Good News Indeed, but then... WHAT IS IT!?

[Geralt]

the news is good only to those who is in bad shape and have need of it.

 

[Rick Otto]

And what about after they had enough believers to form a community? You do not think that they ever got past two people? Maybe read about Paul's journeys again.

And don't start tallking smack about self deception, you've said it 50 times. Move on.

Well, a group I know of in northeast Wisconsin, one guy bought a 80 acre farm with a barn that he used for larger meetings. It was big enough that he started celebrating the feast of booths and people would come from all over and camp on his land, joining in.
His first job after seminary was probation officer in L.A. ( lol )
Then he went to Nigeria and converted a king (of an area about the size of a county). The king converted the tribe and tore down the temple that had human sacrifices in its foundation. I met him at a feast. His sons told me about the trouble local witchdoctors caused in revenge. These many years later, he has a school and a few churches going over there. Amazing guy.
But he is to spontaneous and free with power, for the local pastors in Wisconsin to buddy up with much. He isn't the type to get bogged down in administrative detail.
I should look him up. Haven't talked to him in years.

 

[Rick Otto]

God is with us and loves us and a virgin gave birth to God and God is in man. the good news is the endless rejoicing and love of the kingdom of God which never could and never will fade away.

Hearing it articulated a thought for what I already knew.
Instantly I was whole and moved by inspiration (His touch).

 

[Xalith]

the news is good only to those who is in bad shape and have need of it.

.....which is every single human who has ever lived since Christ's day.

Nobody is without sin, nobody is righteous on their own, and absolutely nobody is worthy to enter Heaven.

The Good News is that we have Someone Who has paid the price for our sin, Somebody who can clothe us in righteousness, and someone who can make us better. All we need to do is repent and renounce our sin, turn away from it and accept the One who can and will save us, the One who paid for our sins, the One who is our Advocate to the Father.

That One is Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Without Him, there's no hope for us.

 

[Geralt]

true, BUT that is the problem isn't it ?

even though you explain to them that nobody is without sin, it has no relevance.
most dont even believe in christ, or sin or even heaven.

my point is, unless a person becomes aware of his helpless state of sin, or the reality of the afterlife, of heaven, God, etc.., the gospel in his perspective is not 'good' news simply because he/she has no need for it. can't force a patient to take meds when the patient thinks he/she is not sick.

thus, the news is good only to those who are aware that they are in bad shape and have need of rescue.

for the 'good' news to truly 'good' news, we must first make aware in the person his helpless state and his dire need for a savior- thus the good news.

our knowledge of sin, our understanding of our helpless state, and our dependency on the help God provides in Christ is the background behind every genuine conversation.

.....which is every single human who has ever lived since Christ's day.

Nobody is without sin, nobody is righteous on their own, and absolutely nobody is worthy to enter Heaven.

The Good News is that we have Someone Who has paid the price for our sin, Somebody who can clothe us in righteousness, and someone who can make us better. All we need to do is repent and renounce our sin, turn away from it and accept the One who can and will save us, the One who paid for our sins, the One who is our Advocate to the Father.

That One is Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Without Him, there's no hope for us.

 

[Alithis]

the news is good only to those who is in bad shape and have need of it.

and that would be every one bar none . "for all have sinned "....

 

[Alithis]

true, BUT that is the problem isn't it ?

even though you explain to them that nobody is without sin, it has no relevance.
most dont even believe in christ, or sin or even heaven.

my point is, unless a person becomes aware of his helpless state of sin, or the reality of the afterlife, of heaven, God, etc.., the gospel in his perspective is not 'good' news simply because he/she has no need for it. can't force a patient to take meds when the patient thinks he/she is not sick.

thus, the news is good only to those who are aware that they are in bad shape and have need of rescue.

for the 'good' news to truly 'good' news, we must first make aware in the person his helpless state and his dire need for a savior- thus the good news.

our knowledge of sin, our understanding of our helpless state, and our dependency on the help God provides in Christ is the background behind every genuine conversation.

it remains the good news to every one .. it only become beneficial to those that listen and obey it .

 

[Xalith]

true, BUT that is the problem isn't it ?

even though you explain to them that nobody is without sin, it has no relevance.
most dont even believe in christ, or sin or even heaven.

Just because they don't believe in it, doesn't mean it doesn't exist. I could wave the Cure for Cancer in front of your face and if you don't believe it will cure cancer, and refuse to try it, doesn't mean that it doesn't actually cure cancer.

my point is, unless a person becomes aware of his helpless state of sin, or the reality of the afterlife, of heaven, God, etc.., the gospel in his perspective is not 'good' news simply because he/she has no need for it. can't force a patient to take meds when the patient thinks he/she is not sick.

That's not a fault of the aforementioned News, nor the person giving the News. If a person hears Good News and ignores it, that's completely on the person ignoring it. The person spreading the News has done their job.

thus, the news is good only to those who are aware that they are in bad shape and have need of rescue.

It's Good News for everybody, regardless if you believe in it or not. If a person doesn't believe in sin, heaven, hell, etc... that doesn't change the news Itself.

For example, if I told you that the Nation of Blabblahstan decided not to fire nuclear missiles on the US and you don't believe that the Nation of Blahblahstan exists, that doesn't mean that the news that they decided not to fire missiles is suddenly not "good" news.

for the 'good' news to truly 'good' news, we must first make aware in the person his helpless state and his dire need for a savior- thus the good news.

our knowledge of sin, our understanding of our helpless state, and our dependency on the help God provides in Christ is the background behind every genuine conversation.

The problem behind this mentality, is that it is Gloom&Doom preaching. To do what you're proposing, first you need to make the person feel even more worthless than they already feel and nobody finds that pleasant or enticing. I'm not trying to say we should go the Prosperity Gospel road, but, starting off with "You're gonna go to hell if you don't do what I'm saying" is going to instantly turn them off to you, unless they are hit with fear and fear is... not the best way to bring someone in.

IMO, one should start with Christ's love. Everybody has problems in their life whether they want to admit it or not. It could be financial problems. It could be marital problems. It could be workplace problems. Either way, I would think the best way to introduce Jesus to someone who doesn't believe in Him, is to tell them what He can do for them. People want things. Jesus makes many promises, and He can and does in fact help people with their problems. He does it everyday!

Instead of saying "You'll go to hell if you don't do this." perhaps say "Hey... so you're having this problem. I know somebody who can help you..." Oh sure they'll be skeptical, but then add "Just try to give Him a chance. Be open-minded about it. What have you to lose?"

And then let Jesus do the rest. You gotta trust in Him that He will do as He promised He would. You introduce Jesus to an unsaved person, and that's like planting the seed. See, people want to plant the seed AND make it grow. We can't do that. Only God can make a seed grow. We can only plant it and give it water and a good environment to grow in. Seeds like nice warm places with plenty of nutrients and moisture. They don't like barren, dry cracked ground. To me, Gloom&Doom preaching is the barren, dry, cracked ground. It sounds like an ultimatum and nobody likes ultimatums. Yes, it is true, that without Christ we're going to hell. That's absolutely true. But do you have to ram it down their throats?

Presenting Jesus as someone's best friend works better IMO. Maybe if they actually give Him a chance, and they find that they feel better about life, maybe their workplace problems aren't so bad anymore, maybe they've had more luck in kicking a bad habit, maybe their marital problems have died down a bit... then come to them and say "So, how'd that thing with Jesus go?" And then introduce them to the idea of repentance and getting saved.

It might go a bit better than an ultimatum.

 

[Rick Otto]

it remains the good news to every one .. it only become beneficial to those that listen and obey it .

if only that were true...
1Cor.1

1. [18] For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

 

[Alithis]

if only that were true...
1Cor.1

1. [18] For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

yeah that's just splitting hairs ..- they perish why ? because they refuse to believe and obey the message . so - same same

 

[Arsenios]

The Kingdom of Heaven is here and now on this earth...
AND...
There is something YOU can DO about it!
You can be repenting...
BECAUSE
The kingdom of Heaven is suffering violence...
And the violent are TAKING IT...
By violence...

So that is VERY GOOD NEWS for those who wish to attain the Kingdom of Heaven...
For those who do NOT, it is NOT good news...

Arsenios

 

[Rick Otto]

Happy nonsense.
No one desires salvation until God applies saving grace, imparting saving faith.
For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

 

[PuerAzaelis]

Good News:

Acts 2:24 But God raised him up again, releasing him from the pangs of death; it was impossible that death should have the mastery over him.

 

[Arsenios]

Happy nonsense.
No one desires salvation until God applies saving grace, imparting saving faith.
For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

I wanted to see the Greek on this one, so here it is:

KJV – For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness;
but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

BYZ –
ο λογος γαρ ο του σταυρου
For the word. the (word) of the Cross
τοις μεν απολλυμενοις μωρια εστιν
to those on the one hand perishing foolishness it is
τοις δε σωζομενοις
But (on the other hand) to those being saved
ημιν
to us
δυναμις θεου εστιν
power of God it is

In passable literal English:
For the Word of the Cross is foolishness to those who are perishing
But to us who are being saved it is the Power of God.

So the KJV exegetically translated this in error...
It does not say: "To those who HAVE BEEN SAVED..."
But instead says: "To those who ARE BEING SAVED..."

Salvation is an ongoing and lifelong and ever-perfecting Way of Life...

"I AM the Way..."

Arsenios

 

[Rick Otto]

I wanted to see the Greek on this one, so here it is:

KJV – For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness;
but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

BYZ –
ο λογος γαρ ο του σταυρου
For the word. the (word) of the Cross
τοις μεν απολλυμενοις μωρια εστιν
to those on the one hand perishing foolishness it is
τοις δε σωζομενοις
But (on the other hand) to those being saved
ημιν
to us
δυναμις θεου εστιν
power of God it is

In passable literal English:
For the Word of the Cross is foolishness to those who are perishing
But to us who are being saved it is the Power of God.

So the KJV exegetically translated this in error...
It does not say: "To those who HAVE BEEN SAVED..."
But instead says: "To those who ARE BEING SAVED..."

Arsenios

Thank you.

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

the news is good only to those who is in bad shape and have need of it.

Like Corrie ten Boom said truthfully -
There is ONLY ONE PERSON Jesus cannot help.

It does not say: "To those who HAVE BEEN SAVED..."
But instead says: "To those who ARE BEING SAVED..."

As also, yes,
Jesus doesn't say "Seek and stop", but "Seek, and keep seeking". (Continually)
Learning
"Pray continually" Remain in, abiding through hard as well as easy time.
Live "in union" constantly with Jesus. Every Day. All Day.

.1Corinthians.1

1. [18] For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

"the power
of God" the Creator. Sovereign Almighty Elohim Caring Forever for His children.
Not just once in a while, but continually every day, as HE FULLY planned BEFORE HE CREATED THE WORLD OR ANYTHING.

yeah that's just splitting hairs ..- they perish why ? because they refuse to believe and obey the message . so - same same

'splitting hairs'?
Over perhaps 5 billion souls about to perish forever, and that's 'splitting hairs' !?

 

[Alithis]

Like Corrie ten Boom said truthfully -
There is ONLY ONE PERSON Jesus cannot help.


As also, yes,
Jesus doesn't say "Seek and stop", but "Seek, and keep seeking". (Continually)
Learning
"Pray continually" Remain in, abiding through hard as well as easy time.
Live "in union" constantly with Jesus. Every Day. All Day.

"the power
of God" the Creator. Sovereign Almighty Elohim Caring Forever for His children.
Not just once in a while, but continually every day, as HE FULLY planned BEFORE HE CREATED THE WORLD OR ANYTHING.

'splitting hairs'?
Over perhaps 5 billion souls about to perish forever, and that's 'splitting hairs' !?

yes -he was splitting hairs - they perish why ? because they refuse to believe and obey the message of the gospel ..
whether or not it is god news to some and not to others is splitting hairs .. who care who it is not good news to .. they will perish if they dont hear it and obey it . simple as that . so go do it and speak it .

 

[Jenniferdiana]

That Jesus was truly the son of God who came to save people from their sins

 

[Alithis]

That Jesus was truly the son of God who came to save people from their sins

yes .. and the god news tells us HOW to be saved .. repent ,be baptised for the remission of our sin and recive the holy Ghost .

 

[Arsenios]

That Jesus was truly the son of God who came to save people from their sins

Milk is the word of the Gospel...
Solid food is the doing of it...

Words are only words...
Deeds are what matter...

Sorry if that sounds like works-salvation...
God saves us based on our deeds...
And not merely on our words...
God Alone Saves...
Salvation is a Gift...

Arsenios

Edited to add:

Believing the word is a start...
But...
Faith is the actual doing of the word.