The Good News

I started my day with this wonderful song. The music itself expresses peace and tranquility and the refrain says that God's love came down from heaven to save and free me. The first verse says: 'If my heart is overwhelmed and I cannot hear your voice, I hold on to what is true though I cannot see.'

In all honesty, I don't know where I'd have been this evening if God wasn't in my life. Maybe you think I'm into spiritual things way too much, but I can't explain enough the importance of spiritual life. God's standard is found in the Ten Commandments in the book of Exodus 20:1-17 in the Old Testament. Who can say they have never broken one of those laws? NOT ONE OF US!! The Bible says that we have all sinned (Romans 3:23) and therefore God cannot accept us to be with Him in heaven as we are. He is holy and we are all sinners (except for Jesus). But there is GOOD NEWS.

The Good News

The word 'Gospel' is from the Greek word 'εὐαγγέλιον' which means 'good news'. The Gospel is a simple, joyful message from God to us:

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16

Do we believe that verse? According to the verse, if we believe in Jesus, we have eternal life.

It is not only to believe that Jesus exists or that He died for us - that is true, but the Bible says in John 15:1-10:

'“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.' 

Jesus often taught with pictures. The pictures in this passage are the Vine (Jesus), the Vinedresser (God the Father) and the branches (believers). This text explains that it is not enough to say with our mouths that we believe. Jesus demands more from us. We must have spiritual fruit in our lives. To remain close to Him means to take time each day to fellowship with Him through prayer and reading the Bible. We need to practise that which we know daily, not only on Sundays!! We will remain in Jesus' love if we keep His commandments. How can we keep His commandments if we do not know what they are? I am more than grateful to those who taught me about Jesus and God's Word from my childhood. I recommend going to a Bible class to understand these matters seriously, because we shouldn't play at Christianity. What we do on earth has consequences in eternity. If you would like more information on joining a Bible class or if you would like a New Testament (free of charge), make a request on the comments below. Don't be shy!

One day, I will stand before Jesus after my death and I am certain He will say to me that I wasn't 'into spiritual things' enough. His teaching should influence all I do. What motivates me? Do I do all with love or with an ulterior motive? Do I love those around me or do I gossip about them? The Bible has much teaching about all aspects of life. I desire my attitude and character to be pleasing to God. 

If we have decided to become serious followers of Jesus, we need to confess that we are sinners (me first!!), to repent and turn in the opposite direction (i.e. to turn away from all known sins) and to follow Jesus according to His teaching in the Bible. We cannot do this in our own strength, therefore Jesus will give us the Holy Spirit, who is the third person of the Trinity (The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit).

The Good News is that Jesus died and rose again to give us new life. Whoever does not accept Jesus will be like the branch which does not bear fruit - he/she will be thrown into the fire (hell). If we are not with Jesus on the earth, we will not be with Him in eternity and that is why this is such an important matter which is on my heart this evening. I pray for all of us in Bitola to live for God's glory! May His name be glorified in all of Macedonia and to the ends of the earth! God bless you!