The Good News

The Good News

What is good news? It is information that will make you feel happy. What was good news to Mr. Grant? Mr. Grant was a garbage truck driver. He got paid well. But, it did not mean he did not like extra cash. Because, of his truck driving expertise, he was offered a job plowing snow. Every winter most people prayed for no snow. Mr. Grant, however, prayed for snow. Snow meant more work which meant more money. Snow was bad news for some, but good news to him.

We always say that the gospel is the good news of salvation. But to whom is it good news? To really be good news it must be good news to all, not just a few.

For 400 years, Protestant Christianity has been divided into two camps regarding salvation. The first, Calvinism, confesses that Christ actually saved human beings on the cross, but that this salvation is limited only to the elect, those whom God has predetermined to be saved. The implication of this view is that those who God chooses to be saved, cannot reject it. And those not chosen to be saved cannot do anything to prevent being lost. According to this gospel Christ only died for the elect. That‘s why this version of the Gospel is limited good news. (Prosperity gospel comes from this view.)

The second view, Arminianism, holds that, on the cross, Christ obtained salvation for all humanity, but that this salvation is only a provision; a person must believe and repent for the provision to become a reality. In this view Christ only died for those who believe. This view is only conditional good news.

But neither camp presents the full truth about salvation. The Bible teaches that God actually and unconditionally saved all humanity at the cross so that we are justified and reconciled to God by that act. Let us see Romans 5:10, 18,

Romans 5:10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
Romans 5:18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.

And also 2 Corinthians 5:18-19,

2 Corinthians 5:18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
2 Corinthians 5:19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

The only reason anyone will be lost is because he or she willfully and persistently rejects God’s gift of salvation in Christ. Let us see John 3:18, 36,

John 3:18 [he] that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
John 3:36 [he] that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

The two heresies – Calvinism and Arminianism - are the consequence of people taking the scriptures out of context and misinterpreting them. When you take the Bible in its right context and understanding you discover that the Bible’s true view on salvation is unconditional and unlimited good news. It is good news to all mankind. The question is: do you believe it?