He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation— if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.
Colossians 1:15-23 The Supremacy of Christ
Gospel means good news and it has a universal application. The impact of this good news is not relegated to a select group of people but has merit for all people and all times. Therefore the understanding of this concept of such news needs to be clearly understood. The magnitude of the importance of this issue is such that it is of great value in the life that we know now and what we shall encounter in the future. Our understanding of this concept is critical for our happiness now and for joy in the life to come. Being human as we are, we sometimes have difficulty in discerning what is truly good news. What initially may seem to be of great benefit overtime reveals it to be a hardship. Our news services periodically reveal the disappointing lives of those who win the lottery or are heirs to large sums of money. To be among the rich and famous may seem to be potentially joyous but in actuality turns out to be detrimental to true joy.
Good news, bad news stories abound in our culture and are often good for a laugh. One is of lifelong buddies from high school who loved to play softball together. They often wondered if there would be softball in heaven. One dies and the other has this dream of clarity that he converses with his friend in heaven. He asks his friend if there is softball in heaven. His friend responds, “I have good news and bad news.” “The good news is yes, there is softball in heaven. The bad news is you are slated to pitch next Tuesday.”
Before we understand the good news, we must grasp the significance of the bad news. Simply, we must understand our need before we can truly appreciate the solution.
Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’ ”
“You will not surely die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
Genesis 3:1-5 The Fall of Man
This narration conveys to us the initiation of sin for human kind. At issue is the distrusting of God and His character. Our ancestors chose to follow Satan rather than God and as a result all of mankind has followed on this path of rebellion. This is clearly the bad news. From this point forward the Bible deals with mankind’s involvement with sin that separates man from God and God’s choice to rescue us from such, the Good News.
Adult males with significant heart disease are frequently accompanied by their spouses when they visit the doctor. One such male was not doing well. After an exam, the physician instructed the man to dress and then invited his wife to come into his consultation office. Out of earshot of her husband, the physician told of his plan of action. Her husband’s situation was precarious and he must have lavish care and attention. Three hot meals a day, comfort, and total harmony. The physician stepped out, her husband came in and he asked what the physician had said. Without hesitation she replied, “You are going to die.”
Although the Bible abruptly brings us the bad news after a perfect beginning, God chooses to create the Good News. This Good News is bound up in the presence of the life, death and resurrection from the grave of God’s Son, Jesus of Nazareth.
Paramount in our understanding of this Good News is that Jesus is eternal and a co-equal with God. Our Tripartite God of Father, Son and Holy Spirit in past eternity agreed to the salvation of fallen man. Jesus, as the Son, agreed to become incarnate to provide for this salvation. Paul properly outlines this for us in Philippians 2:5-11.
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
At the heart of this scripture is the understanding that Jesus enters time and temporarily surrenders the use of His Godly powers primarily for the salvation of mankind. As Jesus of Nazareth, He is clearly God and clearly man. He is therefore of two natures. He is not a created being but is God incarnate, simply a human manifestation of the invisible God.
It is this miraculous happening that was announced by the angels to the shepherds in the hills of Judea at the time of His birth. This is the Good News. It is news of great joy that is not limited to one group of people or for one specific time. This announcement deals with the universally bad news of sin. Man’s choice of separation from God can be remedied by this Good News.
The central focus of this Good News is Jesus as the Christ of God. He and He alone is the focus of redemption. He is the solitary means and way into the presence of God for eternity. This narrow, less traveled road is difficult but careful consideration reveals its merit for this life and the life to come. The true awareness of the truth of this statement is not confined to the intellect but involves the soul. Such understanding is a gift from God. The gift of faith is awarded when we realize who we are in contrast to who God is. God is holy. We are fallen. We cannot go to where God is on our own. God in love sends Jesus to where we are to bring us new life.
