Is No News Good News?
When was the last time you heard any good news? If you apply the question to watching television likely you can’t remember the last time, because it seems that news reports bombard us and depress us regularity with this world’s harsh realities and tragic problems. If you’re talking with neighbors and friends, you may hear of a child being born, of a friend getting a promotion, or the opposite, a child died, or your neighbor has lost his job. There is good and bad, because there is God and the Devil. Even when we read God’s word, we’ll see the effects of sin that causes the separation between man and God, and the effects of righteousness that brings man and God together. The fact is that day to day we will hear both the good and the bad news, because of the afore mentioned, but, we’ve all heard, “no news is good news”. But is this actually true?
In your Bible you’ll read the word, “gospel” (101 Time in NKJV), for example, Matthew 4:23, “And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom…” and Matthew 24:14 “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.” The word gospel comes from the Greek, euaggelízō which is a compound word [eú, meaning well] and [ang’-el-os meaning a messenger, envoy, angel], thus, good message.
Since the message preached is the “good news”, if we keep the good news of Jesus, His virgin birth (Matt. 1:18-25), His message of salvation (Luke 19:10; John 11:25-26), His death (Mark 15:39), burial and resurrection (John 19:40-42; Mark 16:1-7), His ascension up to Heaven and promise to return (Acts 1:9-11; John 14:1-3). There is a hymn I love titled, “Will you not tell it today?” Why not? As children of the Most High God, when we keep that hidden in our hearts, not telling it today—others don’t hear the good news, and that’s makes “no news, bad news”.
The gospel centers upon Jesus as the Savior of the world, in His life, person, work and teaching (Mk. 1:1). His advent upon the stage of human history was heralded as something wonderful. “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Lk. 2: 10-11). His commission to every saint is, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mk. 16:15).
Why then do some Christians practice “no news”? Does talking about Jesus in social situations rub some the wrong way and thus spoil man’s “fun? Do some have the impression that if you tell it today, you’ll be embarrassed by this “gospel” because it’ll ruin your social life? Are you not happy in worship, are you not encouraged by your brethren? Maybe you feel like worshiping God, and weekly Bible study is a burden, and you don’t want to subject your good friends to this life. Let’s not forget for we who love God, in many ways will be miserable here in this world that is not our home (John 16:33), but the “good news” is that we’ll avoid hell because we’re washed by the blood of Christ (Rom. 5:9). The bad news is the unconverted will be envied in this world because of his enjoyment of worldly pleasure but will never see Heaven, nor the face of God. All you saints should know this already, therefore ask yourself, does the gospel really mean “good news” to me?
It should be the Gospel of Truth and Salvation. The good news of Jesus is ” the gospel of your salvation” (Eph. 1:13). The gospel alone reveals absolute, infallible and unchanging truth to a changing world. God cannot lie (Heb. 6:18; Titus 1:2); Scripture cannot be broken (John 10:35). The gospel isn’t a religious fairytale invented by duped men. It’s historical reality and has been reliably confirmed (1 Cor. 15:1-8). Something Christians must never forget; The gospel is the only “power of God unto salvation” (Rom. 1:16). All the military might of man, the education, money and power, social prestige are at best impotent, powerless to save a soul from eternal separation.
It should be “good news” of Peace and Promise. The “gospel of peace” Paul speaks of (Eph. 6:15) offers everyone the peace of a right relationship with the Creator. Peace comes from knowing you are just as important to God as anyone else (Psa. 8:3-4; John 3:16; Rom. 5:8). By obeying the gospel, anyone can be adopted into the family of God and become “fellow heirs” of the abundant spiritual blessings in Christ. This is “His promise in Christ through the gospel” (Eph. 3:6). Biblically, peace is more than just the absence of conflict. It’s the full restoration of a right, living relationship. The broken relationship has been healed in complete reconciliation through the priceless blood of Jesus. All who have obeyed the gospel have been brought “near by the blood of Christ” (Eph. 2:13, 17). It was His blood that paid the infinite debt of sin and satisfied the justice of God. Through Him we are enabled to fully know our Father, to be called sons and daughters, to be assured of a home in Heaven—that makes for life’s highest good, and great peace. Knowing we have met the gracious conditions of pardon—will bring peace. Knowing we have the promise of a loving Father’s constant concern and care. Knowing God is for you will give you peace even amidst turmoil and persecution. Do you have this peace? Paul and Barnabas had this peace there in that jail in Philippi, because they practice what they preached. Paul wrote the Philippian saints about this peace and its source (Acts 16:25; Phil. 4:6-7). Has the gospel of peace and promise changed your life for the better? If so, be a peacemaker and gladly share the promises of the gospel.
It should be the Gospel of Life, Immortality and Hope. “but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel” (2 Tim. 1:10). The good news answers two profound questions of time and eternity: (1) “…how can we then live?” (Ezek. 33:10) and (2) “If a man dies, will he live again?” (Job 14:14)
Everyone must decide how to live. Jesus came to give a truly abundant life (Jn. 10:10). This is the unceasing supply of the greatest quality of life ever known. “And of His fullness (or for His fullness) we have all received, and grace for grace” (Jn. 1:16). In Him, wave after wave of refreshing grace for living is supplied by truly knowing Him (1 Jn. 5:20). He didn’t just tell us about life—He is the Life (Jn. 14:6). He is the living model of successful spiritual living and human potential. He enlightens us to discern the important from the trivial. He shows us how to overcome temptation, meet and deal with others, always please the Father and draw near in communion. Abiding in Jesus gives the spiritual life to bear much fruit (Jn. 15:8). What is this fruit? “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Gal. 5:22-23). The gospel transforms us into being “more than conquerors through Him who loved us” (Rom. 8:37).
We have this bold confidence because Jesus arose from the grave, assuring us of immortality. “Because I live, you will live also” (Jn. 14:19). This hope of heaven in the gospel (Col. 1:5) is priceless beyond anything this old sinful world can give. The philosopher Jean Paul Sarte viewed life thusly: “Everything is born without reason, prolongs itself out of weakness and dies by chance. . . . I choked with rage at this gross absurd being.” The “brilliant” atheist Ingersoll said, “Every cradle asks us, ‘Whence?’ and every coffin, ‘Whither?’. . . Death is a narrow vale between the cold and barren peaks of two eternities. We cry aloud and the only answer is the wailing echo of our cry.” Sad! But not so with God’s own for every child of God looks beyond the azure blue, and can say, our God He is alive, thank God for the hope of heaven!
Let’s appreciate and be motivated by the irreplaceable gospel and share the good news of Jesus everyone everywhere.
In Love
Dave Scarpino
“…Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. 6 After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep” (1 Cor. 15:3-6)