This is Good News!

I began a study in the Bible about the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and I found so many places in the Scriptures which speak of this directly. Here are just a few of the words God has left us there and I do pray that the Living Holy Spirit will speak to your heart through the reading of them. I have taken some time to search out specific relevant passages of Scripture to look through and think about. Lord willing, I anticipate going into more depth though these passages one at a time over the next few posts. But for now I place them here for you to read as, hopefully, your heart is seeking God.

First of all this passage has the Good News of which I speak here. And as this passage is read with the others I would pray that God opens your understanding to The Good News of the Truth of the Gospel…

Then He said to them, “These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.” And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures. Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, “and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. Luke 24:44

The following passages primarily speak of the sharing of the Good News…

Sing to the LORD, all the earth;
Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day. 1 Chr 16:23

I have proclaimed the good news of righteousness
In the great assembly;
Indeed, I do not restrain my lips,
O LORD, You Yourself know.
I have not hidden Your righteousness within my heart;
I have declared Your faithfulness and Your salvation;
I have not concealed Your lovingkindness and Your truth
From the great assembly. Ps 40:9-10


Sing to the LORD, bless His name;
Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day.
Declare His glory among the nations,
His wonders among all peoples.
For the LORD is great and greatly to be praised;
He is to be feared above all gods.
For all the gods of the peoples are idols,
But the LORD made the heavens. Ps 96:2-5


Therefore My people shall know My name;
Therefore they shall know in that day
That I am He who speaks:
‘Behold, it is I.’ ”
How beautiful upon the mountains
Are the feet of him who brings good news,
Who proclaims peace,
Who brings glad tidings of good things,
Who proclaims salvation,
Who says to Zion,
“Your God reigns!” Is 52:6-7

O Zion,
You who bring good tidings,
Get up into the high mountain;
O Jerusalem,
You who bring good tidings,
Lift up your voice with strength,
Lift it up, be not afraid;
Say to the cities of Judah, “Behold your God!”
Behold, the Lord GOD shall come with a strong hand,
And His arm shall rule for Him;
Behold, His reward is with Him,
And His work before Him.
He will feed His flock like a shepherd;
He will gather the lambs with His arm,
And carry them in His bosom,
And gently lead those who are with young. Is 40:9-11


“The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me,
Because the LORD has anointed Me
To preach good tidings to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives,
And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD,
And the day of vengeance of our God;
To comfort all who mourn,
To console those who mourn in Zion,
To give them beauty for ashes,
The oil of joy for mourning,
The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;
That they may be called trees of righteousness,
The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.” Is 61:1-3


Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. “For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:10-11

But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.”
How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written:
“How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace,
Who bring glad tidings of good things!” Rom 10:8-15

One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated, the Christ). John 1:40-41

Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” John 1:45

“Come, see a Man who told me all things that I ever did. Could this be the Christ?” John 4:29

And this passage tells us of the work of the Holy Spirit and His redeemed in calling men to desire and come to receive this offer of the Good News of Salvation which is offered to all who thirst for this...

“I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.” And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely. Rev 22:16-17

Does the Living God know you? Are you truly yet a “Christian”?

A very important part of coming to know the Truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is understanding that God knows us as we come to know Him through the work of His Son.

For the LORD knows the way of the righteous,
But the way of the ungodly shall perish. Ps 1:6

There are many people throughout the world today and especially in the USA which have adopted the idea that they are “Christian”. This is not much different than believing that because you are in the water for a long time you can call yourself a fish. The term “Christian” has been labeled onto many who may not at all realize what this term means coming from a Bible view. For truly being a “Christian” means being willing to live and die for the name of Christ because Christ died for our sins so that we may have eternal life and in this He calls us to glorify His Holy name as a Christian. Is Christ's resurrected Life glorified in your life? Have you died to the old ways to live in His new way for His purposes? Are you a true Christian?

Some newer translations of Holy Scripture have more liberally used the word Christian and probably in the right sense of the Bible meaning of this word. But there are some key places where it shows up in the translations which are considered more accurate such as the NASB, NKJV, and the KJV. The following verses come from the NKJV and reveal --through their context-- just what the Biblical meaning of the term “Christian” is as opposed to the worldly definition accepted by those who haven’t received God’s Word on this yet. The worldly definition mixes worldly ideas with it and takes out the purity of what a Biblical Christian is to be like. In other words, many who think they are Christian are not so according to God Himself as is seen in His Word.

After the time of Christ’s death and resurrection, those who believed all that Christ had said were saved and following the teachings of Jesus wholeheartedly. From doing this they were often severely persecuted for expressly believing and acting like Jesus called them to through His Words. For they were now the Light of Christ on the earth of which those who hated this Light and loved the sinfulness wished to extinguish by killing Jesus Christ on the Cross. After the stoning and resulting death of Stephen --one of the outspoken disciples who stood up for Christ’s Light of Truth-- many of these true followers were scattered to other locations. Consider the context of Scripture below and see where the Bible says “the disciples were first called Christians”.


Now those who were scattered after the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to no one but the Jews only. But some of them were men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord. Then news of these things came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch. When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord. For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord. Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul. And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch. Acts 11:19-26

As Biblical and true “Christians” we will have to endure some of the same sufferings Christ endured. If we endure nothing at all for being named a Christian then we may not be a true Christian yet according to the word’s of the Apostle Peter in Holy Scripture. And we should glorify God if we are really following all of His Truth without any perversions for this is confirmation to our souls in Him that we are saved and our names are recorded in the Book of eternal life which is now in the hand of God.


Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter. For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?
Now “If the righteous one is scarcely saved,
Where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?”
Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator. 1Peter 4:12-19

If you are a Christian in the Biblical sense of the word then you will also find grace from God to have your roots in Him deep enough to hold fast to your faith and bear good fruit from Him even when difficulties and troubles come. This is another test of the assurance of your faith being genuine and real.

“The sower sows the word. “And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts. “These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness; “and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word’s sake, immediately they stumble. “Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word, “and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. “But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.” Mark 4:14-20

Do you really want to know God’s voice in your life? If you do you will want to look well into the Words He has left for His true Christian followers. You won’t play games with His words by being partial or twisting what God has said, as many do, but you will desire to know Him and you will come to see that He knows you very well and longs to restore your life from the grip of sin and unbelief.

“I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. “As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. “And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd. John 10:14-16

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. “And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. “My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. “I and My Father are one.” John 10:27-30

Are you really His? Do you want to be His? Consider this solid foundation of true faith.

Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” 2Tim 2:19

At the beginning of the Truth of the Gospel we must see that we can not call ourselves “Christian” --using the name of Christ-- and avoid the departure from sin in our lives. God offers His Grace to help for those who truly desire to live in and for His Son Jesus Christ. Being a real Christian means acknowledging our dire need for Christ’s Salvation from our sin and self and accepting the new life Christ commands us to know in the joy and peace which can only come through Him.

For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. 2Cor 5:14-19