Bad News vs The Good News

By Ethan Tidwell

The news often informs us of things currently going on in the world, usually bad or even terrible things. It often feels like the news only wants to disclose bad events or evil that is committed. It is very discouraging to always hear what undesirable things currently go on in our world, driving some to no longer have faith in humanity, or worse God. With a world of constant disaster (with nature) and the evil of mankind that you hear daily gets tiresome. Thankfully, we have the gospel which is “the good news.” Nothing can touch the holiness and greatness of this news because it leads to salvation.

It’s not good news in name only, and it’s certainly not news to satisfy your ears, but it’s news we all need to know. Jesus Christ is that good news, when He came to earth as a man He didn’t tell of what people wanted in life or how they want to be saved, “You can be saved by doing whatever you want to do”, or “Just say a prayer and everything is fine.” Not at all.

In fact, He said several things that may have and indeed did offend people, not because He wanted to but because He only spoke the truth. Matthew 10:37 “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.” He then continues ‘he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.” V.38 I’m sure plenty people were displeased when they heard this. The rich young ruler didn’t like what he heard “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.” (Matt.19:21-22, Mark 10:21-22, Luke 18:22-23). May of the pharisees and other jews hated Him. A lot of them didn’t believe He was the Messiah.

This should comfort us by understanding that even if we teach the truth and are still hated, to not take it personally because of what He said in John 15:18 “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.”

The world needs the good news, and it has it through Jesus Christ, all everyone has to do is obey His commands.

Meditate on this:

Galatians 6:1-5

6 Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. ² Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. ³ For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. ⁴ But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. ⁵ For each one shall bear his own load.

The Message of the Book of Jonah

By Jeff Curtis

What is the story of Jonah intended to teach us? We need to be careful about drawing conclusions from the book. In the first place, Christians shouldn’t conclude that members of other religions don’t need to be converted to Christ. God intended for His message of salvation to be extended to everyone. But we shouldn’t overlook the story of Jonah. The Gentiles who were first delivered had to repent of their sins and confess their faith in the one true God. If the book teaches us anything about the salvation of Gentiles in the Old Testament times, it shows that Gentiles had to come to faith in God to be saved.

Lesson One: The book teaches us that not all religions are legitimate. The Bible affirms that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is the only way to salvation (Acts 4:12). No doubt, there are people who are capable of doing good and yet practice other religions. We might say that other religions contain elements of truth. But the question is “Can one be saved outside of Christ?” The New Testament answer is “No.”

We, as Christians, have no reason to feel superior to others. We are, after all, only sinners saved by grace. We shouldn’t refuse to love people or be unkind to those who practice other religions (or no religion). Instead, we should love everyone and do good to all, with a desire that others will come to a saving faith in Christ.

Lesson Two: The book of Jonah teaches God’s love for Gentiles as well as Jews. While other prophets declared that God held the Gentiles accountable and would punish them for their sins, Jonah made it clear that God called the Gentiles to repent. Only his book shows that God spared them (or saved them) when they obeyed.

The Jews needed understand that God’s love was for all mankind. Throughout their history they saw themselves to blessed by God., where they saw the Gentiles as unworthy of God’s blessings. They were not surprised or saddened to hear the prophets pronounce doom on the Gentiles, but they would have been shocked to discover God wanted to bless the Gentiles as He did the Jews.

Jonah’s story may have been intended to correct this attitude. Israel needed to know that, though they were indeed God’s special people, the Lord cared for the Gentiles also. The book of Jonah teaches that God has always been concerned about all mankind, not just the Jews. Also, the book teaches that the Jews needed to be like God by sharing His concern for all people.

Jonah’s experience teaches God’s people today to love, not hate, those who are outside of God’s family.

Meditate on this:

Psalm 139:7-9

⁷ Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence?
⁸ If I ascend into heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. ⁹ If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,