Good News

ByJim Stephens

Reading: Romans 1; Psalm 56

1 This letter is from Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus, chosen by God to be an apostle and sent out to preach his Good News. 2 God promised this Good News long ago through his prophets in the holy Scriptures. 3 The Good News is about his Son. In his earthly life he was born into King David’s family line, 4 and he was shown to be the Son of God when he was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit. He is Jesus Christ our Lord. 5 Through Christ, God has given us the privilege and authority as apostles to tell Gentiles everywhere what God has done for them, so that they will believe and obey him, bringing glory to his name. 6 And you are included among those Gentiles who have been called to belong to Jesus Christ. 7 I am writing to all of you in Rome who are loved by God and are called to be his own holy people. May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace. (Romans 1:1–7 NLT)

Paul’s opening words in his letter to the predominantly Gentile church in Rome really caught my attention today! I’ve been thinking about how complicated Christianity has become and how simple it actually is. In the US we’re in the escalating stages of a very drawn-out campaign for national elections in November of 2022. This is not a presidential election, but involves electing many who will hold positions of state and national power. One of my frustrations is that, in the US, Evangelical Christianity has become very politicized and to some extent aligned with a particular political party. In the Christianity of Paul’s day there was room in the Community of Faith for Jews, Gentiles, Roman citizens, Jewish Zealots, and all sorts of people. What happened?

Paul’s simple restatement of the Good News on which our faith stands:

  • God promised to send a Savior to redeem us from our fallen condition and restore us to relationship with himself. God did that through his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
  • This redemption and salvation is freely available to ALL who believe the message and receive this gift freely. The gift is given by grace and received by faith.
  • You and I are included among those who have been called to belong to Jesus Christ and his Kingdom.
  • We who have believed and received the gift are authorized to tell the Good News to any and all who will listen. If they listen, believe, and receive the gift, they are redeemed and saved and authorized and privileged to tell the same Good News message to any and all who will listen to them! That’s the Good News!

Prayer:

Father, please help us to get back to the simplicity of the Good News. Please free us from the things that complicate our faith and distract us from your truth. Amen.