The Gospel is incredibly good news that follows bad news. Imagine that out of nowhere a North Korean long-range ballistic missile with a nuclear warhead was 30 minutes from hitting Los Angeles. Can you imagine the horror and fear not just in LA but around the world? Then twenty minutes later we learn that the US military has shot down the missile.  It falls harmlessly into the Pacific. Talk about incredibly good news after the imminent worst-case scenario. This good news following horrific news illustration is what the Gospel is all about.

The Gospel tells us that we are all sinners, separated from God because of that sin. God is very clear that we will face judgement for our sins, a “double-death.” In other words, we will die both a physical death and a spiritual death which the Bible tells us means a permanent eternal separation from God. Jesus calls this Hell. This is the bad news.

But the Gospel is actually the good news that follows the bad. It’s that God loves you and me so much that He sent His Son, Jesus, to pay the penalty for our sins. Jesus died in our place so that if we acknowledge our sins, confess and repent, then we are forgiven.  He cleanses us of sin. He makes us right with God, and because Jesus rose from the dead and conquered death, Jesus gives us that same victory, as well. Even though our bodies will one day give out and die, we can be confident that our souls will live forever with the Lord. And one day, when He returns for His Church, He will give us a resurrected body like His.

This is the Gospel! There is no better news in all of history. Have you embraced the Gospel in your life?