--As we noticed yesterday, the term gospel literally means good news. And this is in fact why some people have preferred to refer to The Gospel as The Good News.
--What’s so important to notice about this concept of the Gospel as good news is that it’s very different from being “good advice.”
--Good advice would be a set of instructions about how to live, and although the Gospel certainly entails advice and instruction, that’s not the basic nature of what the term means.
--So, when we talk about what the Gospel is, we are talking specifically about what the news or announcement is.
--Interestingly, although Christians seem to disagree about virtually anything else in our religion, the one thing you don’t usually find much disagreement over is the basic fact of what the Gospel story tells.
--People may disagree with the historical accuracy of the news, but the key elements of the news are pretty well settled.
--The Gospel is the basic story of the whole world in nine key steps: creation, fall, separation, incarnation, perfection, crucifixion, resurrection, reconciliation, and judgment.
--Or, to put things in more commonly heard terms: God made us, but sin separates us from God. Nevertheless, God loves us and sent Jesus to die for us so that anyone who accepts Him may be restored to God and have life everlasting.
--Now, as you can plainly see, the news carries with it some pretty obvious response implications.
--The news is that the King of the universe has returned and offered us the chance to join His side again. “The revolution has begun,” you could say, “and the end is certain.” The only question is which side you’ll be on.
--In this sense, the Good News demands a response, but that response isn’t primarily a set of behaviors, it’s an oath of loyalty. Will you pledge allegiance to God through Jesus or will you stay silent and remain loyal to the true rebels following Satan.
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