My first encounter with the word good news was during my primary school days. I was assigned to do a monologue of Luke 2:8-16 in Hokkien for my school’s Christmas celebration. I do not remember how I’ve managed to accomplish that but I remember feeling quite excited about the angel’s announcement section, “Fear not, for behold I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior who is Christ the Lord…” (vv.10-11).
Good news! Central to the gospel message is the good news of Jesus Christ, his life, his death, his resurrection and the message of salvation and redemption. In 1 Cor 15:1-6, the apostle Paul specified the content of the gospel, “Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. After that… to more than five hundred…”
Similarly, Jesus also spoke about the gospel message in Luke 24:46-47. “The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations…”.
The appropriate response to the gospel involves repentance, faith and a commitment to follow Jesus. This decision results in a life-changing transformation that is only possible after a personal encounter with Christ as Lord and Savior (Gal 2:20). For those who receive the gospel, Jesus commanded them to preach the gospel. But more importantly, those who receive the gospel are called to live out the gospel (Gal 5:22-23). That’s when the good news really becomes the good news. Have you received the good news?
But wait, there’s more! The final good news of Jesus Christ speaks of the day when he will make everything new. God will live with his people and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain (Rev 21:3-4). “No longer will there be a curse upon anything… the throne of God will be there, and his servants will worship him. And they will see His face, his name will be written on their foreheads. And there will be no more night…for the Lord God will shine on them. And they will reign forever and ever (Rev 22:4-5).