You have probably heard the song from 1974, "Tell Me Something Good" by Chaka Khan and Rufus. The lyrics that hit me the other day are, "Tell me something good, Tell me that you love me, yeah"! Isn't that what we all need right now? Good news! I know most of you know the good news but I think we need to be reminded and forever grateful. Let me tell you something good! Many of you know this good news but it is always good to be reminded over and over. When days are hard and we really think about what Jesus has done for us our attitude turns grateful.
The Gospel is good news and I love this explanation of good news! 1 Corinthians 15: 1-11, "Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. 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. After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time. For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. Therefore, whether it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed."
As Paul says Christ died for our sins, was buried and raised on the third day. Because He died on the cross for us, our sins could be forgiven. He was buried but death did not keep Him down. On the third day, he was resurrected. The disciples witnessed this and more than five hundred people before he ascended to heaven. He also appeared to Paul on the road to Damascus. By that grace, Paul was called to be an Apostle even though he was the biggest persecutor at that time. Paul was transformed by the Gospel. The Gospel is the Good News that, because of what Christ did, we can be forgiven and can live forever. John 3: 16, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
God loves you. God knows you. Intimately and personally. He knows how many hairs you have on your head. He knows your thoughts, fears and desires. He knows what you are going through today and where you have been on this life journey. He wants to bless your life and make it full and complete. He wants you to know the peace and security that only He can give. We have all messed up. Romans 3: 23, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God..."
Salvation is a free gift that you just have to accept. Ephesians 2: 8-9, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast." Once you accept Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior you become a child of God. You can have a personal relationship with Him and talk to Him any time about anything. He will never leave us! There really is NOTHING better!