The gospel is only good news for those of us who hear it, believe, and recognize that Jesus the Messiah is Savior and Lord. It is bad news for those who reject God’s gracious offer to be reconciled to him.
This is because after rejecting a chance to be forgiven, we will have absolutely no excuse when we one day stand before the Judge. We will rightly deserve to burn forever in the lake of fire, just as Jesus warned.
Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons. Matthew 25:41 (NLT)
Peter warned his listeners that God wanted them to change their minds and believe the gospel so that they might experience the refreshing that accompanies being restored to fellowship with our Creator.
And now, brethren, I know that you acted in ignorance, just as your rulers did also. 18 "But the things which God announced beforehand by the mouth of all the prophets, that His Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled. 19 "Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord; Acts 3:17-19 (NASB)
One of our most dangerous sinful tendencies is to avoid, deny, and suppress the truth when it comes to our true condition and need for salvation.
John addressed this sometimes fatal flaw.
This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. 20 "For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. John 3:19-20 (NASB)
The gospel strips away our excuses and shines a light on the sin of refusing to honor and glorify God by acknowledging his rightful ownership of our lives as Creator and Redeemer. Mankind’s rebellion against God’s rule was on full display at the cross. In a very real sense, we were all responsible for what happened at Calvary. Jesus carried all our sin, not just that of the Jewish leaders and Roman soldiers.
The gospel offers us the opportunity to lay down our inborn hostility toward God and surrender to the One who died for us and rose again as the victorious Lord.
Those who repent from their sin and rebellion will find forgiveness and refreshing. Those who spurn this magnanimous offer will have no excuse at the Last Judgment.
Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin? 5 But because you are stubborn and refuse to turn from your sin, you are storing up terrible punishment for yourself. For a day of anger is coming, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. 6 He will judge everyone according to what they have done. Romans 2:4–6 (NLT)
Which will it be for us? Will we repent and surrender to God or continue in to reject his mercy? The answer will determine our eternal destiny. Don’t let the gospel become bad news for you!
