Good News In Christ

The word Gospel means good news. The good news is about our Lord Jesus Christ offered to all people everywhere (Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:46-47). God sent his Son to die for our sins, and Christ was raised from the dead according to the Scripture (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). Jesus Christ is the good news.

The good news is about the forgiveness of all our sins and life everlasting, through Jesus Christ our Lord. This good news is offered freely to all. It comes as the gift of God. "For by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God" (Ephesians 2:8).

The good news is about eternal life for all who believe through the resurrection of Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23; 10:9). Only the death of Jesus Christ at the cross can save us from the condemnation of our sins. The resurrection of Christ proves that Jesus is the Son of God by the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 1:1-4). 

The good news of Jesus Christ is all spiritual blessings for us. "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ" (Ephesians 1:3). Every blessing God has for us comes through faith in Jesus Christ our Lord.

How to Know God

Knowing about God is not knowing God. Most people know about God from things they have observed or heard. Our parents may have talked to us about God. We may attend church where a minister teaches about God. However, knowing about God is not knowing God.

Know God by a faith relationship. "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen"(Hebrews 11:1). You cannot come to God any other way. Because God is Spirit, you cannot see Him (John 4:24). Only faith can bring you into a relationship with God. Faith in God is trusting God (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Know God by faith through our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except by me"(John 14:6). We know God by "looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith"(Hebrews 12:2).

Know God as you walk by faith. God becomes your daily companion. You can only walk with God by faith. "For we walk by faith, not by sight"(2 Corinthians 5:7). Faith assures you that God is with you, all the time and everywhere. Faith is the assurance that God hears your prayers. Faith is the evidence of knowing God.

Believers Are Righteous

Believers are righteous through faith in Christ (Romans 3:21-22). Believers are justified and accounted righteous before God. It is never self-righteousness, but the righteousness of God in Christ. Righteousness is God's gift to believers in Christ.

Believers are righteous in Christ alone. The apostle Paul speaks of the righteousness of Christ imputed to believers in 2 Corinthians 5:21. "For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." Martin Luther called it the great exchange. Christ takes away our sins and gives us His righteousness.

Believers are righteous by faith alone in Christ. The Christian life can never be based upon our self-righteousness, which is as filthy rags before God (Isaiah 64:6). We give up all hope in self-righteousness and become righteous before God in Christ alone. Only faith in our Lord Jesus Christ can impute perfect righteousness to us before God. Simply stated, we are accounted righteous by faith in Christ.

Believers are accounted righteous by God's grace alone in Christ. Our sins were imputed or accounted to Christ at the cross. His righteousness was imputed or accounted to us by grace alone through faith alone. There is only one way we can receive the righteousness of God. That's by grace through faith in Christ.

The Everlasting Covenant

The Everlasting Covenant is God's word of promise in an oath that cannot be broken. In ancient times, covenant vows were sealed in the death of a sacrificial animal. God's everlasting covenant is sealed in the blood of His Son (Hebrews 13:20-21). God's covenant word in the Bible is for every believer in Christ.

The Everlasting Covenant is God's word of promise forever. Our faith in God, the forgiveness of our sins, our eternal destiny, and God's work in our lives are all forever. Forever O LORD, Your word is settled in heaven (Psalm 119:89). God's covenant word is based upon an oath forever.

The Everlasting Covenant is God's word guaranteed. His oath of covenant promises are for every believer in Christ. Jesus is our surety or guarantee to the covenant promises that cannot be broken (Hebrews 7:22). The Bible declares God's word is forever settled in heaven. That's God's covenant word to every believer. 

The Everlasting Covenant is God's word to every believer in Christ (2 Corinthians 1:20). We read the covenant promises in the Bible, which are forever the same. God has sworn with a covenant oath, and will not repent. He will not change His mind. God, who cannot lie, promised before time began (Titus 1:2). That's God's covenant promises for every believer in Christ.

Justification by Faith

Justification means we are not condemned for our sins. Based upon faith alone in Christ, sinners are justified before God. His sinless life and substitutionary death on the cross for sinners is the basis for our justification. We are justified by faith, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus (Romans 3:24).

Justification by faith alone is in Christ. Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1). Faith is trust and confidence, relying upon Christ alone. By faith in Christ, sinners are justified with God.

Justification by faith alone is grace in Christ. Faith receives the grace of God in Christ. Faith is the evidence that the believer is justified before God. It is the assurance of faith. Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed (Romans 4:16).

Justification by faith alone in Christ is unto righteousness. The only way a sinner can become righteous before God is by faith alone in Christ. Righteousness is the gift of God to us. But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness (Romans 4:5).

Beware of Dead Faith

Dead faith will not obey the word and will of God. Living faith does God's will. Living faith works through us. God can do anything that He chooses to do without us. However, God has chosen to work through us. Living faith does the the will of God. Beware of dead faith that does nothing."As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also"(James 2:26).

The Bible teaches that we are laborers together with God (1 Corinthians 3:9). It is God's will for faith to work through us. You may put a glove on your hand to do the work before you. The glove does not do the work alone, neither can it. The hand works through the glove. So,"it is God who works in you both to will and do of his good pleasure"(Philippians 2:13).

Dead faith says,"There is nothing that we can do. What will be, will be. Nothing we can do will make any difference." To the contrary, living faith says,"I will do the word of God. He has put it in my heart. He is working through me to the praise of his glory. I am a doer of the word." The Bible says,"But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves"(James 1:22).

Maybe you are in a situation where you are asking God to do something about it. Living faith prays like this,"God what would you have me to do?" Faith acts on the word of God. Living faith rises up to do something about it. Dead faith that does nothing.

When You Are Saved

You are saved when you believe the gospel of Christ. The gospel teaches that Christ died for our sins. He is risen from the dead as our living Savior and Lord (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). Believers confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (Romans 10:9). 

When you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, you are saved. God works in us through Christ to save us (Hebrews 13:20-21). God will "make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen" (vs. 21). Therefore, to be saved is to please God through Christ. Our relationship with God in Christ is forever.

You are saved when you receive God's grace through faith in Christ. Jesus is the fulness of God's grace (John 1:16). The grace of Christ saves us through faith in Christ. Grace in Christ is the gift of God (Ephesians 2:8-9). Grace is God's unmerited favor for sinners. You are saved by God's grace alone in Christ.

"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved" (Acts 16:31). The Bible is clear about when you are saved. Base your salvation on the written word of God in your Bible. Trust the promise of God to save you, when you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.