation, you were probably hopeless. And then what seemed to be the end turn to be another beginning. We can then say that good news is sweetest in life-and-death situations. Consider a movie like Armageddon. All hope was lost. Every nation on earth was terrified. And just at the last minute, things turned around. As far as anyone can imagine - in a situation like that - that's the greatest news to hear.
But could there truly be a "gooder" news than that? Could there be something more wonderful than the sweetest experiences in our routine day to day ordinary life?
A young Christian once was chatting with his unsaved friend. They talked about so many things: cars, sports, entertainment, friends, and many more. When they came to the subject of Jesus, the friend asked, "This thing you call the good news, what�s so good about it? I know that Jesus died, but what's the good news about his death?"
What he and many others like him really want to understand is the reason for which he died, and the consequence of his death. Yes, he died� and so what?
Well if you really want to know, read along as we discuss the goodness of the news. I am CONSCIENCE your anchor on this edition of Frank Talk. And I have with me in the Panel, Apostle Paul, John the Beloved and Our Hebrew friend.
You�re welcome Panelists.

PANELISTS: "Thank you."

We really want to know what this good news is all about. So first Paul, let's hear the bad news.

PAUL: "There is no-one righteous, not even one."

Why?

PAUL: "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."

What are the consequences?

PAUL: "The wages of sin is death."

Death was first mentioned in the Genesis. Let's take a look at it.

"You must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die."

Adam died because he ate of that fruit�

PAUL: "Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way, death came to all men."

John, if the good news delivers a person from death, why is it that even people who accept the good news also die? Or is there another death?

JOHN: "The Lake of fire is the second death. If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
There, he will be tormented day and night, forever and ever."

So because of Adam's sin, every human being regardless of colour, tribe, tongue, geographic region, status, sex and even age, is in danger of the second death?

PAUL: "Exactly. The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation to all men."

Including you, me and even the reader?

PAUL: "...all men."

No one is speared?

PAUL: "...not even one."

Is there a particular way or some kind of behavioural traits common to everyone in such category?

PAUL: "The acts of the sinful nature are obvious; sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies and the likes. Those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. And it's God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death."

How about good morals? Decent speech, kind, respectful, hardworking, honest... aren't they reasonable enough to spare one from the second death?

PAUL: "There is no-one who does good, not even one."

Despite all the good acts?

PAUL: "We know very well that we are not set right with God by rule-keeping but only through personal faith in Jesus Christ. How do we know? We tried it--and we had the best system of rules the world has ever seen! Convinced that no human being can please God by self-improvement, we believed in Jesus as the Messiah so that we might be set right before God by trusting in the Messiah, not by trying to be good.
Therefore, no-one will be declared righteous in His sight by observing the law; rather through the law we become conscious of sin."

Like you said, the wages of sin is death, and the law as we know is supposed to prevent sin. So it sounds funny to know that we even become more conscious of sin through the law.

PAUL: "The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law."

Alright let's hear the good news.

PAUL: "You see, just at the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man, someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates His love to us in this; while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

So He died in our place.

THE HEBREW: "Since we have flesh and blood, He shared in our 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."

So His death cancelled the "written code" of death.

PAUL: "Having cancelled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us, and that stood opposed to us; He took it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross."

So His death now brought life to us.

PAUL: "Like I said, the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus, the law of the Spirit of life set them free from the law of sin and death."

Wait a minute. Not just life, but "eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord." So only those that accept His death are free from the second death.

JOHN: "The second death has no power over them."

So if the people who do not accept Jesus will suffer the second death as their "wages", what will be the reward of those who accept Him?

JOHN: "They will reign for ever and ever."

And on that note, we end this edition of FRANK TALK. Thank you so much Panelists for your contributions. We hope to hear from you again when we need you.

PANELISTS: "You�re welcome."

Well readers, I'm sure you have also asked the question sometime before now. But it is interesting to know that God answered that question long before we asked it.
So we'd see His answer, He lit the sky with a star. So we'd hear it, He filled the night with a choir; and so we'd believe it, He did what no man had ever dreamed. He became flesh and dwelled among us. Sounds absurd. That God could come to earth? If you saw Him, maybe you would have asked, "What in the world are you doing, God?" Or better phrased, "What are you doing in the world, God?"
Overcome by emotion, the Creator of the universe turns to us, one by one, and says, "You�re my child, I love you so much. I knew that someday you will turn from me and walk away. But I want you to know, I've already provided a way back." And to prove it, He did something extraordinary.
Stepping from the throne, He removed His robe of light and wrapped Himself in skin: pigmented, human skin. The light of the Universe entered a dark, wet womb. He who angels worshiped nested Himself in the placenta of a peasant, was birthed into the cold night, and then slept on cow's hay.
"Look at me," He says,
"Watch me speak your language, sleep on your earth, and feel your hurts."
Behold the Maker of sight and sound as He sneezes, coughs and blows His nose. Look into the dancing eyes of the kid in Nazareth; that's God walking to school. Ponder the toddler at Mary's table; that's God playing with His food. You wonder what it cost Him. Find your answer on a splintered cross, on a craggy hill.
"That's me you see up there, your maker, your God, nail-stabbed and bleeding. Covered in spit and sin-soaked. That's your sin I'm feeling. That's your penalty I'm paying. That's your death I'm dying. That you may not die but have life - everlasting life. Hear the answer to the question and stake your life on the triumphant words of Jesus:

"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.
I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live even though He dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die."

There is no gooder news my friend. No gooder news.


SCRIPTURES USED IN ORDER OF USE

1) Romans 3: 10
2) Romans 3: 23
3) Romans 6: 23a
4) Genesis 2:17
5) Romans 5: 12
6) Revelations 20: 14-15; 10b
7) Romans 5: 16
8) Romans 5: 18b
9) Romans 3:10b
10) Galatians 5: 19-21; Romans 1: 32
11) Romans 3: 12b; Galatians 2: 16; Romans 3: 20
12) 1 Corinthians 15: 56
13) Romans 5:6-8
14) Hebrews 2: 14-15
15) Colossians 2: 15
16) Romans 6:23; 8; 1-2
17) Revelations 20: 6
18) Revelations 22: 5
19) John 3: 16; 11: 25-26

All scripture are taken from the New International Version and the Message version of the Bible. Italicized words were changed.

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