Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Going Into 2010 With Good News

Going into 2010 with good news…

The word “gospel” means good news. The four Gospel that open the New Testament – Matthew, Mark, Luke and John – recounted the life of Jesus Christ and the good news that He brought to mankind. John 3:16 is at the heart of this good news. It says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believe in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Our desire is that you understand how Jesus loves you and that you know Him in a personal relationship.

1) THE TRUTH

To many, God seems distant and impersonal, but the truth is God desires a personal relationship with you and that it is possible to personally know the God of the universe. John 17:3 says “Now this is eternal life; that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, who You have sent.”

2) THE PROBLEM

Man is separated from God because of sin. Romans 3:23 says “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Good works or deeds will not resolve our separation from God, for even our best efforts fall short of God’s perfect standard. Isaiah 64:6 says “…and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags.” Ecclesiastes 7:30 confirms our situation “There is not a righteous man on earth who does what is right and never sins.”

3) THE SOLUTION

In order for God to have a personal relationship with each of us, His perfect justice demands a penalty (punishment or chastisement) from each person for their sins. Yet out of God’s perfect love, He offered His Son, Jesus Christ, to pay the penalty for our sin. Romans 5:8 says “But God demonstrated His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” We can be reconciled to God through Jesus Christ.

4) YOUR RESPONSE

To know God personally, you must acknowledge your need to be reconciled, believe that Jesus Christ pain the penalty for your sins through His death on the Cross, and receive Jesus Christ as the Savior of your life. Ephesians 2:8-9 says “For it is by grace you have been saved, through Faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so no one can boast.”

Please contact your friends here at ICCS if you have any questions on how to have a personal relationship with Jesus. That will be Good News to your heart.